Speakerphone using a secure audio connection to initiate a second secure connection

• US 9,001,702 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• 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:
  US11/080,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,675 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 370/263, 370/264, 370/266, 370/270
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

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 speakerphone for communicating with a remote conference endpoint that is not acting as a bridge, the speakerphone 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 send control data in combination with audio data to the remote conference endpoint via an audio connection; and

wherein the control data comprises an instruction from the speakerphone that the remote conference endpoint not acting as a bridge establish a secure second connection.

2. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises an IP address.

3. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises a password.

4. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the secure second connection comprises a video link.

5. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the network interface sends and receives data according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, ISDN, and analog.

6. The speakerphone of claim 5, wherein the control data is combined in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

7. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the remote conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device combined with a separate control module, a second speakerphone, an IP phone, and a video conferencing unit.

8. A conferencing system comprising:

a plurality of conference endpoints including a speakerphone and a remote conference endpoint that is not acting as a bridge; and

a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the plurality of conference endpoints including the speakerphone and the remote conference endpoint;

wherein the speakerphone comprises a first control module operable to send control data in combination with audio data to the remote conference endpoint via an audio connection;

wherein the control data comprises an instruction from the speakerphone that the remote conference endpoint not acting as a bridge establish a secure second communication channel; and

wherein the remote conference endpoint establishes the secure second communication channel.

9. The conferencing system of claim 8, wherein the remote conference endpoint comprises a second control module operable to send control data in combination with audio data to the speakerphone.

10. The conferencing system of claim 8, wherein the control data comprises an IP address.

11. The conferencing system of claim 8, wherein the control data comprises a password.

12. The conferencing system of claim 8, wherein the second communication channel comprises a video link.

13. The conferencing system of claim 8, wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, ISDN, and analog.

14. The conferencing system of claim 13, wherein the control data is combined in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

15. The conferencing system of claim 8, wherein the remote conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device combined with a separate control module, a second speakerphone, an IP phone, and a video conferencing unit.

16. A method for establishing a secure second connection during an audio conference, the method comprising the steps of:

combining an audio signal and a control signal in a speakerphone;

sending the combined audio and control signal from the speakerphone to one or more remote endpoints not acting as a bridge via an audio connection;

instructing the one or more remote conference endpoints not acting as a bridge to establish a secure second connection; and

establishing a secure second connection based on the control signal;

wherein the control signal is substantially humanly inaudible.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, ISDN, and analog.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control data is combined in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the control signal comprises an IP address.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the control signal comprises a password.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer for establishing a secure connection during an audio conference by performing the steps of:

combining an audio signal and a control signal in a speakerphone;

sending the combined audio and control signal from the speakerphone to one or more remote endpoints not acting as a bridge via an audio connection; and

instructing the one or more remote conference endpoints not acting as a bridge to establish a secure second connection; and

establishing a secure second connection based on the control signal;

wherein the control signal is substantially humanly inaudible.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer of claim 21, wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, ISDN, and analog.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the control data is combined in-band with the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer of claim 21, wherein the control signal comprises an IP address.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer of claim 21, wherein the control signal comprises a password.