Network conference recording system and method including post-conference processing

• US 6,674,459 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ben-Shachar, Ido, Leichtling, Ivan J., Collins, Leonard Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/032,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.714, 348/14-1-, 348/14.09, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 348/14.12, 348/14.13, 370/260, 709/244, 345/753, 345/755, 345/751, 379/76
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

In a recorded network conference, a post-conference process is implemented to transcribe stored raw conference data into a viewable, standard format recording. The post-conference process postpones transcribing tasks until after the conference has ended. During the conference, raw conference data streams are stored directly in a compressed format used for network transmission. The post-conference process can be initiated based on one or more parameters to optimize use of resources. Possible parameters include conference schedules, CPU usage and availability for transcribing, and remaining storage capacity. In an embodiment, a recording unit joins the conference over the network in the manner of an attendee. The recording unit “listens” and blindly records the data, and later performs the post-conference process. In an embodiment, the transcribed recording is burned onto a CD-ROM and delivered to the conference attendees.

Claims

1. A method of recording a network conference comprising:

distributing raw conference data among a plurality of attendee computers, the raw conference data including multiple simultaneous streams of compressed audio or video data; and

routing selected raw conference data to a recording unit, wherein the recording unit performs steps comprising;

initially storing the raw conference data;

converting timestamps of at least some of the raw conference data into master timestamps; and

transcribing at least some of the raw conference data into a playable, standard format recording, wherein the transcribing comprises using the master timestamps to synchronize the at least some of the raw conference data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting and transcribing are initiated after the conference has ended.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the initiating occurs based on one or more parameters including a time of minimal conference activity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the initiating occurs based on one or more parameters including the capacity of the storage unit.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the initiating occurs based on one or more parameters including a level of CPU usage of one or more transcribing computers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording unit further performs steps comprising:

storing the data in said standard format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transcribing step further comprises:

decompressing audio data in the at least some of the raw conference data, mixing the audio data, and encoding the mixed audio into the standard format.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the encoding the mixed audio includes encoding the mixed audio at a higher bit rate than a bit rate of the raw conference data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the encoding the mixed audio includes encoding the mixed audio data with video data according to the standard format.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording unit further performs steps comprising deleting the initially stored raw conference data after the transcribing step has been completed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording unit further performs steps comprising writing the standard format recording on a CD-ROM.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording unit further performs steps comprising notifying at least one party of the recording availability after the transcribing step.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the notifying includes sending an email to the at least one party.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the notifying includes posting information on a website.

15. A method of recording a network video conference comprising:

connecting to a recording unit hosting a conference to receive conference data including multiple simultaneous audio and video streams in wire format;

initially storing the multiple simultaneous audio and video streams in the wire format at the recording unit; and

performing a post-conference process after the conference has ended, the post-conference process including;

converting timestamps of at least some of the wire format conference data into master timestamps;

transcribing the at least some of the wire format conference data to a playable, standard format recording, wherein the transcribing comprises using the master timestamps to synchronize the at least some of the wire format conference data;

storing the standard format recording; and

providing the standard format recording.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing step includes writing the standard format recording to a CD-ROM.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing step includes reading the stored standard format recording and uploading the standard format recording to a requesting client.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the post-conference process is initiated during a period of minimal conference activity.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the post-conference process is initiated when a transcribing computer is available.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of initially storing the multiple simultaneous audio and video streams in the wire format includes writing each audio and video stream as a separate file.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the transcribing further comprises:

decompressing at least some of the initially stored multiple simultaneous audio streams, mixing the decompressed audio streams, and encoding the mixed audio at a higher bit rate than a bit rate of the initially stored audio.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of transcribing further comprises:

encoding the mixed audio with video data according to said standard format.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of notifying after the standard format recording has been stored.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the notifying step includes sending at least one email.

25. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a recording process at a recording unit to record a network conference, the recording process comprising:

connecting to the recording unit hosting a conference server to receive conference data including multiple simultaneous audio and video streams in wire format;

initially storing the multiple simultaneous audio and video streams in the wire format at the recording unit;

performing a post-conference process after the conference has ended, the post-conference process including;

converting timestamps of at least some of the wire format conference data into master timestamps;

transcribing the at least some of the wire format conference data to a playable, standard format recording, wherein the transcribing comprises using the master timestamps to synchronize the at least some of the wire format conference data;

storing the standard format recording; and

providing the standard format recording.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the providing step includes writing the standard format recording to a CD-ROM.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the providing step includes reading the stored standard format recording and uploading the standard format recording to a requesting client.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the post-conference process is initiated during a period of minimal conference activity.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the post-conference process is initiated based on one or more parameters including conference schedules.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the post-conference process is initiated based on one or more parameters including the capacity of the storage unit.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the post-conference process is initiated based on one or more parameters including a level of CPU usage of one or more computers configured to perform the transcribing.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the step of initially storing the multiple simultaneous audio and video streams in the wire format includes writing each audio and video stream as a separate file.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the transcribing further comprises:

decompressing at least some of the initially stored multiple simultaneous audio streams, mixing the decompressed audio streams, and encoding the mixed audio.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the encoding includes encoding the mixed audio at a higher bit rate than a bit rate of the initially stored audio.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the step of transcribing further comprises:

encoding the mixed audio with video data according to said standard format.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising the step of notifying after the standard format recording has been stored.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the notifying step includes sending at least one email.