Multi-Participant Communication System With Audio Manager Responsive To Mode Change Requests

• US 20120008757A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fried, Eric P., Sabarathinam, Suresh, Jade, Priyanka, Kosanam, Silpa
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42238 in systems with telephone lines with multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A communication system includes a local communication device that communicates with a remote communication device via a wired or wireless communication link between the devices. The local communication device and the remote communication device are each capable of switching between a multiple user mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request. The local and remote communication devices include respective profiles that include profile attributes that define how the respective communication device responds to a mode change request. A user of one communication device may send a mode change request to the other communication device. In response to the mode change request, the other communication device changes mode between multiple participant mode and single participant mode if the profile of that communication device permits the mode change.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information, comprising:

transmitting, by a first communication device, audio information to a second communication device that is remote with respect to the first communication device, the first and second communication devices each being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request; and

,

storing, by the first and second communication devices, respective user-selected profile attributes that control responses of the first and second communication devices to mode change requests.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first communication device, audio information and a mode change request to the second communication device;

receiving, by the second communication device, the audio information and the mode change request from the first communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

allowing a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode, by the second communication device, in response to the mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device permits the mode change.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

denying a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode, by the second communication device, in response to the mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device does not permit the mode change.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

asking a user of the second communication device to allow a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode, by the second communication device, in response to the mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device specifies that the user should be asked before allowing a mode change.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing respective default profiles for use by the first and second communication devices if respective users do not select profile attributes, the respective default profiles being applicable to the first and second communication devices on a per device basis.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing user-selected profile attributes for the first and second communication devices on a per user basis.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a first communication device that is capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request;

a second communication device that is capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request from the first communication device;

the first communication device including a first profile that includes a user-selected profile attribute that controls responses of the first communication device to mode change requests from the second communication device;

the second communication device including a second profile that includes a user-selected profile attribute that controls responses of the second communication device to mode change requests from the first communication device.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the first communication device includes first communication hardware that transmits audio information and a mode change request to the second communication device, wherein the second communication device includes second communication hardware that receives audio information and the mode change request from the first communication device.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the second communication device allows a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode in response to a mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device permits the mode change.

11. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the second communication device denies a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode in response to a mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device does not permit the mode change.

12. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the second communication device asks a user of the second communication device to allow a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode in response to a mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device specifies that the user should be asked before allowing a mode change.

13. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the first and second communication devices include respective default profiles for use by the first and second communication devices if respective users do not select profile attributes, the respective default profiles being applicable to the first and second communication devices on a per device basis.

14. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the first and second communication devices include user-selected profile attributes on a per user basis.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

first program instructions that transmit audio information from a first communication device to a second communication device that is remote with respect to the first communication device, the first and second communication devices each being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request; and

second program instructions that store, in the first and second communication devices, respective user-selected profile attributes that control responses of the first and second communication devices to mode change requests,

wherein the first and second program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage medium.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising third program instructions that transmit audio information and a mode change request from the first communication device to the second communication device, wherein the second communication device receives the audio information and the mode change request from the first communication device.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising fourth program instructions that allow the second communication device to change mode between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode in response to a mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device permits the mode change.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising fifth program instructions that instruct the second communication device to deny a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode in response to a mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device does not permit the mode change.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising sixth program instructions that ask a user of the second communication device to allow a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user/private mode in response to a mode change request if a profile attribute of the second communication device specifies that the user should be asked before allowing a mode change.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising seventh program instructions that include respective default profiles in the first and second communication devices for use by the first and second communication devices if respective users do not select profile attributes, the respective default profiles being applicable to the first and second communication devices on a per device basis.