Conference bridge which detects control information embedded in audio information to prioritize operations

• US 20050213734A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.10
• 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 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5036 using conference for collection of feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/00 Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems multiplex systems H04J
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/24 Conference circuit

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 bridge for multipoint conferencing among a plurality of endpoints via one or more networks, the bridge comprising:

a network interface for exchanging audio data with the plurality of endpoints, at least one endpoint providing audio data containing embedded control data, the control data being substantially humanly inaudible;

a control data detection module coupled to said network interface to determine the presence of embedded control data in audio data;

an audio unit coupled to said network interface to receive the audio data, to mix the received audio data, and to transmit the mixed audio data; and

a bridge control unit coupled to said control data detection module, coupled to said audio unit, and coupled to said network interface, to control operations of the bridge responsive to the presence of embedded control data.

2. The conference bridge of claim 1, wherein the control operation is to provide priority to the endpoint providing the embedded control data.

3. The conference bridge of claim 1, wherein said network interface is configured to work with one or both of an IP network or a PSTN.

4. The conference bridge of claim 3, wherein if the network interface is configured to work with the PSTN, then audio data and control data are provided according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of modem data, ISDN, and analog.

5. A conferencing system comprising:

a plurality of endpoints for exchanging audio data, at least one of said plurality of endpoints embedding control data in the audio data;

one or more networks providing communication capability for said plurality of endpoints; and

a conference bridge for multipoint conferencing, said bridge including;

a network interface for exchanging audio data with the plurality of endpoints, at least one endpoint providing audio data containing embedded control data, the control data being substantially humanly inaudible;

a control data detection module coupled to said network interface to determine the presence of embedded control data in audio data;

an audio unit coupled to said network interface to receive the audio data, to mix the received audio data, and to transmit the mixed audio data; and

a bridge control unit coupled to said control data detection module, said audio unit and said network interface to control operations of the bridge responsive to the presence of embedded control data.

6. The conferencing system of claim 5, wherein the control operation is to provide priority to the endpoint providing the embedded control data.

7. The conferencing system of claim 5, wherein said network interface is configured to work with one or both of an IP network or a PSTN.

8. The conferencing system of claim 7, wherein if the network interface is configured to work with the PSTN, then audio data and control data are provided according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of modem data, ISDN, and analog.

9. A method for multipoint conferencing among a plurality of endpoints connected to a multipoint conference bridge via one or more networks, the method comprising the steps of:

exchanging audio data between the bridge and the plurality of endpoints, at least one endpoint providing audio data containing embedded control data, the control data being substantially inaudible;

determining the presence of embedded control data in audio data;

receiving audio data;

mixing the received audio data;

transmitting the mixed audio data; and

controlling operations of the bridge responsive to the presence of embedded control data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of controlling comprises providing priority to the endpoint sending the embedded control data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the bridge comprises a network interface configured to work with one or both of an IP network or a PSTN.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein if the network interface is configured to work with the PSTN, then audio data and control data are provided according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of modem data, ISDN, and analog.