Video conference system providing private and attorney-client privileged communications
First Claim
1. A conference system, comprising:
- a communications link coupling a first location to a second location;
a first input-output device disposed at the first location, generating a signal from an attorney;
a second input-output device disposed at the second location, generating a signal from the attorney'"'"'s client, the attorney and the client having a relationship protected by the attorney-client privilege;
a third input-output device disposed at the first location, generating a signal from a third party;
a signal processor disposed in the communications link between the first and second locations, the signal processor routing the signals between the input-output devices at the first and second locations; and
a control panel operatively coupled to the signal processor, providing control over the signals routed thereby;
wherein the communications link communicatively couples the first, second and third input-output devices to one another, such that each of the input-output devices is configured to receive and play signals from the others of the input-output devices, andwherein the control panel also controls the input-output devices so that a private communication may be established between the first and second input-output devices, at the exclusion of the third input-output device, such that the signals generated by the first and second input-output devices are maintained in confidence and such that the attorney and the attorney'"'"'s client are permitted to engage in a private communication without vitiating the attorney-client privilege.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A conference system includes a first conference station generating at least one of audio and video signals from at least an attorney and a second conference station generating at least one of audio and video signals from the attorney'"'"'s client, the attorney and the attorney'"'"'s client having a relationship protected by the attorney-client privilege. The system also includes at least one communications link connecting the first and second conference stations that carries the audio and/or video signals between the first and second conference stations. A signal processor is disposed within the communications link between the first and second conference stations to route signals between the first and second conference stations. At least one control panel communicates with the signal processor and provides control over audio and/or video signals so that the attorney and the attorney'"'"'s client are permitted to engage in a private communication without vitiating the attorney-client privilege.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A conference system, comprising:
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a communications link coupling a first location to a second location; a first input-output device disposed at the first location, generating a signal from an attorney; a second input-output device disposed at the second location, generating a signal from the attorney'"'"'s client, the attorney and the client having a relationship protected by the attorney-client privilege; a third input-output device disposed at the first location, generating a signal from a third party; a signal processor disposed in the communications link between the first and second locations, the signal processor routing the signals between the input-output devices at the first and second locations; and a control panel operatively coupled to the signal processor, providing control over the signals routed thereby; wherein the communications link communicatively couples the first, second and third input-output devices to one another, such that each of the input-output devices is configured to receive and play signals from the others of the input-output devices, and wherein the control panel also controls the input-output devices so that a private communication may be established between the first and second input-output devices, at the exclusion of the third input-output device, such that the signals generated by the first and second input-output devices are maintained in confidence and such that the attorney and the attorney'"'"'s client are permitted to engage in a private communication without vitiating the attorney-client privilege. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An audio-video conferencing method between a courtroom and a jail, comprising:
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providing a first input-output device in the courtroom to capture information from an attorney during a trial and generate an attorney audio-visual signal; providing a second input-output device in the jail to capture information from an inmate during a trial and generate an inmate audio-visual signal; providing a third input-output device in the courtroom to capture information from another participant during trial and generate a third party audio-visual signal; communicatively coupling the first, second, and third input-output device to one another; controlling the audio-visual signals communicated from the courtroom to the jail with a signal processor; and operatively coupling a control panel, controlled by a judge, to the signal processor; wherein, when the attorney wishes to conduct an attorney-client privileged communication with the inmate, the judge selects an attorney-client sidebar function via the control panel, wherein, after initiating the attorney-client sidebar feature, the first and second input-output devices communicate with one another, to the exclusion of the third input-output device, thereby permitting the attorney and client to engage in an attorney-client communication without vitiating the attorney-client privilege.
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23. A conference system, comprising:
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a communications link coupling a first location to a second location; a first input-output device disposed at the first location, generating a signal from an first party; a second input-output device disposed at the second location, generating a signal from a second party; a third input-output device disposed at one of either the first and second locations, generating a signal from a third party; a signal processor disposed in the communications link between the first and second locations, the signal processor routing the signals between the input-output devices at the first and second locations; and a control panel operatively coupled to the signal processor, providing control over the signals routed thereby; wherein the communications link communicatively couples the first, second and third input-output devices to one another, such that each of the input-output devices is configured to receive and play signals from the others of the input-output devices, and wherein the control panel also controls the input-output devices so that a private communication may be established between the first and second input-output devices, at the exclusion of the third input-output device, such that the signals generated by the first and second input-output devices are maintained in confidence.
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Specification