Participant-controlled conference calling system

• US 6,501,739 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Remoteability Inc.
• Inventors: Cohen, Alon
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcelo, Melvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US09/577,815
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/265, 370/266, 370/267, 370/263, 370/352-356, 370/264-269, 379/201.03, 379/201.12, 379/221.02, 379/202.01, 379/204.01, 379/205.01, 379/221.03, 379/221.04, 379/207.11, 379/203.01, 379/206.01
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• 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 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/569 using the instant speaker's algorithm speech detection per se G10L25/78

Abstract

A communications system, which can be used within a conferencing communication system, is provided. The communications system includes at least one communications network, a plurality of communicators connectable to the at least one communications network, each of the communicators being operative to transmit, via the network, audio streams bound from any of the plurality of communicators, a plurality of mixers. Each of the mixer output associated with one of the communicators is operative to receive from the plurality of communicators a plurality of incoming streams bound from the communicators to the mixer and transmit any mixed combination of the incoming streams to the communicator associated with the mixer. The system also includes means for controlling any of the mixers to independently control a volume level of any of the incoming streams being mixed at any of the mixers to create the required mixed combination of the incoming streams.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

at least one communications network;

a plurality of communicators connectable to said at least one communications network, each of said communicators being operative to transmit, via said network, audio streams bound from any of said plurality of communicators;

a plurality of mixers, each mixer including a mixer output, each of said mixer output associated with at least one of said communicators and being operative to;

receive from said plurality of communicators a plurality of incoming streams bound from said communicators to said mixer;

transmit any mixed combination of said incoming streams to said communicator associated with said mixer; and

retransmit a previously-transmitted stream concurrent with any of said mixers currently transmitting a stream not previously transmitted; and

means for controlling any of said mixers to independently control a volume level of any of said incoming streams being mixed at any of said mixers to create said required mixed combination of said incoming streams.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communicators comprise said means for independently controlling any of said mixers.

3. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising a communications server, said server comprising:

at least one interface to a communications network, said network being in communication with said communicators;

wherein at least one of said plurality of mixers are located within said server.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communicators are a second system according to claim 1.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling is operative to control an associated mixer of a first of said communicators to control said volume level of said incoming streams such that said first communicator receives the output stream from said associated mixer, the output being a mix of incoming streams from a second of said communicators at a first volume level and all other of said incoming streams at a second volume level.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling is operative to control an associated mixer of a first of said communicators to control said volume level of said incoming streams such that said first communicator receives the output stream from said associated mixer, the output being a mix of incoming streams from a second of said communicators at a first volume level only.

7. A system according to claims 5 or 6 wherein said means for controlling is operative to control any of said mixers to control the volume level of said incoming streams such that any other of said communicators other than said first and second communicators do not receive said incoming streams from said first and second communicators.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said second communicator only receives said incoming stream from said first communicator.

9. A system according to claims 5 or 6 wherein said means for controlling is operative to control any of said mixers to control the volume level of said incoming streams such that all of said communicators other than said second communicator receives said incoming streams from all of said communicators, and said second communicator only receives said incoming stream from said first communicator.

10. A system according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said means for controlling is operative to connect any of said plurality of communicators to already connected communicators.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mixer is operative to control the volume level of at least one additional incoming stream, according to the input level of any other incoming streams bound for said mixer,

said volume level is set to a first volume level in the absence of any other of said incoming streams bound for said mixer, and

said volume level is set to a second volume level in the presence of any other of said incoming streams bound for said mixer.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said mixer is operative to separate any of said input audio streams into a plurality of frequencies and independently control a volume level of any of said frequencies.

13. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising means for reestablishing a connection between one of said communicators connected to said system upon disconnection of said communicator from said system.

14. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising means for reestablishing a connection between one of said communicators connected to said system upon disconnection of said communicator from said system, said means for reestablishing using a list of caller IDs associated with the user of said communicator, such that said list of IDs may contain the caller ID and communicator type last used by an user prior to the disconnection.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein any of said mixers is operative to receive a text message and further comprises means for converting said text message to an audio message.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein any of said mixers is operative to receive a pointer to a list consisting of sets including pairs of pre-set text messages, their corresponding audio and graphic representations, such that the pre-recorded message is sent to said communicator and corresponding text message is sent to said controlling means.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein any of said mixers is operative to receive a pointer to said list and further comprises means for converting said pre-set text message to an audio message and for converting a text message from said controlling means to an audio message.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein any of said mixers further comprises means for converting any of said audio streams into a text message.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling is operative to:

prevent an outgoing message from a first of said communicators from being received by any of said mixers.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling is operative to:

prevent any of said incoming streams from being received by a first of said mixers.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling is operative to:

prevent an outgoing message from a first of said communicators from being received by any of said mixers, and

prevent any of said incoming streams from being received by a first of said mixers.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling is operative to prevent any of said communicators from receiving an in-band audio signaling tone sent by any of said communicators.

