Method and system for providing a user interface to a portable communication device for controlling a conferencing session

• US 8,340,268 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Knaz, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US12/465,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/205.01, 455/425
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A conferencing system for an enterprise is disclosed. The conferencing system allows a conferencing session conducted on a conferencing device within a premises to be controlled from a portable communication device. The system provides a generic user interface to the portable communication device for controlling the conferencing session. Commands for controlling the conferencing session are entered on the portable communication device and signaled to the conferencing device.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a portable communication device to control a conferencing session on a conferencing device, the method comprising:

transmitting to the portable communication device data processable by the portable communication device causing the portable communication device to display a user interface for controlling the conferencing session, wherein the data comprises a multimedia control panel for the portable communication device;

receiving from the portable communication device a signal representing a command entered at the user interface; and

in response to the signal, transmitting to a processor of the conferencing device data causing the conferencing device to execute the command, comprising

identifying one or more capabilities of the conferencing device and

retrieving from a memory the data causing the conferencing device to execute the command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conferencing device is selected from the group consisting of a multipoint control unit and a conferencing endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP-phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, and a personal digital assistant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is to initiate a conference at the conferencing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conferencing device is a multimedia conferencing endpoint and where the command is to adjust a camera.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the conferencing device is a multipoint control unit or a multimedia conferencing endpoint and the command specifies a layout for a video conferencing session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is engaged in a communication session with a remote endpoint, the method further comprising transmitting to the portable communication device a prompt prompting for a request from the portable communication device to transfer the communication session from the portable communication device to the conferencing device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a request from the portable communication device to transfer the communication session from the portable communication device to the conferencing device;

in response to the request, determining contact information for the remote endpoint; and

initiating a connection between the conferencing device and the remote endpoint.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting to the portable communication device data processable by the portable communication device causing the portable communication device to display a menu of conferencing devices that can be controlled by the portable communication device.

10. A portable communication device comprising:

a transceiver that receives data, wherein the data comprises a multimedia control panel for the portable communication device;

a display; and

a processor programmed to;

cause the display to display a user interface for controlling a conferencing device;

recognize a command entered at the user interface;

in response to the command, cause the transceiver to transmit a signal representing a command entered at the user interface, comprising;

identifying one or more capabilities of the conferencing device; and

causing the conferencing device to execute the command.

11. The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein causing the display to display a user interface for controlling a conferencing device comprises processing data received by the transceiver.

12. The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP-phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, and a personal digital assistant.

13. The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein the conferencing device is selected from the group consisting of a multipoint control unit and a conferencing endpoint.

14. The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein the command is to initiate a conference at the conferencing device.

15. The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein the conferencing device is a multimedia conferencing endpoint and where the command is to adjust a camera.

16. The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein the conferencing device is a multipoint control unit or a multimedia conferencing endpoint and the command specifies a layout for a video conferencing session.

17. The portable communication device of claim 11, wherein the command is to initiate a connection between the conferencing device and a remote endpoint that is engaged in a communication session with the portable communication device.

18. A communication management apparatus comprising:

a transceiver;

a computer readable medium having stored thereon data processable by a portable communication device for causing the portable communication device to display a user interface for controlling a conferencing device, wherein the data comprises a multimedia control panel for the portable communication device;

a computer readable medium having stored thereon data processable by a processor of a conferencing device for causing the conferencing device to execute commands; and

a processor programmed to;

cause the transceiver to transmit to the portable communication device the data processable by a portable communication device for causing the portable communication device to display a user interface for controlling a conferencing device;

receive from the portable communication device a signal representing a command entered at the user interface; and

in response to the signal, transmit to a processor of the conferencing device data causing the conferencing device to execute the command, comprising

identifying one or more capabilities of the conferencing device and

retrieving from a memory the data causing the conferencing device to execute the command.

19. The communication management apparatus of claim 18, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP-phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, and a personal digital assistant.

20. The communication management apparatus of claim 18, wherein the conferencing device is selected from the group consisting of a multipoint control unit and a conferencing endpoint.

21. The communication management apparatus of claim 18, wherein the command is to initiate a conference at the conferencing device.

22. The communication management apparatus of claim 18, wherein the command is to initiate a connection between the conferencing device and a remote endpoint that is engaged in a communication session with the portable communication device.