Method of detecting audio/video devices within a room

• US 7,394,366 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Dedieu, Stephane, Moquin, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US11/272,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/686.6, 340/692, 340/693.6, 340/5.8, 340/825.49, 340/10.42, 340/7.21
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for automatic identification and integration of audio/visual devices in a room for multi-media conferencing operation. Each device includes a circuit that periodically emits a signal that is recognized by another device. Upon receiving the signal, the other devices respond with information relating to how they can inter-communicate with each other over one or more networks they are connected to. An ad-hoc conferencing network is established between the integrated devices, such that the quality of multi-media conferencing is improved through the use of all the available devices within a room. The signal is preferably one that is confined to a room, and a specific protocol can be implemented to manage the exchange of information between the devices.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly detecting a second device with a first device in a room, comprising:

a) emitting a signal confined to the room from the first device;

b) receiving a reply signal confined to the room from the second device in response to the emitted signal;

c) registering the second device in response to receiving the reply signal from the first device; and

d) requesting a network address of the second device by the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including a step of monitoring the room for a predetermined period of time before the step of emitting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of emitting includes emitting the signal at regular intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving includes detecting the signal by the second device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second device emits the replay at delayed time after detecting the signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a third device emits a second reply at the delayed time after detecting the signal.

7. The method of claim 6, further including a step of detecting a collision between the second device and the third device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second device and the third device reply at randomly determined delayed times in response to detection of the collision.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal and the reply signal are ultra-sound signals.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein of the ultra-sound signals are generated in a 30-34 Hz frequency range.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal and the reply signal are infrared signals.

12. The method of claim 1, further including emitting the network address by the second device in response to tile step of requesting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of requesting the network address includes emitting an address request signal confined to the room by the first device, and the step of emitting the network address includes emitting an address signal confined to the room by the second device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving includes receiving a second reply signal from a third device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the reply signal includes a symbol corresponding to an order of the second device and the second reply signal includes a second symbol corresponding to an order of the third device relative to the second device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the third device provides the symbol corresponding to the order of the second device when the second device is removed form the room or deactivated.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second reply signal includes a second network address corresponding to the third device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second network address is received by the at least one device.

19. The method of claim 18, further including a step of establishing network communication between the first device, the second device, and the third device.

20. A method for wirelessly detecting a second device with a first device in a room, comprising:

a) emitting a signal confined to the room from the first device;

b) receiving a reply signal confined to the room from the second device in response to the emitted signal, the reply signal includes a network address corresponding to the second device; and

,

c) registering the second device in response to receiving the reply signal from the first device.

21. The method of claim 20, further including a step of establishing network communication between the first device and the second device.