Control Unit for Multipoint Multimedia/Audio System

• US 20120206564A1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polycom Israel Limited (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Israel Limited (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Potekhin, Sergey, Knaz, Eran, Elbaz, Moshe, Leviav, Eyal
• Application Number:
  US13/454,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20120206564A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2061 Language aspects
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

The present invention is a system and a method for providing a control unit for a multipoint multimedia/audio conference that enables one or more participants to take part in more than one conference simultaneously. The control unit can operate in audio and/or video sections of an MCU and/or Management and Control System (MCS). The MCS, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, controls the participation of at least one participant in more than one conference simultaneously by using a Cross-Conference Database (CCDB). The MCU performs connection changes affecting which participants are associated with one or more conferences based on the information that is stored in the CCDB.

Claims

1. A method for controlling multiple simultaneous conferences of a plurality of participants, the method comprising:

storing information in a cross conference database, the information comprising connection parameters and connection statuses for the plurality of participants, wherein a first subset of the plurality of participants participates in a first conference, a second subset of the plurality of participants participates in a second conference, and a third subset of the plurality of participants participates in the first conference and the second conference; and

using at least a portion of the information to provide a first audio output signal to the first conference, the first audio output signal comprising audio received from the first subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the first audio output signal contains no audio received from the second subset of participants.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using at least a portion of the information to provide a second audio output signal to the second conference, the second audio output signal comprising audio received from the second subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the second audio output signal contains no audio received from the first subset of participants.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first audio output signal comprises a translation of at least a portion of a previously provided second audio output signal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the translation originates from the third subset of participants.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of the third subset of participants has a first connection status with the first conference and a second connection status with the second conference, wherein the first connection status is different than the second connection status.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first connection status is listen only.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second connection status is normal.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the second connection status is speak only.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset participates in the first conference with a normal connection status, the second subset participates in the second conference with a normal connection status, and the third subset does not participate with a normal connection status in either the first or second conference.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first conference comprises a video conference.

11. A multipoint control unit comprising:

a management and control system, within a multipoint control unit (MCU), configured to;

enable participation of a plurality of participants in two or more conferences simultaneously, wherein the management and control system comprises a cross conference database comprising connection parameters and connection statuses for each participant, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of participants participates in a first conference, a second subset of the plurality of participants participates in a second conference, and a third subset of the plurality of participants participates in the first conference and the second conference; and

use at least a portion of the information from the cross conference database to configure the MCU to provide a first audio output signal to the first conference, the first audio output signal comprising audio received from the first subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the first audio output signal contains no audio received from the second subset of participants.

12. The multipoint control unit of claim 11 wherein the management and control system is further configured to use at least a portion of the information from the cross conference database to configure the MCU to provide a second audio output signal to the second conference, the second audio output signal comprising audio received from the second subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the second audio output signal contains no audio received from the first subset of participants.

13. The multipoint control unit of claim 11 wherein the first audio output signal comprises a translation of at least a portion of a previously provided second audio output signal.

14. The multipoint control unit of claim 13 wherein the translation originates from the third subset of participants.

15. The multipoint control unit of claim 11 wherein a portion of the third subset of participants has a first connection status with the first conference and a second connection status with the second conference, wherein the first connection status is different than the second connection status.

16. The multipoint control unit of claim 15 wherein the first connection status is listen only.

17. The multipoint control unit of claim 16 wherein the second connection status is normal.

18. The multipoint control unit of claim 16 wherein the second connection status is speak only.

19. The multipoint control unit of claim 11 wherein the first subset participates in the first conference with a normal connection status, the second subset participates in the second conference with a normal connection status, and the third subset does not participate with a normal connection status in either the first or second conference.

20. The multipoint control unit of claim 11 wherein the first conference comprises a video conference.