Speakerphone transmitting control information embedded in audio information through a conference bridge
First Claim
1. A conference endpoint for connection to a network and for use with a multipoint conferencing bridge which mutes all but a selected number of sources, the conference endpoint comprising:
- an audio processing unit;
a control module coupled to the audio processing unit; and
a network interface coupled to the control module;
wherein the control module is operable to provide control data embedded in audio data to said network interface,wherein said control module embeds control data in audio data in a manner to allow control data to be transferred to another endpoint through the multipoint conferencing bridge,wherein the control data is embedded in audio data using an analog protocol, andwherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible when embedded in the audio data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A conference endpoint for connection to a network and for use with a multipoint conferencing bridge which mutes all but a selected number of sources, the conference endpoint comprising:
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an audio processing unit; a control module coupled to the audio processing unit; and a network interface coupled to the control module; wherein the control module is operable to provide control data embedded in audio data to said network interface, wherein said control module embeds control data in audio data in a manner to allow control data to be transferred to another endpoint through the multipoint conferencing bridge, wherein the control data is embedded in audio data using an analog protocol, and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible when embedded in the audio data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A conferencing system comprising:
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a multipoint conferencing bridge which mutes all but a selected number of sources below a selected volume level; a network coupled to said bridge; and a conference endpoint including; an audio processing unit; a control module coupled to the audio processing unit; and a network interface coupled to the control module and to the network; wherein the control module is operable to provide control data embedded in audio data to said network interface, wherein said control module embeds control data in audio data in a manner to allow control data to be transferred to another endpoint through the multipoint conferencing bridge, wherein the control data is embedded in audio data using an analog protocol, and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible when embedded in the audio data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a conference endpoint for connection to a network and for use with a multipoint conferencing bridge which mutes all but a selected number of sources, the method comprising:
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receiving an audio signal; and embedding a control signal in the audio signal; wherein the control signal is embedded in the audio signal in a manner to allow the control signal to be transferred to another endpoint through the multipoint conferencing bridge wherein the control signal is embedded in the audio signal using an analog protocol, and wherein the control signal is substantially humanly inaudible when embedded in the audio data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification