Pairing devices in conference using ultrasonic beacon and subsequent connection transfer
First Claim
1. A method implemented at a first device for conferencing the first device and a second device in a near-end environment with a far-end, comprising:
- outputting, with the first device, connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment;
connecting the first device via a near-end connection to the second device in the near-end environment by receiving a response at the first device from the second device via the near-end connection, the response being based on the second device using the output connection information requesting connection of the second device with the first device; and
taking over, with the first device, a far-end connection that the second device has with the far-end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit'"'"'s loudspeaker and the portable device'"'"'s microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.
38 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method implemented at a first device for conferencing the first device and a second device in a near-end environment with a far-end, comprising:
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outputting, with the first device, connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment; connecting the first device via a near-end connection to the second device in the near-end environment by receiving a response at the first device from the second device via the near-end connection, the response being based on the second device using the output connection information requesting connection of the second device with the first device; and taking over, with the first device, a far-end connection that the second device has with the far-end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A first device, comprising:
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a loudspeaker for outputting audio in a near-end environment; one or more interfaces for communicatively connecting the first device with a far-end in a far-end connection and with a second device in a near-end connection; and a processing unit communicatively connected to the loudspeaker and the one or more interfaces, the processing unit configured to; connect with the far-end in the far-end connection; output connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment with the loudspeaker; receive a response at the first device from the second device via the near-end connection to connect with the second device in the near-end connection, the response being based on the second device using the output connection information and requesting connection of the second device with the first device; and take over a far-end connection of the second device to a far-end.
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20. A method implemented at a first device for conferencing the first device and a second device in a near-end environment with a far-end, comprising:
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connecting the first device in the near-end environment to the far-end with a far-end connection; detecting, with the first device, an imperceptible acoustic beacon output by the second device in the near-end environment; decoding, with the first device, connection information from the detected acoustic beacon; connecting the first device with the second device via a network connection by sending a response from the first device to the second device via the near-end connection, the response using the decoded connection information and requesting connection of the first device with the second device; and transferring the far end connection from the first device to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 27, 28, 29)
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23. A first device, comprising:
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a microphone for capturing first audio in a near-end environment; one or more interfaces for communicatively connecting the first device with a far-end in a far-end connection and with a second device in a near-end connection; and a processing unit communicatively connected to the microphone and the one or more interfaces, the processing unit configured to; connect with the far-end in the far-end connection; detect, with the microphone, an imperceptible acoustic beacon output by the second device in the near-end environment, decode connection information from the detected acoustic beacon, send a response from the first device to the second device via the near-end connection to connect with the second device via the network connection, the response being based on the decoded connection information and requesting connection of the first device with the second device, and transfer the far-end connection from the first device to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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30. A method implemented at a first device for conferencing the first device and a second device in a near-end environment with a far-end, comprising:
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outputting, with the first device, connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment; connecting the first device via a near-end connection to the second device in the near-end environment based on the second device using the output connection information; taking over, with the first device, a far-end connection that the second device has with the far-end by obtaining, at the first device via the far-end connection, far-end audio and sending, with the first device, the far-end audio for output in the near-end environment; and cancelling the far-end audio sent from the first device for output in the near-end environment that is present in second audio obtained at the first device from the second device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A first device, comprising:
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a loudspeaker for outputting audio in a near-end environment; one or more interfaces for communicatively connecting the first device with a far-end in a far-end connection and with a second device in a near-end connection; and a processing unit communicatively connected to the loudspeaker and the one or more interfaces, the processing unit configured to; connect with the far-end in the far-end connection; output connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment with the loudspeaker; connect with the second device in the near-end connection based on the second device using the output connection information; and take over a far-end connection of the second device to a far-end, wherein to take over the far-end connection, the processing unit is configured to obtain, via the far-end connection, far-end audio and send the far-end audio for output in the near-end environment; and wherein the processing unit is configured to cancel the far-end audio sent from the first device for output in the near-end environment that is present in second audio obtained at the first device from the second device. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification