Conference endpoint controlling audio volume of a remote device

• US 8,948,059 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey, Drell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhou, Yong
• Application Number:
  US11/080,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,612 Days
• Field of Search: 370/202.01, 370/250, 370/259, 370/260, 370/342, 370/352, 709/205
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call

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.

Claims

1. A conference terminal for communicating with a selected separated conference terminal which is not acting as a conference bridge, the conference terminal comprising:

an audio processing unit;

a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the control module;

wherein the control module is operable to transmit control data in combination with audio data to the selected separated conference terminal;

wherein the control data comprises a signal that adjusts the volume of the audio sent by the selected separated conference terminal to all other conference participant devices;

wherein the network interface sends and receives data according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog; and

wherein the control data is transmitted in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

2. The conference terminal of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises a signal that increases the gain of the audio sent by the selected separated conference terminal.

3. The conference terminal of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises a signal that decreases the gain of the audio sent by the selected separated conference terminal.

4. The conference terminal of claim 1, wherein the conference terminal is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device without the control module combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, and a video conferencing unit.

5. The conference terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a video processing unit communicably coupled to the network interface.

6. A conferencing system comprising:

a plurality of conference participant devices including a first conference terminal and a user-selected second conference terminal separately situated from the first conference terminal and not acting as a conference bridge; and

a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the plurality of conference terminals including the first conference terminal and the second conference terminal;

wherein the first conference terminal comprises a first control module operable to provide control data in combination with audio data to the user-selected second conference terminal;

wherein the control data comprises a signal that adjusts the volume of the sound transmitted by the user-selected second conference terminal to all of the conference participant devices;

wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog; and

wherein the control data is transmitted in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

7. The conferencing system of claim 6, wherein the second conference terminal is remote from the first conference terminal.

8. The conferencing system of claim 6, wherein the second conference terminal comprises a second control module operable to provide control data in combination with audio data to the first conference terminal.

9. The conferencing system of claim 6, wherein the control data comprises a signal that increases the gain of the audio sent by the user-selected second conference terminal.

10. The conferencing system of claim 6, wherein the control data comprises a signal that decreases the gain of the audio sent by the user-selected second conference terminal.

11. The conferencing system of claim 6, wherein the first conference terminal is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device without the first control module combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, and a video conferencing unit.

12. A method for controlling the volume of one or more selected remote terminals not acting as a bridge during a conference, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting one or more remote terminals for volume adjustment;

combining an audio signal and a control signal;

sending the combined audio and control signal to the one or more selected remote terminals;

automatically controlling the volume of the audio output of the one or more selected remote terminals transmitted to all of the participant devices in response to the control signal;

wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog; and

wherein the control data is transmitted in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer for controlling the volume of one or more selected remote terminals during a conference by performing the steps of:

combining an audio signal and a control signal;

sending the combined audio and control signal to the one or more selected remote terminals;

automatically controlling the volume of the audio output of the one or more remote terminals transmitted to all of the participant devices in response to the control signal;

wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog; and

wherein the control data is transmitted in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.