23. A system according to claim 1, wherein any of said streams are transmitted via any one of a group including voice over IP (VoIP) system, voice over DSL (VoDSL) system and voice over data.

24. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said communicator is operative to cause said server to aurally provide an identification,

said means for controlling is operative to provide said identification to said server upon entry of said identification at said means for controlling, and

said server is operative to associate said communicator with said means for controlling using said identification.

25. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said means for controlling is operative to cause said server to provide an identification,

said communicator is operative to provide said identification to said server upon entry of said identification at said communicator, and

said server is operative to associate said communicator with said means for controlling using said identification.

26. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said means for controlling is operative to cause said server to provide an identification,

said means for controlling is operative to audibly provide in-band signals representing said identification to said communicator,

said communicator is operative to provide said identification to said server, and

said server is operative to associate said communicator with said means for controlling using said identification.

27. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a plurality of microphones connected to one of said communicators, wherein at least one of said microphones is responsive to a far audio field and at least one of said microphones is responsive to a near audio field; and

a plurality of Automatic Gain Controls (AGC) assembled with input circuitry of said communicator wherein each of said microphones is connected to a separate one of said AGCs, and wherein inputs from both microphones are added via one of said mixers to a microphone input of said communicator.

28. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a plurality of microphones connected to one of said communicators, wherein at least two of said microphones receive audio input in a different frequency range, and wherein said means for controlling is operative to control said mixers to split said audio stream from said communicator into said different frequency ranges and control a volume level of each of said frequency ranges independently.

29. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising indication means for either of vocally and visually indicating to each user the status of any of said participants.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein said communicators are a second system according to claim 1.

60. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said mixers comprises means for converting incoming audio streams into a common audio format compatible with its associated communicator.

30. A conferencing communication system comprising:

at least one communications network over which a plurality of communicators are connectable to said at least one communications network and participate in a telephone conference at a first volume, wherein at least one communicator is also operative to;

semi-detach from said telephone conference,

either of receive and initiate a call to an external party while still being able to hear said telephone conference at a second volume level,

communicate with said external party at a third volume level, and

upon disconnecting from said external party, re-attach to said telephone conference at any of said volume levels and a fourth volume level;

a plurality of mixers, each mixer including an output, each of said mixer outputs associated with at least one of said communicators and being operative to;

receive from said plurality of communicators a plurality of incoming streams bound from said communicators to one of said mixers;

transmit any mixed combination of said incoming streams to said communicator associated with one of said mixers; and

retransmit any of said streams concurrent with any of said mixers currently transmitting a stream not previously transmitted; and

means for controlling any of said mixers to independently control a volume level of incoming streams being mixed at any of said mixers to create a required mixed combination of said incoming streams.

31. A system according to claim 30, and further comprising

a communications server, said server comprising:

at least one interface to a communications network, said network being in communication with said communicators;

wherein at least one of said plurality of mixers are located within said server.

33. A system according to claim 30, wherein said means for controlling is operative to control an associated mixer of a first of said communicators to control said volume level of said incoming streams such that said first communicator receives the output stream from said associated mixer, the output being a mix of incoming streams from a second of said communicators at a first volume level and all other of said incoming streams at a second volume level.

34. A system according to claim 30, wherein said means for controlling is operative to control an associated mixer of a first of said communicators to control said volume level of said incoming streams such that said first communicator receives the output stream from said associated mixer, the output being a mix of incoming streams from a second of said communicators at a first volume level only.

35. A system according to claims 33 or 34 wherein said means for controlling is operative to control any of said mixers to control the volume level of said incoming streams such that any other of said communicators other than said first and second communicators do not receive said incoming streams from said first and second communicators.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein said second communicator only receives said incoming stream from said first communicator.

37. A system according to claims 33 or 34 wherein said means for controlling is operative to control any of said mixers to control the volume level of said incoming streams such that all of said communicators other than said second communicator receives said incoming streams from all of said communicators, and said second communicator only receives said incoming stream from said first communicator.

