Conference link between a speakerphone and a video conference unit
First Claim
1. A method for combining a near end video conference unit and a near end speakerphone at a near end for a teleconference with at least one far end, the method comprising:
- connecting the near end video conference unit and the near end speakerphone with a conference link;
picking up audio signals at the near end with microphones of the near end speakerphone;
deriving near end audio signals for transmission to a first far end; and
exchanging audio signals between the near end speakerphone and the near end video conference unit through the conference link in replacement of receiving audio signals at the near end video conference unit from at least one microphone directly connectable to the near end video conference unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A conference link between devices in teleconference system at one site is disclosed. The linked devices include video conference units, speakerphones or stand-alone loudspeakers. Audio data can be transmitted through the conference link between devices. Audio data processing can be performed in either a video conference unit or a speakerphone. The microphones and loudspeakers in the video conference unit may be eliminated. The microphones and loudspeakers in the speakerphone are used. Other data, for example directories of dialing information, may also be transmitted through the conference link and the data processing may be allocated among processors in devices connected by conference links. The conference link may be wired or wireless, analog or digital. The devices may be linked by conference link in parallel or series. A dialing program can adapt the dialing stream with the locations of the near end site and the dialed far end site. The dialing program can automatically select a mutually supported network or protocol to establish a connection between two sites.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for combining a near end video conference unit and a near end speakerphone at a near end for a teleconference with at least one far end, the method comprising:
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connecting the near end video conference unit and the near end speakerphone with a conference link; picking up audio signals at the near end with microphones of the near end speakerphone; deriving near end audio signals for transmission to a first far end; and exchanging audio signals between the near end speakerphone and the near end video conference unit through the conference link in replacement of receiving audio signals at the near end video conference unit from at least one microphone directly connectable to the near end video conference unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A near end video conference unit for connection with a far end video conference unit which provides and receives audio and video data, the near end video conference unit further for connection to a standalone, near end speakerphone which comprises a microphone, a loudspeaker and a network connection and which is capable of performing audio-only communications over the network connection, the near end video conference unit comprising:
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a network interface for receiving audio and video data from and providing audio and video data to the far end video conference unit; a control module coupled to the network interface; a microphone interface for receiving audio signals from a microphone; a video input interface coupled to the control module for receiving video signals; a video output interface coupled to the control module for sending out video signals to a video display; and a conference link interface coupled to the control module, wherein the conference link interface is operable to connect to another conference link interface on the near end speakerphone through a conference link; and wherein the control module is operable to exchange audio data with the near end speakerphone through the conference link in replacement of receiving audio signals at the near end video conference unit from at least one microphone directly connectable to the microphone interface. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A near end speakerphone for connection with a far end speakerphone which provides and receives audio data, the near end speakerphone further for connection to a near end video conference unit having a network interface and which provides and receives audio and video data, the near end speakerphone comprising:
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a control module; a loudspeaker coupled to the control module; a microphone coupled to the control module; a conference link interface coupled to the control module; and a network interface coupled to the control module for receiving audio data from and providing audio data to the far end speakerphone, wherein the conference link interface is operable to connect to another conference link interface on the near end video conference unit through a conference link, and wherein the control module is operable to receive far end audio signals from the far end speakerphone and to transmit the far end audio signals to the near end video conference unit through the conference link. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A teleconference system for connection with a far end video conference unit which provides and receives audio and video data, the teleconference conference system further for connection to a far end speakerphone which contains a microphone and a loudspeaker, the teleconference system comprising:
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a near end video conference unit having; a v-network interface for receiving audio and video data from and providing audio and video data to the far end video conference unit; a v-microphone interface for receiving audio signals from a microphone; a v-conference link interface; and a v-control module coupled to the v-network interface and the v-conference link interface; a near end speakerphone having; a microphone; a loudspeaker; an s-network interface for receiving audio data from and providing audio data to the far end speakerphone; an s-conference link interface; and an s-control module coupled to the s-network interface, the s-conference link interface, the microphone and the loudspeaker; and a conference link connecting the v-conference link interface with the s-conference link interface, wherein the conference link couples the v-control module to the s-control module; and wherein audio signals are transmitted between the near end video conference unit and the near end speakerphone through the conference link in replacement of receiving audio signals at the near end video conference unit from at least one microphone directly connectable to the v-microphone interface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A teleconference system comprising:
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a near end conference system having; a near end video conference unit; and a near end speakerphone coupled to the near end video conference unit via a conference link, wherein the near end speakerphone has a microphone and a loudspeaker; a first far end conference system having a far end video conference unit coupled to the near end video conference unit through a first network, wherein the first far end conference system is operable to provide first far end video and audio signals; and a second far end conference system having a far end speakerphone coupled to the near end speakerphone through a second network, wherein the second far end conference system is operable to provide second far end audio signals, wherein first far end audio signals from the first far end conference system are received by the near end video conference unit and transmitted to the near end speakerphone through the conference link; wherein second far end audio signals from the second far end conference system are received by the near end speakerphone concurrently with receiving first far end audio signals through the conference link; and wherein near end audio signals are generated by the microphone of the near end speakerphone. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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Specification