Method for pairing a computer with a video conference device

• US 9,621,603 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vadla Ravnas, Ole Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENSON, JAMAAL R
• Application Number:
  US14/586,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20150120838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4053 without floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A method includes generating a random identification token on a computer that identifies the computer; modulating the identification token to an audio signal on the computer; causing, with the computer, a speaker to emit the audio signal receiving, at video conference device, the audio signal with a microphone associated with the video conference device; demodulating the audio signal to the identification token in the video conference device; sending at least the identification token and a unique identifier of the video conference device to the computer; and establishing a communication session through a communication network, that both the computer and video conference device are communicatively connected to, from the computer to the video conference device enabling control of, and data transfer to, the video conference device from the computer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating an identification token at a first device;

emitting a signal based on the identification token, wherein the signal is received at a second device with a sensor and analyzed at the second device, wherein the signal initiates a video conference associated with the first device and the second device;

receiving, at the first device, at least the identification token and a unique identifier of the second device via a communication network to which both the first device and the second device are connected, communication via the communication network being separate from communication via the signal;

adding a predefined signature as a heading of the signal in advance of the identification token, wherein the predefined signature identifies compatible video conference devices;

generating a list of video conference devices having received the signal arranged based on signal level; and

establishing the video conference through the communication network from the first device to the second device enabling control of the video conference, and data transfer to the second device from the first device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a level of the signal received at the sensor is measured, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of the level of the signal from the second device with the identification token and the unique identifier.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing, in the first device, an interface through which a user is allowed to control and transfer data to the second device through the video conference.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is an internet protocol (IP) address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device broadcasts a message including the identification token and the unique identifier and the first device identifies the message based on the identification token and uses the message to establish the video conference.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to implement a method comprising:

generating an identification token for a first device;

emitting a signal indicative of the identification token from the first device and data indicative of a signature in a heading of the signal, wherein the signal is received at a sensor of the second device and analyzed by the second device, wherein the signature identifies compatible devices, wherein the second device is added to a list of video conference devices based on the signal received at the sensor;

receiving the identification token and a unique identifier from the second device via a communication network to which both the first device and the second device are connected, communication via the communication network being separate from communication via the signal;

generating a list of video conference devices having received the signal, wherein the list is based on signal strength; and

establishing a video conference through the communication network from the first device to the second device enabling control of the video conference, and data transfer to the second device from the first device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

providing, at the first device, an interface configured to receive one or more user commands to control and transfer data to the second device through the video conference.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an indication of a signal level of the signal received at the sensor,

wherein, in response to the indication, the second device is added to a list of devices having received the signal sorted by signal level in the interface.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the unique identifier is an internet protocol (IP) address.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the signal is emitted in a meeting room.

11. A system comprising:

a first device; and

a second device communicatively coupled to the first device through a communication network, wherein

the first device is configured to generate a random identification token identifying the first device and generate a signature for compatibility of the first device,

the first device is configured to send a signal including the random identification token identifying the first device and a heading of the signal including the signature,

the second device is configured to receive the signal with a sensor associated with the second device,

the second device is configured to analyze the signal to obtain the identification token,

the second device is configured to send at least the identification token received via the signal and a unique identifier of the second device to the first device via the communication network, communication via the communication network being separate from communication via the signal, and

the first device is configured to establish, in response to the signal, a video conference through the communication network, that enables control of the video conference, and data transfer to the second device from the first device,

wherein a list of video conference devices having received the signal is generated based on signal level.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second device is configured to measure a level of the signal received at the sensor and to send an indication of the level to the first device together with the identification token and the unique identifier.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first device includes an interface configured to receive a user command to control or transfer data to the second device through the communication video conference.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the unique identifier is an internet protocol (IP) address.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to implement a method comprising:

generating an identification token for a first device;

emitting a signal indicative of the identification token from the first device and data indicative of a signature in a heading of the signal, wherein the signal is received at a sensor of the second device and analyzed by the second device, wherein the signature identifies compatible devices having received the signal sorted by signal level in the interface;

receiving an indication of a signal level of the signal received at the sensor;

adding, in response to the indication, the second device to a list of devices having received the signal sorted by signal level in the interface;

receiving the identification token and a unique identifier from the second device via a communication network to which both the first device and the second device are connected, communication via the communication network being separate from communication via the signal; and

establishing a communication session through the communication network from the first device to the second device enabling control of, and data transfer to, the second device from the first device.