38. A system according to claim 30 or 31, wherein said means for controlling is operative to connect any of said plurality of communicators to already connected communicators.

39. A system according to claim 30, wherein said mixer is operative to control the volume level of at least one additional incoming stream, according to the input level of any other incoming streams bound for said mixer,

said volume level is set to a first volume level in the absence of any other of said incoming streams bound for said mixer, and

said volume level is set to a second volume level in the presence of any other of said incoming streams bound for said mixer.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein said mixer is operative to separate any of said input audio streams into a plurality of frequencies and independently control a volume level of any of said frequencies.

41. A system according to claim 30, and further comprising means for reestablishing a connection between one of said communicators connected to said system upon disconnection of said communicator from said system.

42. A system according to claim 30, and further comprising means for reestablishing a connection between one of said communicators connected to said system upon disconnection of said communicator from said system, said means for reestablishing using a list of caller IDs associated with the user of said communicator, such that said list of IDs may contain the caller ID and communicator type last used by an user prior to the disconnection.

43. A system according to claim 30, wherein any of said mixers is operative to receive a text message and further comprises means for converting said text message to an audio message.

44. A system according to claim 30, wherein any of said mixers is operative to receive a pointer to a list consisting of sets including pairs of pre-set text messages, their corresponding audio and graphic representations, such that the pre-recorded message is sent to said communicator and corresponding text message is sent to said controlling means.

45. A system according to claim 44, wherein any of said mixers is operative to receive a pointer to said list and further comprises means for converting said pre-set text message to an audio message and for converting a text message from said controlling means to an audio message.

46. A system according to claim 30, wherein any of said mixers further comprises means for converting any of said audio streams into a text message.

47. A system according to claim 30, wherein said means for controlling is operative to:

prevent an outgoing message from a first of said communicators from being received by any of said mixers.

48. A system according to claim 30, wherein said means for controlling is operative to:

prevent any of said incoming streams from being received by a first of said mixers.

49. A system according to claim 30, wherein said means for controlling is operative to:

prevent an outgoing message from a first of said communicators from being received by any of said mixers, and

prevent any of said incoming streams from being received by a first of said mixers.

50. A system according to claim 30, wherein said means for controlling is operative to prevent any of said communicators from receiving an in-band audio signaling tone sent by any of said communicators.

51. A system according to claim 30, wherein any of said mixers is operative to retransmit any of said previously-transmitted streams.

52. A system according to claim 30, wherein any of said streams are transmitted via any one of a group including voice over IP (VoIP) system, voice over DSL (VoDSL) system and voice over data.

53. A system according to claim 31, wherein

said communicator is operative to cause said server to aurally provide an identification,

said means for controlling is operative to provide said identification to said server upon entry of said identification at said means for controlling, and

said server is operative to associate said communicator with said means for controlling using said identification.

54. A system according to claim 31, wherein

said means for controlling is operative to cause said server to provide an identification,

said communicator is operative to provide said identification to said server upon entry of said identification at said communicator, and

said server is operative to associate said communicator with said means for controlling using said identification.

55. A system according to claim 31, wherein

said means for controlling is operative to cause said server to provide an identification,

said means for controlling is operative to audibly provide in-band signals representing said identification to said communicator,

said communicator is operative to provide said identification to said server, and

said server is operative to associate said communicator with said means for controlling using said identification.

56. A system according to claim 30, and further comprising:

a plurality of microphones connected to one of said communicators. wherein at least one of said microphones is responsive to a far audio field and at least one of said microphones is responsive to a near audio field, and

a plurality of Automatic Gain Controls (AGC) assembled with input circuitry of said communicator wherein each of said microphones is connected to a separate one of said AGCs, and wherein inputs from both microphones are added via one of said mixers to a microphone input of said communicator.

57. A system according to claim 30, and further comprising:

plurality of microphones connected to one of said communicators, wherein at least two of said microphones receive audio input in a different frequency range, and wherein said means for controlling is operative to control said mixers to split said audio stream from said communicator into said different frequency ranges and control a volume level of each of said frequency ranges independently.

58. A system according to claim 30, and further comprising indication means for either of vocally and visually indicating to each user the status of any of said participants.

59. A system according to claim 51, wherein any of said mixers is operative to retransmit any of said previously-transmitted streams at a first retransmission speed concurrently with a currently-transmitted stream at a different speed than said first transmission speed.

61. A system according to claim 30, wherein each of said mixers comprises means for converting incoming audio streams into a common audio format compatible with its associated communicator.