Apparatus and method for packet-based media communications
First Claim
1. A conference bridge comprising:
- an input unit that operates to receive media data packets from at least two sources forming a media conference, each media data packet comprising a media signal and packet overhead, wherein the input unit is adapted to remove the packet overhead;
a talker selection unit that operates to receive speech indication signals from at least one of the sources within the media conference and to process the speech indication signals including selecting a set of the sources within the media conference as talkers; and
an output unit, coupled to the input unit, that operates to output the media signals that correspond to the set of sources within the media conference selected as talkers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The performance of a voice conference using a packet-based conference bridge can be improved with a number of modifications. In one modification, the conference bridge receives speech indication signals from the individual packet-based terminals within the voice conference, these speech indication signals then being used by the conference bridge to select the talkers within the voice conference. This removes the need for speech detection techniques within the conference bridge, hence decreasing the required processing power and the latency within the conference bridge. In another modification, the conference bridge sends addressing control signals to the individual packet-based terminals selected as talkers, these addressing control signals directing the terminals selected as talkers to directly transmit their voice data packets to the other terminals within the voice conference. This direct transmission of voice data packets can reduce transcoding and latency within the network. These two modifications could further be combined, resulting in a conference bridge that receives speech indication signals, selects the talkers for the voice conference and outputs addressing control signal to the talkers. In this case, the advantages of the two modifications are gained as well as additional capacity advantages resulting from no voice signals actually traversing the conference bridge.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A conference bridge comprising:
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an input unit that operates to receive media data packets from at least two sources forming a media conference, each media data packet comprising a media signal and packet overhead, wherein the input unit is adapted to remove the packet overhead; a talker selection unit that operates to receive speech indication signals from at least one of the sources within the media conference and to process the speech indication signals including selecting a set of the sources within the media conference as talkers; and an output unit, coupled to the input unit, that operates to output the media signals that correspond to the set of sources within the media conference selected as talkers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 32)
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14. A conference bridge comprising:
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means for receiving media data packets from at least two sources forming a media conference, each media data packet comprising a media signal and packet overhead, wherein the input unit is adapted to remove the packet overhead; means for receiving speech indication signals from at least one of the sources within the media conference; means for processing the speech indication signals including selecting a set of the sources within the media conference as talkers; and means for outputting the media signals that correspond to the set of sources within the media conference selected as talkers.
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15. A conference bridge comprising:
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means for receiving media data packets from at least two sources forming a media conference, each media data packet defining a media signal; means for selecting a set of the sources within the media conference as talkers; and means for instructing the sources within the media conference selected as talkers to output their media signals directly to other sources within the media conference.
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16. A conference bridge arranged to be coupled to a packet-based network that includes at least two sources of media signals forming a media conference, the conference bridge comprising:
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means for receiving speech indication signals from at least one of the sources within the media conference; means for processing the speech indication signals including selecting a set of the sources within the media conference as talkers; and means for instructing the sources within the media conference selected as talkers to output their media signals directly to other sources within the media conference.
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17. A packet-based apparatus arranged to be coupled to a conference bridge via a packet-based network, the packet-based apparatus comprising:
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an addressing control unit that operates to receive at least one addressing control signal from the conference bridge; and an output unit that operates to receive media signals from at least one participant within a media conference and output the received media signal, via the packet-based network, to at least one other participant within the media conference based upon the addressing control signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling a media conference, the method comprising:
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receiving media data packets from at least two sources forming a media conference, each media data packet comprising a media signal and packet overhead; removing the packet overhead from the media data packets; receiving speech indication signals from at least one of the sources within the media conference; selecting a set of the sources within the media conference as talkers based on the received speech indication signals; and outputting the media signals that correspond to the set of sources within the media conference selected as talkers.
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27. A method for controlling a media conference including at least two sources of media signals, the method comprising:
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selecting a set of the sources of media signals within the media conference as talkers, wherein selecting the set of sources involves identifying the sources within the media conference containing speech and selecting a set of the sources containing speech as talkers; and instructing the sources within the media conference selected as talkers to output their media signals directly to other sources within the media conference. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method for a packet-based apparatus to operate within a media conference controlled by a conference bridge, the method comprising:
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receiving media signals from at least one participant within the media conference; receiving at least one addressing control signal from the conference bridge; and outputting the received media signal to at least one other participant within the media conference based upon the addressing control signal. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification