Method and system for audio-video communications

• US 20120154509A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Erb, Paul Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,007,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

There is provided a system and method of audio-video communications including a plurality of end-user terminals coupled via a communications link. Each end-user terminal includes a video processor component, a user interface, a display, a speaker and a microphone, a video camera device and a storage device, all coupled to the processor. The user interface includes a video muting function. The video processor component includes a module responsive to the video muting function for switching from a video source of the video camera to a predetermined video signal. The video muting function includes a selection for muting video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals, muting video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals, muting video, both video sent from and video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals, or muting audio and video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

Claims

1. A system for audio-video communications comprising:

a plurality of end-user terminals coupled via a communications link;

each end-user terminals including a video processor component, a user interface, a display, a speaker and a microphone, a video camera, and a storage all coupled to the processor;

the user interface including a video muting function; and

the video processor component including a module responsive to the video muting function for switching from a video source of the video camera to a predetermined video signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting video both sent from and received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting audio and video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes hard keys for selecting the video muting function.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes soft keys for selecting the video muting function.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen for selecting the video muting function.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes at least one of graphical user interface (GUI), interactive voice response (IVR), or speech recognition system for selecting the video muting function.

10. A method of controlling audio-video communications, the method comprising:

establishing an audio-video call between a first and a second party; and

during the call, one party muting a video portion of the call while maintaining an audio portion of the call.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the muting of the video portion comprises muting video sent from the one party.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the muting of the video portion comprises muting video received by the one party.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the muting of the video portion comprises muting both video sent from and video received by the one party.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the muting of the video portion comprises muting audio and video sent from the one party.

15. An end-user terminal for audio-video communications comprising:

a video processor component;

a user interface, a display, a speaker and a microphone, a video camera device and a storage device, all coupled to the processor;

the user interface including a video muting function; and

the video processor component including a module responsive to the video muting function for switching from a video source of the video camera to a predetermined video signal.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

17. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

18. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting video both video sent from and video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

19. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the video muting function comprises a selection for muting audio and video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

20. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the user interface includes at least one of hard keys, soft keys, a touch screen, graphical user interface (GUI), interactive voice response (IVR), or speech recognition system for selecting the video muting function.