Muting a videoconference using touch-based gestures

• US 8,605,872 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Mock, Wayne E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US13/171,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.03, 379/93.21, 379/158, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 379/93.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

Controlling a videoconference based on gestures received to a touch interface. A gesture may be received to a touch interface. In response to the gesture, a videoconference action may be performed. For example, a first gesture may be received to mute the videoconference and in response, the videoconference may be muted. As another example, a second gesture may be received to adjust the volume of the videoconference, and the volume may be correspondingly adjusted. Further, various gestures may be received for controlling one or more cameras in a videoconference, accessing settings in a videoconference, interacting with a presentation, etc.

Claims

1. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions for muting a videoconference using a touch screen, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

display on the touch screen a graphical user interface comprising one or more selectable options;

receive user input to the touch screen during the videoconference, wherein the user input comprises a complex touch gesture to mute the videoconference, wherein the complex touch gesture is performed at least partially over the one or more selectable options of the graphical user interface, wherein the complex touch gesture does not select any of the one or more selectable options;

mute the videoconference based on the complex touch gesture.

2. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the complex gesture corresponds to a video mute, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises video muting the videoconference.

3. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 2, wherein the user input is received at a first participant location, wherein video muting the videoconference comprises ceasing to provide video of participants at the first participant location.

4. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 2, wherein the complex gesture comprises a three touch tap gesture.

5. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the complex gesture corresponds to an audio mute, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises audio muting the videoconference.

6. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 5, wherein the user input is received at a first participant location, wherein audio muting the videoconference comprises ceasing to provide audio of participants at the first participant location.

7. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 5, wherein the complex gesture comprises a two touch tap gesture.

8. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 5, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive second user input to the touch screen during the videoconference, wherein the second user input comprises a second complex touch gesture to video mute a videoconference; and

video mute the videoconference based on the second complex touch gesture.

9. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the user input is received at a first participant location, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises ceasing to provide audio and video of participants at the first participant location.

10. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the complex gesture comprises a multi-touch tap gesture.

11. A method for muting a videoconference using a touch screen, comprising:

displaying on the touch screen a graphical user interface comprising one or more selectable options;

receiving user input to the touch screen during the videoconference, wherein the user input comprises a complex touch gesture to mute the videoconference, wherein the complex touch gesture is performed at least partially over the one or more selectable options of the graphical user interface, wherein the complex touch gesture does not select any of the one or more selectable options;

muting the videoconference based on the complex touch gesture.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the complex gesture corresponds to a video mute, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises video muting the videoconference.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user input is received at a first participant location, wherein video muting the videoconference comprises ceasing to provide video of participants at the first participant location.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the complex gesture comprises a three touch tap gesture.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the complex gesture corresponds to an audio mute, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises audio muting the videoconference.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user input is received at a first participant location, wherein audio muting the videoconference comprises ceasing to provide audio of participants at the first participant location.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the complex gesture comprises a two touch tap gesture.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving second user input to the touch screen during the videoconference, wherein the second user input comprises a second complex touch gesture to video mute a videoconference; and

video muting the videoconference based on the second complex touch gesture.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the user input is received at a first participant location, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises ceasing to provide audio and video of participants at the first participant location.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the complex gesture comprises a multi-touch tap gesture.

21. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

a videoconferencing unit at a participant location;

at least one display coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one display is configured to provide video corresponding to other participant locations during a videoconference;

at least one audio output coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio output is configured to provide audio corresponding to the other participant locations during the videoconference;

at least one video input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one video input is configured to capture video of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations;

at least one audio input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio input is configured to capture audio of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations; and

at least one touch interface coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one touch interface is configured to;

display a graphical user interface comprising one or more selectable options; and

receive a plurality of touch gestures to control the videoconference;

wherein, in response to a first complex touch gesture received to the at least one touch interface at least partially over the one or more selectable options of the graphical user interface, but without selecting any of the one or more selectable options, the videoconferencing unit is configured to mute the videoconference.

22. The videoconferencing system of claim 21, wherein the videoconferencing system further comprises a speaker phone, wherein a first touch interface of the at least one touch interface is comprised in the speaker phone.

23. The videoconferencing system of claim 22, wherein the first touch interface is removable from the speaker phone.

24. The videoconferencing system of claim 21, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises audio muting the videoconference.

25. The videoconferencing system of claim 21, wherein said muting the videoconference comprises video muting the videoconference.