SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AUDIO HIGHLIGHTING OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT PLAYOUT

• US 20100284310A1
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel, Christenson, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,358,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet associated with a conference that has a first participant associated therewith. The first participant is identified as a principal participant. The method also includes determining if the first packet is associated with the first participant, and providing an audible indication that the first packet is associated with the first participant if it is determined that the first packet is associated with the first participant.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a first packet associated with a conference, the conference having a first participant associated therewith, the first participant being identified as a principal participant;

determining if the first packet is associated with the first participant; and

providing an audible indication that the first packet is associated with the first participant if it is determined that the first packet is associated with the first participant.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first participant is associated with a first endpoint, and wherein determining if the first packet is associated with the first participant includes determining if the first packet is obtained from the first endpoint.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein if it is determined that the first packet is obtained from the first endpoint, determining if the first packet is associated with the first participant includes performing voice recognition analysis on the first packet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the audible indication includes one selected from the group including providing an introductory tone near a beginning of a playout of the first packet, providing an undertone during the playout of the first packet, increasing a volume during the playout of the first packet, and altering a speed during the playout of the first packet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first packet includes obtaining a recording of the conference and obtaining metadata associated with the recording.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining if the first packet is associated with the first participant includes determining if the metadata indicates that the first packet is associated with the first participant.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further includes:

creating a recording of the conference;

storing the first packet in the recording; and

storing metadata associated with the first packet.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein if it is determined that the first packet is associated with the first participant, the metadata indicates that the first participant is the principal participant.

9. The method of claim 1 further including:

providing an indication that the first participant is the principal participant.

10. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

obtain a first packet associated with a conference, the conference having a first participant associated therewith, the first participant being identified as a principal participant;

determine if the first packet is associated with the first participant; and

provide an audible indication that the first packet is associated with the first participant if it is determined that the first packet is associated with the first participant.

11. The logic of claim 10 wherein the first participant is associated with a first endpoint, and wherein the logic operable to determine if the first packet is associated with the first participant is further operable to determine if the first packet is obtained from the first endpoint.

12. The logic of claim 11 wherein if it is determined that the first packet is obtained from the first endpoint, the logic operable to determine if the first packet is associated with the first participant is further operable to perform voice recognition analysis on the first packet.

13. The logic of claim 10 wherein the logic operable to provide the audible indication is further operable to provide an introductory tone near a beginning of a playout of the first packet, provide an undertone during the playout of the first packet, increase a volume during the playout of the first packet, and change a speed associated with the playout of the first packet.

14. The logic of claim 10 wherein the logic operable to obtain the first packet is further operable to obtain a recording of the conference and to obtain metadata associated with the recording.

15. The logic of claim 14 wherein the logic operable to determine if the first packet is associated with the first participant is operable to determine if the metadata indicates that the first packet is associated with the first participant.

16. The logic of claim 10 further operable to:

create a recording of the conference;

store the first packet in the recording; and

store metadata associated with the first packet.

17. The logic of claim 16 wherein if it is determined that the first packet is associated with the first participant, the metadata indicates that the first participant is the principal participant.

18. The logic of claim 10 further operable to provide an indication that the first participant is the principal participant.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a first packet associated with a conference, the conference having a first participant associated therewith, the first participant being identified as a principal participant;

means for determining if the first packet is associated with the first participant; and

means for providing an audible indication that the first packet is associated with the first participant if it is determined that the first packet is associated with the first participant.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a first arrangement, the first arrangement being configured to identify whether a packet associated with a conference is further associated with a principal participant in the conference; and

a second arrangement, the second arrangement being configured to audibly highlight the packet during playout if it is determined that the packet is associated with the principal participant.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the second arrangement is configured to audibly highlight the packet during playout by performing at least one selected from the group including providing an introductory tone near the beginning of the playout, providing an undertone during the playout, changing a volume associated with the playout, and altering a speed of the playout.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the apparatus is a conference bridge.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the apparatus is an endpoint arranged to communicate with a conference bridge.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the second arrangement is configured to audibly highlight the packet by altering the packet.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 further including a third arrangement, the third arrangement being configured to store the packet and to store metadata associated with the packet, wherein the metadata indicates whether the packet is associated with the principal participant.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 further including a third arrangement, the third arrangement being configured to allow the first participant to be specified as the principal participant.