Multi-participant communication system with audio manager responsive to mode change requests

• US 8,670,556 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jade, Priyanka, Sabarathinam, Suresh, Kosanam, Silpa, Fried, Eric P
• Primary Examiner(s): Asanbayev, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US12/830,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/202.01, 379/219, 379/418, 379/419, 379/420.01, 379/421, 455/419, 455/420
• US Class Current: 379/420.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42238 in systems with telephone lines with multiple users
• 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

Abstract

A communication system includes a local communication device that communicates with a remote communication device via a wired or wireless communication link between the devices. The local communication device and the remote communication device are each capable of switching between a multiple user mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request. The local and remote communication devices include respective profiles that include profile attributes that define how the respective communication device responds to a mode change request. A user of one communication device may send a mode change request to the other communication device. In response to the mode change request, the other communication device changes mode between multiple participant mode and single participant mode if the profile of that communication device permits the mode change.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information, comprising:

storing, by a first communication device, a first profile including a respective user-selected profile attribute for each of multiple users of the first communication device to control responses of the first communication device to mode change requests on a per user basis, the first communication device being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request;

storing, by a second communication device, a second profile including a respective user-selected profile attribute for each of multiple users of the second communication device to control responses of the second communication device to the mode change requests on a per user basis, the first and second communication devices being remote from one another, the second communication device being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to the mode change request, the second communication device exhibiting a current mode that is one of the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode of the second communication device;

transmitting, by the first communication device, audio information and the mode change request to the second communication device, the mode change request being designated to a particular user of the multiple users of the second communication device;

receiving, by the second communication device, the audio information and the mode change request;

switching, by the second communication device, from the multiple user mode to the single user private mode, in response to the mode change request if permitted by the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device;

denying a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode, by the second communication device, in response to the mode change request if the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device does not permit the mode change; and

asking the particular user of the second communication device to allow the mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single-user private mode, by the second communication device, in response to the mode change request if the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device specifies that the particular user should be asked before allowing the mode change.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing respective default profiles for use by the first and second communication devices if respective users do not select profile attributes, the respective default profiles being applicable to the first and second communication devices on a per device basis.

3. A communication system, comprising:

a first communication device that stores a first profile including a respective user-selected profile attribute for each of multiple users of the first communication device to control responses of the first communication device to mode change requests on a per user basis, the first communication device being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request;

a second communication device that stores a second profile including a respective user-selected profile attribute for each of multiple users of the second communication device to control responses of the second communication device to the mode change requests on a per user basis, the first and second communication devices being remote from one another, the second communication device being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to the mode change request from the first communication device, the second communication device exhibiting a current mode that is one of the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode of the second communication device;

wherein the first communication device transmits audio information and the mode change request to the second communication device, the mode change request being designated to a particular user of the multiple users of the second communication device;

wherein the second communication device receives audio information and the mode change request, wherein the second communication device switches from the multiple user mode to the single user private mode in response to the mode change request if permitted by the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device;

wherein the second communication device denies a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode in response to the mode change request if the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device does not permit the mode change; and

wherein the second communication device asks the particular user of the second communication device to allow the mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode in response to the mode change request if the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device specifies that the particular user should be asked before allowing the mode change.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the first and second communication devices include respective default profiles for use by the first and second communication devices if respective users do not select profile attributes, the respective default profiles being applicable to the first and second communication devices on a per device basis.

5. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer executable program instructions;

first program instructions that store in a first communication device a first profile including a respective user-selected profile attribute for each of multiple users of the first communication device to control responses of the first communication device to mode change requests on a per user basis, the first communication device being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to a mode change request;

second program instructions that store in a second communication device a second profile including a respective user-selected profile attribute for each of multiple users of the second communication device to control responses of the second communication device to the mode change requests on a per user basis, the first and second communication devices being remote from one another, the second communication device being capable of switching between a multiple user communication mode and a single user private mode in response to the mode change request from the first communication device, the second communication device exhibiting a current mode that is one of the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode of the second communication device;

wherein the first communication device includes third program instructions that transmit audio information and the mode change request to the second communication device, the mode change request being designated to a particular user of the multiple users of the second communication device;

wherein the second communication device includes fourth program instructions that receive audio information and the mode change request, wherein the second communication device switches from the multiple user mode to the single user private mode in response to the mode change request if permitted by the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device;

wherein the second communication device includes fifth program instructions that instruct the second communication device to deny a mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode in response to the mode change request if the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device does not permit the mode change;

wherein the second communication device includes sixth program instructions that ask the particular user of the second communication device to allow the mode change between the multiple user communication mode and the single user private mode in response to the mode change request if the respective user-selected profile attribute of the particular user in the second profile of the second communication device specifies that the particular user should be asked before allowing the mode change; and

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising seventh program instructions that include respective default profiles in the first and second communication devices for use by the first and second communication devices if respective users do not select profile attributes, the respective default profiles being applicable to the first and second communication devices on a per device basis.