METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING EGALITARIAN CONTROL IN A MULTIMEDIA COLLABORATION SESSION

• US 20080005244A1
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Dan Jones, Todd Vernon
• Inventors: Jones, Dan, Vernon, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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 65/4046 with distributed floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/566 relating to a participants right to speak arrangements for multi-party communication with floor control, e.g. for conferences, H04L65/4038, H04L65/4046, H04L65/4053
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A multimedia collaboration system that facilitates more efficient, free-flowing collaboration sessions. The role of the presenter can be exchanged among participants in a collaboration session. The multimedia collaboration system is configured so that control of a collaboration session can be exchanged freely between participants in the collaboration session. The multimedia collaboration system enables participants in the collaboration session to determine the pace and course of the session.

Claims

1. A multimedia collaboration system for free flow collaboration between a plurality of participants via an electronic communication network, the multimedia collaboration system configured so that all participants in a multimedia collaboration session have equal privilege levels regarding all controllable aspects of the session, the controllable aspects including at least a presentation control of the session and a viewer control of the session.

2. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of participants is assigned equal privilege levels.

3. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, wherein a presenter role can be assumed by any of the plurality of participants at any time during the collaborative session.

4. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, wherein presentation materials can be shared freely under the presentation control of any of the plurality of participants.

5. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the presentation material can comprise any type of media supported by the electronic communications network.

6. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of participants designate which of the plurality of participants will act as a presenter.

7. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, further configured to allow multiple presentations to be presented by the plurality of participants at the same time.

10. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, further comprising a central shared presentation area that can be controlled by any one of the plurality of participants at any given time.

11. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, further comprising a central server interfaced with the electronic communication network, the central server configured to coordinate the distribution of media streams associated with the collaborative session between the plurality of participants as required.

12. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, further configured to allow each of the plurality of participants to speak with any of the other participants at any time.

44. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the controllable aspects further include a media type control, the media type control allowing each of the participants to dynamically select any media type for a presentation to be sent to other participants in the session.

45. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 1, the controllable aspects further include a media type control, the media type control allowing each of the participants to dynamically select any media type for viewing a presentation to be received from another participant in the session.

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41. A method of freely exchanging presentation control between client devices having equal privilege levels in a free flow collaboration session, wherein the method comprises:

connecting two or more client devices in a collaboration session;

configuring a first client device to present information to at least one other client device in the collaboration session;

configuring a second client device to present information to at least one other client device in the collaboration session; and

enabling the first client device and the second client device to present their respective information at any time in the collaboration session.

42. A method of freely exchanging presentation control between client devices in a free flow collaboration session, wherein the method comprises:

connecting two or more client devices in a collaboration session, wherein each client device includes a central presentation region;

configuring a first client device to present information to the central presentation region;

configuring a second client device to present information to the central presentation region; and

assigning control of the central presentation region to the client device that most recently presents information to the central presentation region.

43. A multimedia collaboration system for free flow collaboration between a plurality of participants via an electronic communication network, the multimedia collaboration system configured so that each of the plurality of participants has no pre-assigned hierarchical roles in control of a multimedia collaboration session and information is exchanged freely between the plurality of participants.

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