Media role management in a video conferencing network

• US 6,704,769 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Gary J., Howell, Brian A., Botzko, Stephen C., Seiler, Robert V., Kruger, William L., Comstock, Elizabeth M., Bernstein, Jeffrey G.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/556,359
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 709/223, 709/225, 709/246, 709/231, 709/238, 719/313, 719/328, 719/329
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or “people/presenter/video.” A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.

Claims

1. A method for managing media roles in a multimedia conferencing network, the method comprising:

receiving a data signal from a media source;

determining a role for the data signal, the role being indicative of a purpose of the media source in a multimedia conference;

generating a label for the data signal, based upon the role;

combining the label and the data signal to provide a labeled signal; and

transmitting the labeled signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether a device has a capability to interpret the label; and

transmitting the labeled signal only if the device has the capability to interpret the label.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising arbitrating a selection of a provider, the provider being responsible for selecting one or more data signals for the role.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a multipoint conference unit arbitrates the selection of the provider.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the provider is a terminal.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein arbitrating a selection of a provider further comprises defining a token, the token being held by the provider and the token being transferable to another provider.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the role is hierarchically defined.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the role is one of a people role and a content role, the people role designating participants in the multimedia conference, and the content role designating subject matter under discussion in the multimedia conference.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the device is at least one of a terminal, a multipoint conference unit, and a gateway.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein the arbitrates the selection of the provider.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising defining a plurality of tokens, each token being associated with a different role, and each token being held by one of a plurality of providers associated with one of the different roles.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein at least two of the plurality of providers comprise a single terminal.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein the provider is an exclusive provider of the one or more data signals for the role.

9. A system for managing media roles in a multimedia co network, the system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a data signal from a media source;

determining means for determining a role for the data signal, the role being indicative of a purpose of the media source in a multimedia conference;

labeling means for generating a label for the data signal, based upon the role;

combining means for combining the label and the data signal to provide a labeled signal; and

transmitting means for transmitting the labeled signal.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising capability means for determining whether a terminal has a capability to interpret the label, the transmitting means transmitting the labeled signal only if the terminal has the capability to interpret the label.

16. A method for managing media roles in a multimedia conferencing network, the method comprising:

receiving a data signal from a media source;

determining a role for the data signal, the role being indicative of a purpose of the media source in a multimedia conference;

generating a label for the data signal, based upon the role;

assigning the label to a logical channel; and

transmitting the data signal on the logical channel.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising arbitrating a selection of a provider, the selected provider being responsible for selecting one or ore data signals for the role.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the multipoint conference unit arbitrates the selection of the provider.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein a terminal arbitrates the selection of the provider.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the provider is a terminal.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein arbitrating the selection of the provider further comprises defining a token, the token being held by the provider and the token being transferable to another provider.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising defining a plurality of tokens, each token being associated with a different role, and each token being held by a one of a plurality of providers associated with one of the different roles.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein at least two of the plurality of providers comprise a single terminal.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the provider is an exclusive provider of the one or more data signals for the role.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein the role is hierarchically defined.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the role is one of a people role and a content role, the people role designating participants in the multimedia conference, and the content role designating subject matter under discussion in the multimedia conference.

27. A system for managing media roles in a multimedia conferencing network, the system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a data signal from a media source;

determining means for determining a role for the data signal, the role being indicative of a purpose of the media source in a multimedia conference;

generating means for generating a label for the data signal, based upon the role;

assigning means for assigning the label to a logical channel; and

transmitting means for transmitting the data signal on the logical channel.