DEVICE FOR USE IN A DIGITAL CONFERENCE SYSTEM

• US 20130163411A1
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Televic Conference NV (Daninvest NV)
• Original Assignee: Televic Conference NV (Daninvest NV)
• Inventors: Lylon, Carl, Talloen, Patrick, Vantomme, Davy
• Granted Patent: US 9,838,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/221
• 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 41/0668 by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• 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: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A device for use in a digital conference system has a first and a second port in connection with each other and has a configuration device for configuring, on receipt of a trigger signal, either the first or the second port as input port of the device and the other port as output port. The trigger signal is a synchronisation signal. The device is preferably a delegate unit or an extension unit.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. Device for use in a digital conference system, comprising a first and a second port in connection with each other, and a configuration arrangement that configures, on receipt of a trigger signal, either said first or said second port as input port of the device and the other port as output port of the device, said trigger signal being a synchronisation signal.

12. The device as in claim 11, wherein said synchronisation signal is a bit synchronisation signal.

13. The device as in claim 11, wherein said device is a delegate unit in a digital conference system.

14. The device as in claim 11, said device being an extension unit in a digital conference system.

15. Digital conference system comprising a plurality of the devices recited in claim 11 arranged in a daisy chain topology and at least one central unit.

16. The digital conference system as in claim 15, comprising a network monitoring module arranged to poll said plurality of devices.

17. The digital conference system as in claim 15, wherein said central unit is arranged to poll said network monitoring module.

18. The digital conference system as in claim 15, comprising a storage arrangement that stores configuration information.

19. A method for obtaining redundancy in a digital conference system, wherein the digital conference system comprises at least one central unit and a plurality of devices in a daisy chain topology, each of said devices comprising a first and a second port in connection with each other and a configuring arrangement that configures either said first or said second port as input port of the device and the other port as output port, the method comprising the steps:

creating an active network branch connecting a set of devices of the digital conference system,

when a failure in said digital conference system is detected, making an output port of at least the device at an end of the active branch act as input port by sending a trigger signal, said trigger signal being a synchronisation signal.

20. A method for replacing a device in a digital conference system, said digital conference system being configured as a network comprising a plurality of devices arranged in a daisy chain topology and a central unit, said method comprising the steps:

detecting loss of a device of said digital conference system,

replacing said device by a replacement device,

detecting the replacement device in the digital conference system,

configuring with the central unit said detected replacement device with configuration settings of the lost device by using a trigger signal, said trigger signal being a synchronisation signal.