System and methodology for video conferencing and internet chatting in a cocktail party style

• US 6,559,863 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Megiddo, Nimrod
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muhebbullah, Sajeda
• Application Number:
  US09/503,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 345/758, 345/753, 345/757, 345/751, 345/711, 345/808, 345/809, 345/800, 345/782, 345/802, 345/850, 709/204, 348/14.08, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• 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: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827

Abstract

A system and method is provided that allows participants in an electronic conference room to move to any spatial location in the electronic conference room by simply clicking and dragging, using a computer mouse, a graphical image representing the participant to any location in the electronic conference room. This allows participants to form small groups for communicating similar to a cocktail party situation. A communication media allows participants to communicate with one another within their particular groups. The participants can communicate though the graphical images either visually, audibly or both visually and audibly. Each user is provided visually with captions of other groups, which is reduced in size depending on the distance that particular group is from the user'"'"'s location within the electronic conference room. In addition, each main user is provided with audible signals from other groups, which is attenuated based on the distance that particular group is from the user'"'"'s location within the electronic conference room.

Claims

1. A system for providing an electronic forum for allowing multiple users to communicate simultaneously with one another, the system comprising:

a system interface,

a plurality of computers coupled to the system interface;

wherein the system interface provides each user of each of the plurality of computers with an electronic video conference room for communicating with one another, each user being represented by a graphic image in the electronic video conference room, and

wherein the system interface allows each user to move about the electronic video conference room, form small groups for communicating, and receive visual background communication including captions from other groups, and

wherein the system reduces the size of the captions based on an interface distance between the other groups and the user'"'"'s respective group.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to provide an information screen about another user of the system when the user places a mouse pointer using a computer mouse of the computer over the graphical image representing another user, wherein user decisions regarding group formation and communication are based on contents of said information screen.

3. A method for allowing multiple users to communicate electronically with one another, comprising:

providing an electronic video conference room adapted to allow a plurality of computers to be coupled thereto;

providing a plurality of graphical images representing users of the plurality of computers;

allowing each user of the electronic video conference room to move their respective image to different locations within the electronic video conference room and to form small groups;

providing each user with a visual communication medium for communicating with others within their respective group; and

providing each user with the ability to receive visual background communication including captions from other groups,

wherein the system reduces the size of the captions based on an interface distance between the other groups and the user'"'"'s respective group.

4. The method of claim 3, further providing each user with the ability to review information sheets of other users by moving a mouse pointer of the user'"'"'s computer over the graphical image of that particular other user, wherein the user makes group formation and communication decisions based on the information sheets.

5. A system for providing an electronic forum for allowing multiple users to communicate simultaneously with one another, the system comprising:

means for providing an interface;

a plurality of computers coupled to the means for providing an interface;

means for providing each user of the plurality of computers with a graphic image representing the user in an electronic video conference room;

means for allowing each user to move their respective graphic image to form small groups with other graphical images; and

means for communicating with other users within the respective small group and for receiving visual background communication including captions from other groups,

wherein the interface system reduces the size of the captions based on an interface distance between the other groups and the user'"'"'s respective group.