System and Method for Extending Communications Between Participants in a Conferencing Environment

• US 20100302345A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldino, Brian J., Rexroad, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving data associated with a local endpoint that is configured to participate in a video conference. The local endpoint can be configured to detect a signal generated by a local end user device and to relay the signal to a local manager element. The method also includes transmitting the signal over a network to a remote manager element at a remote location. In more specific embodiments, the method includes receiving an additional signal from the remote manager element, and determining a selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data associated with a local endpoint that is configured to participate in a video conference, the local endpoint configured to;

detect a signal generated by a local end user device and

relay the signal to a local manager element; and

transmitting the signal over a network to a remote manager element at a remote location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an additional signal from the remote manager element; and

determining a selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining includes using an access control list to identify the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining includes using Internet protocol (IP) address information to identify the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining includes using imaging data from the video conference to identify the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

packetizing the signal before transmitting the signal to the remote manager element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is generated by the local end user device using a communications protocol, the protocol being selected from a group of protocols consisting of:

1) a Wi-Fi protocol;

2) an Infrared protocol;

3) a Bluetooth protocol; and

4) a radio frequency identification (RFID) protocol.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a local manager element configured to;

receive data associated with a local endpoint operable to;

participate in a video conference,

detect a signal generated by a local end user device, and

relay the signal to the local manager element, wherein the local manager element is further configured to;

receive the signal from the local endpoint; and

transmit the signal over a network to a remote manager element at a remote location.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a control module configured to determine a selected local endpoint to receive an additional signal from the remote manager element, wherein the local manger element is configured to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to use an access control list for determining the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to use Internet protocol (IP) address information for determining the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to use imaging data from the video conference for determining the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the local manager element is configured to packetize the signal before transmitting the signal to the remote manager element.

14. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed by a processor operable to:

receive data associated with a local endpoint configured to participate in a video conference, the local endpoint further configured to detect a signal generated by a local end user device and to relay the signal to a local manager element; and

transmit the signal over a network to a remote manager element at a remote location.

15. The logic of claim 14, wherein the logic is further operable to:

receive an additional signal from the remote manager element; and

determine a selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

16. The logic of claim 15, wherein the determining includes using an access control list to identify the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

17. A system, comprising:

means for receiving data associated with a local endpoint that is configured to participate in a video conference, the local endpoint configured to detect a signal generated by a local end user device and to relay the signal to a local manager element; and

means for transmitting the signal over a network to a remote manager element at a remote location.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving an additional signal from the remote manager element; and

means for determining a selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for determining includes using an access control list to identify the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for determining includes using Internet protocol (IP) address information to identify the selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.