WIRELESS CONFERENCING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING SAME
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a wireless conferencing system comprising a plurality of conference terminals in an indoor environment, each of said conference terminals being equipped with a transceiver adapted to operate in a first mode and a second mode, said first mode being an omnidirectional mode and said second mode being a directional mode, the method comprising:
- in a discovery phase, for each pair of conference terminals, discovering a number of directions in which a direct wireless exchange of signals between said pair of conference terminals is possible, by operating a first one of said pair of conference terminals in said first mode and a second one of said pair of conference terminals in said second mode and attempting to exchange first signals while said transceiver of said second conference terminal is operated so as to vary a direction of operation;
for a first one of said plurality of conference terminals and a second one of said plurality of conference terminals, selecting a first one of said number of directions in which said direct wireless exchange of signals between said first one of said plurality of conference terminals and said second one of said plurality of conference terminals is possible as an active transmission direction;
in an operational phase, sending second signals from said first one of said plurality of conference terminals to said second one of said plurality of conference terminals, using said active transmission direction; and
,in a primary recovery phase, if a failure in said sending of said second signals is detected and if said discovering resulted in at least two directions in which said direct wireless exchange between said first one of said plurality of conference terminals and said second one of said plurality of conference terminals is possible, selecting a second one of said number of directions in which said direct wireless exchange of signals between said first one of said plurality of conference terminals and said second one of said plurality of conference terminals is possible as a new active transmission direction, and sending third signals from said first one of said plurality of conference terminals to said second one of said plurality of conference terminals, using said new active transmission direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention pertains to a method for configuring a wireless conferencing system comprising conference terminals, each being equipped with a transceiver adapted to operate in an omnidirectional and a directional mode. In a discovery phase, for each pair of conference terminals, the directions in which direct wireless signal exchange is possible are discovered by pairwise operating a the terminals in omnidirectional and directional mode, one terminal being operated so as to vary a direction of operation. A direction in which direct signal exchange is possible is selected as an active transmission direction. In an operational phase, signals are sent between the conference terminals, using the active transmission direction. In a recovery phase, a second direction is selected as a new active transmission direction, and signals are sent between the terminals, using the new active transmission direction. The invention also pertains to a corresponding computer program product and system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a wireless conferencing system comprising a plurality of conference terminals in an indoor environment, each of said conference terminals being equipped with a transceiver adapted to operate in a first mode and a second mode, said first mode being an omnidirectional mode and said second mode being a directional mode, the method comprising:
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in a discovery phase, for each pair of conference terminals, discovering a number of directions in which a direct wireless exchange of signals between said pair of conference terminals is possible, by operating a first one of said pair of conference terminals in said first mode and a second one of said pair of conference terminals in said second mode and attempting to exchange first signals while said transceiver of said second conference terminal is operated so as to vary a direction of operation; for a first one of said plurality of conference terminals and a second one of said plurality of conference terminals, selecting a first one of said number of directions in which said direct wireless exchange of signals between said first one of said plurality of conference terminals and said second one of said plurality of conference terminals is possible as an active transmission direction; in an operational phase, sending second signals from said first one of said plurality of conference terminals to said second one of said plurality of conference terminals, using said active transmission direction; and
,in a primary recovery phase, if a failure in said sending of said second signals is detected and if said discovering resulted in at least two directions in which said direct wireless exchange between said first one of said plurality of conference terminals and said second one of said plurality of conference terminals is possible, selecting a second one of said number of directions in which said direct wireless exchange of signals between said first one of said plurality of conference terminals and said second one of said plurality of conference terminals is possible as a new active transmission direction, and sending third signals from said first one of said plurality of conference terminals to said second one of said plurality of conference terminals, using said new active transmission direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless conferencing system comprising a plurality of conference terminals, each of said conference terminals being equipped a with transceiver adapted to operate in a first mode and a second mode, said first mode being an omnidirectional mode and said second mode being a directional mode, wherein each of said conference terminals is configured to:
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in a discovery phase, for each other conference terminal, discover a number of directions in which a direct wireless exchange of signals with said other conference terminal is possible, by operating said conference terminal in said first mode and said other conference terminal in said second mode and attempting to exchange first signals while said transceiver of said other conference terminal is operated so as to vary a direction of operation, or vice versa; for another one of said plurality of conference terminals, selecting a first one of said number of directions in which said direct wireless exchange of signals with said other one of said plurality of conference terminals is possible as an active transmission direction; in an operational phase, send second signals to said other one of said plurality of conference terminals, using said active transmission direction; and
,in a primary recovery phase, if a failure in said sending of said second signals is detected and if said discovering resulted in at least two directions in which said direct wireless exchange with said other conference terminal is possible, select a second one of said number of directions in which said direct wireless exchange of signals with said other conference terminal is possible as a new active transmission direction, and send third signals to said other conference terminal, using said new active transmission direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification