TELEPRESENCE SIMULATION WITH MULTIPLE INTERCONNECTED DEVICES

• US 20120324054A1
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: GIBBON, David C., BEGEJA, Lee, LIU, Zhu, RENGER, Bernard S., SHAHRARAY, Behzad, ZAVESKY, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Telepresence is coordinated among multiple interconnected devices. The presence of a first interconnected device and a second interconnected device in a common space is determined. Multimedia capabilities of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are determined. Communications of at least one type of media information using one of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are selectively and temporarily enabled by an external controller over a second network. Communications of the at least one type of media information using the other of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are selectively and temporarily not enabled by the external controller over the second network.

Claims

1. A method for coordinating telepresence among multiple interconnected devices, comprising:

determining the presence of a first interconnected device and a second interconnected device in a first network and in a common space;

determining multimedia capabilities of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device; and

selectively and temporarily enabling communications of at least one type of media information using one of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device by an external controller over a second network and simultaneously and temporarily not enabling communications of the at least one type of media information using the other of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device by the external controller over the second network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively and temporarily enabling communications of the at least one type of media information using the other of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device over the second network and simultaneously and temporarily not enabling transmission of the at least one type of media information using the one of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the communications include transmitting, and

wherein the at least one type of media information is selectively and temporarily transmitted from the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device in common to a remote recipient.

4. The method of claim 2,

wherein the communications include displaying, and

wherein the at least one type of media information is selectively and temporarily displayed by the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device.

5. The method of claim 2,

wherein the communications include audibly outputting the at least one type of media information by the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device.

6. The method of claim 2,

wherein the communications include transmitting images captured by the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively and temporarily enabling communications of at least one type of media information using the one of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device and the other of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device over the second network simultaneously and temporarily.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are selected to transmit the at least one type of media information based on relative proximity of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device to a source of the at least one type of media information.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are coordinated as a first telepresence point over the second network, a third interconnected device and a fourth interconnected device are coordinated as a second telepresence point over the second network, and the first telepresence point and the second telepresence point are coordinated by the same external controller.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are selected to transmit the at least one type of media information based on a determination that the selected first interconnected device or second interconnected device is connected to a constant external source of power.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first interconnected device and second interconnected device are selected to transmit the at least one type of media information based on a determination of which of the first interconnected device and second interconnected device has a power supply estimated to last a longest time.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the multimedia capabilities include a video capture capability.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering the first interconnected device and second interconnected device as being in the same presence at an external remote presence coordinator.

14. The method of claim 1,

wherein the presence of the first interconnected device and second interconnected device in the same space is determined by the external controller based on information received from the first interconnected device and second interconnected device.

15. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first interconnected device is automatically coordinated with the second interconnected device without a designation from a user of the first interconnected device.

16. The method of claim 1,

wherein the second interconnected device receives a broadcast of presence over the first network from the first interconnected device and determines the presence of the first interconnected device and second interconnected device in the first network based upon receipt of the broadcast.

17. An apparatus for coordinating telepresence among multiple interconnected devices, comprising:

a memory that stores information indicating multimedia capabilities of a first interconnected device and a second interconnected device in a first network and in a common space;

a signal receiver that receives signals indicating the presence of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device in the first network;

a tangible processor that determines, based upon receipt of the signals, multimedia capabilities of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device from the information stored in the memory; and

a transmitter that transmits signals selectively and temporarily enabling communications of at least one type of media information using one of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device over a second network, and simultaneously and temporarily not enabling communications of the at least one type of media information using the other of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device over the second network.

18. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the apparatus is external to the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device, and communicates with the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device over the second network.

19. A method for coordinating telepresence among multiple interconnected devices, comprising:

determining the presence of a first interconnected device and a second interconnected device;

determining multimedia capabilities of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device;

coordinating, among the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device, the multimedia capabilities of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device by selectively and temporarily enabling communications of at least one type of media information using the second interconnected device, and simultaneously and temporarily not enabling communications of the at least one type of media information using the first interconnected device.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device communicate with one another and coordinate multimedia capabilities within a local network.