Primary data stream communication

• US 7,949,116 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iocom UK Limited
• Original Assignee: inSORS Integrated Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Swanson, Jon N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee; Md S
• Application Number:
  US10/730,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,724 Days
• Field of Search: 37920201-20601, 379/93.21, 379/158, 704/275, 715/716, 715/753, 348/14.09, 370260-269, 455/416, 709/204
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method for communicating one or more primary data streams between a plurality of attendees connected to a communications network includes steps of communicating a plurality of data streams from each of the attendees to all others of the attendees, and of designating at least one of the streams from one of the attendees as primary. The primary stream is identified using a primary selection command.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a plurality of primary data streams between a plurality of attendees connected to one another by a communications network comprising the steps of:

communicating a plurality of real time video data streams from each of the plurality of attendees to all others of the plurality of attendees wherein each of the plurality of attendees receives said plurality of real time video data streams including at least one video data stream originating from each of the other attendees;

one of the plurality of attendees communicating a primary selection command that is received by at least a portion of the plurality of attendees and stored in a memory by each of said at least a portion of the plurality of attendees, said primary selection command designating a plurality of said plurality of real time video data streams communicated from at least one of the plurality of attendees as primary video data streams, said primary selection command including a priority ranking for each said primary video data stream; and

,

each of said at least a portion of the plurality of attendees using said primary selection command to identify at least one of said primary video data streams at said at least a portion of the plurality of attendees.

2. The method for communicating a plurality of primary data streams as defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of primary data streams are video data streams, and further including the step of at least some of said attendees displaying at least one of said primary data streams in a highlighted manner.

3. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 2 wherein the step of displaying said primary data streams in a highlighted manner comprises displaying said primary streams in a larger display size than any others of said plurality of data streams.

4. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 2 wherein the step of displaying said primary data streams in a highlighted manner comprises displaying said primary streams using a display template.

5. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 4 wherein said screen display template includes a designated position for displaying said primary data streams.

6. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of real time data streams has an identifier, and wherein said primary selection command includes said identifier corresponding to said primary video data streams.

7. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of real-time data streams has a unique identifier, and wherein said primary selection command includes said unique identifier corresponding to said primary data streams, and wherein the step of each of the plurality of attendees using said primary selection command to recognize said primary streams further includes using said primary stream identifier.

8. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 1 wherein the plurality of real time data streams communicated from each of said plurality of attendees includes a plurality of real time video streams and at least one real time audio stream, and wherein said primary selection command designates at least one of said plurality of real time video streams from at least one of said plurality of attendees.

9. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 1 and further including the step of enforcing one or more rules that define where said primary selection command may be communicated from.

10. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 9 wherein said at least one rule calls for said primary selection command to be generated only from a designated one of said plurality of attendees, said at least one rule also allowing for said designated attendee to be changed to a different of said plurality of attendees.

11. The method for communicating at least one primary data streams as defined by claim 1 wherein said primary selection command is communicated from a meeting facilitator connected to the network, said meeting facilitator monitoring all of said plurality of data streams but not communicating a video or audio data stream to said plurality of attendees, and wherein said at least a portion of said plurality of attendees is all of said plurality of attendees.

12. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 1 wherein said primary selection command includes a first primary selection command, and wherein the method further includes the step of communicating a second primary selection command to at least a portion of said plurality of attendees, said second primary selection command causing said at least one primary stream to be replaced by at least one second primary stream identified in said second primary selection command.

13. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 12 wherein said second primary selection command is communicated from a second of said plurality of attendees to all others of said plurality of attendees.

14. The method for communicating primary data streams as defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of attendees are a plurality of conference rooms participating in a virtual meeting, each of said conference rooms having a plurality of cameras that each generate a real time video signal and at least one microphone that generates a real time audio signal, and wherein said plurality of primary data stream includes at least one video data stream from each of said plurality of conference rooms wherein each conference room communicates at least one primary video stream and at least one other video stream to all others of the attendees.

15. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the method further includes the steps of:

enforcing a rule that allows only one of the plurality of attendees that is the holder of a virtual token to communicate said primary selection command; and

said one of the plurality of attendees holding said virtual token passing said virtual token to a second of the plurality of attendees wherein said second of the plurality of attendees may communicate said primary selection command.

16. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein:

each of said at least a portion of said attendees has a computer at their location for receiving said plurality of data streams from others of said attendees;

wherein said memory in which said primary selection command is stored is in said computer at each of said at least a portion of said attendees; and

,

wherein the step of using the primary selection command to identify said primary stream comprises said computer receiving said plurality of data streams and comparing said streams to said primary selection command stored in said memory to identify said at least a primary data stream.

17. A method for communicating a plurality of primary data streams between a plurality of attendees participating in a virtual meeting over a data network comprising the steps of:

carried out by a first of the plurality of attendees;

communicating a plurality of real time data streams to all others of the plurality of attendees, said plurality of real time data streams including at least one video data stream and at least one audio data stream, selecting a plurality of said plurality of real time data video streams as a primary data stream, communicating a primary selection command identifying said primary data streams to all others of the plurality of attendees, said primary selection command including a priority ranking for each said primary video data stream; and

,

carried out by all others of the plurality of attendees;

receiving said plurality of real time data streams communicated from the first of the attendees wherein each attendee receives a plurality of video data streams, receiving said primary selection command communicated from the first of the attendees, using said primary selection command to recognize said primary data streams, and displaying said primary data streams in a highlighted manner.

18. A computer readable memory storing a computer program product for communicating a plurality of primary data streams over a data network, the computer program comprising instructions when executed causing one or more computers to:

communicate a first plurality of real time data streams to a plurality of attendees connected to the communications network, said first plurality of real time data streams including at least one video data stream and at least one audio data stream wherein each of the plurality of attendees receive said first plurality of real time data streams;

each of a portion of the plurality of attendees using a primary selection command to identify a plurality of said plurality of real time video data streams as primary data streams, said primary selection command including a priority ranking for each said primary video data stream;

communicate a first primary stream identification to said plurality of attendees, said first primary stream identification command identifying a plurality of said first plurality of real time data streams as first primary data streams;

receive a second plurality of real time data streams from said plurality of attendees, said second plurality of real time data streams including at least one video data stream and at least one audio data stream;

receive a second primary stream identification command from at least one of said plurality of attendees;

use said second primary stream identification command to identify at least one second primary video data stream from said second plurality of real time data streams, and communicate said second primary stream identification to said plurality of attendees wherein each of said plurality of attendees receives said first primary stream identification and said second primary stream identification and uses said first and second primary stream identifications to identify said first and second primary video streams, said plurality of users thereby receiving two different primary video data streams.

19. The computer readable memory as defined by claim 18 wherein the computer program instructions further cause the one or more computers to display said second primary stream in a highlighted manner.