Speakerphone transmitting URL information to a remote device

• US 7,864,938 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey, Drell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISLAM, MOHAMMAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/080,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 705/8, 705/9, 348/14.01, 370/260, 709/204, 707/10
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• 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: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/00 Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems multiplex systems H04J
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/24 Conference circuit

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge.

Claims

1. A speakerphone for communicating with a remote conference endpoint, the speakerphone comprising:

an audio processing unit;

a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the control module;

wherein the control module is operable to send control data in combination with audio data to the remote conference endpoint via an audio connection; and

wherein the control data comprises IP connection information;

wherein the network interface sends and receive data according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local digital input/output, ISDN, and analog;

wherein the control data is embedded in the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

2. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the IP connection information comprises an IP address.

3. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the IP connection information comprises a URL.

4. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the remote conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device combined with a separate control module, a second speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

5. A conferencing system comprising:

a plurality of conference endpoints including a speakerphone and a remote conference endpoint; and

a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the plurality of conference endpoints including the speakerphone and the remote conference endpoint;

wherein the speakerphone comprises a first control module operable to send control data in combination with audio data to the remote conference endpoint; and

wherein the control data comprises IP connection information;

wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local digital input/output, ISDN, and analog;

wherein the control data is embedded in the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

6. The conferencing system of claim 5, wherein the IP connection information comprises a URL.

7. The conferencing system of claim 5, wherein the IP connection information comprises an IP address.

8. The conferencing system of claim 5, wherein the remote conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device combined with a separate control module, a second speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

9. A method for providing IP connection information during an audio conference, the method comprising the steps of:

combining an audio signal and a control signal in a speakerphone; and

sending the combined audio and control signal from the speakerphone to the one or more remote endpoints via an audio connection; and

wherein the control signal comprises IP connection information;

wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local digital input/output, ISDN, and analog;

wherein the control signal is embedded in the audio signal and wherein the control signal is substantially humanly inaudible.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the control signal comprises an IP address.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the control signal comprises a URL.

12. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for providing IP connection information during an audio conference by performing the steps of:

combining an audio signal and a control signal in a speakerphone;

sending the combined audio and control signal from the speakerphone to the one or more remote endpoints via an audio connection; and

wherein the control signal comprises IP connection information;

wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local digital input/output, ISDN, and analog;

wherein the control signal is embedded in the audio signal and wherein the control signal is substantially humanly inaudible.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the control signal comprises an IP address.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the control signal comprises a URL.