Conference unit controlling room functions

• US 20060017805A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,767,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.20
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods and devices for controlling room function devices from a single conference unit. A conference unit can be a video conference unit or a speakerphone. Controlled devices may include external loudspeakers, microphones, room function controllers, powered doors, powered windows, powered window shades or blinders, video screens etc. The connections between devices may be wired, wireless, or a combination of both.

Claims

1. A method for combining all control operations during a conference call, the method comprising:

connecting a room function controller with a link to a conference unit;

transmitting control data from the conference unit to the room function controller through the link, wherein the control data indicates a room function;

sending a command from the room function controller to a room function device to perform the room function; and

performing the room function by the room function device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a link is a wired link or a wireless link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the conference unit is a speakerphone or a video conference unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended;

and

wherein the room function device executes the control commands intended for the room function device and ignores all other control commands.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting control data from the conference unit to a room function device through a wired link; and

transmitting control data from the conference unit to another room function device through a wireless link.

9. A video conference unit operable during a conference call, the video conference unit comprising:

an interface for making a link connecting to a room function controller; and

a controller operable to transmit control data to the room function controller through the link;

wherein the control data indicates the functions to be performed by a room function device controlled by the room function controller.

10. The video conference unit of claim 9, wherein the interface is operable to make a wired link or a wireless link.

11. The video conference unit of claim 10, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

12. The video conference unit of claim 10, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

13. The video conference unit of claim 9, wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

14. The video conference unit of claim 9,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended.

15. A speakerphone operable during a conference call, the speakerphone comprising:

an interface for making a link connecting to a room function controller; and

a controller operable to transmit control data to the room function controller through the link;

wherein the control data indicates the functions to be performed by a room function device controlled by the room function controller.

16. The speakerphone of claim 15, wherein the interface is operable to make a wired link or a wireless link.

17. The speakerphone of claim 16, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

18. The speakerphone of claim 16, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

19. The speakerphone of claim 15, wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

20. The speakerphone of claim 15,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended.

21. A conference system for combining all control operations during a conference call, the conference system comprising:

a unit link;

a device link;

a conference unit having;

an interface connected to the unit link; and

a controller operable to transmit control data to a room function controller through the unit link;

a room function controller having;

a unit interface connected to the unit link; and

a device interface connected to the device link; and

a room function device having an interface connected to the device link;

wherein the control data indicates a function to be performed by the room function device controlled by the room function controller; and

wherein the room function device is operable to perform the room function.

22. The conference system of claim 21, wherein a link is a wired link or a wireless link.

23. The conference system of claim 22, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

24. The conference system of claim 22, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

25. The conference system of claim 21,

wherein the conference unit is a speakerphone or a video conference unit.

26. The conference system of claim 21, wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

27. The conference system of claim 21,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended;

and

wherein the room function device executes the control commands intended for the room function device and ignores all other control commands.

28. The conference system of claim 21, further comprising more room function devices,

wherein the links between the room function controller and the room function devices include wired links or wireless links.