Intelligent switching system for voice and data
First Claim
1. A method of teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites, comprising the steps of:
- storing a common set of data objects in a plurality of digital computers, each of the digital computers located at a respective user site and having a memory for data object storage and a monitor for data object display, wherein the storing step occurs prior to a teleconference among the user sites;
interconnecting the plurality of user sites into the teleconference via a network;
at an individual user site, selecting a data object from the common set of data objects and transmitting an audible signal to the other user sites via the network to indicate the selected data object; and
at each of the other user sites, receiving the audible signal and displaying the selected data object on the respective digital computer monitor in response to having received the audible signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A teleconferencing system for voice and data provides interconnections among user sites via a central station. User stations at user sites each alternate operation between a data mode connecting a user computer and modem to a user telephone communication path and a voice mode connecting a telephony circuit to the communication path. The teleconferencing system is adapted for conducting a voice conference over standard telephone lines while allowing simultaneous viewing of data objects such as slides, graphs, or text. A host computer connected to the central station serves as a central repository for storage and retrieval of data objects for use in teleconferences.
6 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites, comprising the steps of:
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storing a common set of data objects in a plurality of digital computers, each of the digital computers located at a respective user site and having a memory for data object storage and a monitor for data object display, wherein the storing step occurs prior to a teleconference among the user sites;
interconnecting the plurality of user sites into the teleconference via a network;
at an individual user site, selecting a data object from the common set of data objects and transmitting an audible signal to the other user sites via the network to indicate the selected data object; and
at each of the other user sites, receiving the audible signal and displaying the selected data object on the respective digital computer monitor in response to having received the audible signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites, comprising the steps of:
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storing a common set of data objects in a host digital computer having a memory for data object storage;
connecting the plurality of user sites to the host digital computer via a central station;
transmitting the common set of data objects from the host digital computer to a plurality of user digital computers, each of the user digital computers located at a respective user site and having a memory for data object storage and a monitor for data object display, wherein the storing, connecting, and transmitting steps occur prior to a teleconference among the user sites;
interconnecting the plurality of user sites into the teleconference via the central station;
at an individual user site, selecting a data object from the common set of data objects and transmitting an audible signal to the other user sites via the central station to indicate the selected data object; and
at each of the other user sites, receiving the audible signal and displaying the selected data object on the respective digital computer monitor in response to having received the audible signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites, comprising:
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a plurality of digital computers, each digital computer storing a common set of data objects prior to a teleconference and located at a respective user site and having a memory for data object storage and a monitor for data object display;
a network for interconnecting the plurality of user sites into the teleconference; and
at each user site, (i) means for selecting a data object from the common set of data objects;
(ii) a tone generator for transmitting an audible signal indicating the selected data object to the other user sites via the network;
(iii) a tone receiver for receiving the audible signal, the selected data object being displayed on the respective digital computer monitor in response to having received the audible signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19)
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12. Apparatus for teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites, comprising:
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a host digital computer for storing a common set of data objects and having a memory for data object storage;
a central station for interconnecting the plurality of user sites and the host digital computer into a teleconference;
a plurality of digital computers, each digital computer located at a respective user site and having a memory for data object storage and a monitor for data object display, the common set of data objects being transmitted from the host digital computer to each user digital computer prior to the teleconference; and
at each user site, (i) means for selecting a data object from the common set of data objects;
(ii) a tone generator for transmitting an audible signal indicating the selected data object to the other user sites via the central station;
(iii) a tone receiver for receiving the audible signal, the selected data object being displayed on the respective digital computer monitor in response to having received the audible signal.
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15. A method of teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites, comprising the steps of:
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interconnecting a first set of user sites via a central station;
selecting a subset of the first set of user sites to form a second set of user sites;
interconnecting the second set of user sites via the central station;
attenuating communications signals from the first set of user sites; and
connecting the attenuated communications signals to the second set of user sites.
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17. A method of teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites, comprising the steps of:
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storing a common set of data objects in a plurality of digital computers, each of the digital computers located at a respective user site and having a memory for data object storage and a monitor for data object display, wherein the storing step occurs prior to a teleconference among the user sites;
interconnecting the plurality of user sites into the teleconference via a network;
at an individual user site, selecting a data object from the common set of data objects and transmitting a conference control signal to the other user sites via the network to indicate the selected data object; and
at each of the other user sites, receiving the conference control signal and displaying the selected data object on the respective digital computer monitor in response to having received the conference control signal.
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Specification