SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING TELECONFERENCING COLLABORATION

• US 20150281639A1
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Original Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Inventors: FERREN, Bran, HILLIS, W. Daniel, McKNIGHT, Thomas, YUKICH, Rudy, GASKILL, Braddock
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

An advanced video teleconferencing system facilitates an engaging and realistic video conferencing experience. Key design elements and video, audio, and control capabilities are provided for a video conferencing experience that cannot be attained with conventional methods, which elements and capabilities include careful design of the table and room at each site, supplementary displays showing imagery in a mirrored manner, networked environmental control, an AutoDirector with keyword and gesture recognition, and audio reflection from a display or beam splitter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing networked environmental control at a plurality of conference sites, comprising:

a mechanism for storing a conference state for each of the plurality of conference sites in a distributed fashion in regard to an environmental variable; and

a mechanism for maintaining synchronization of the conference state in an event driven manner to synchronize the environmental variable between at least two of the plurality of conference sites.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environmental variable comprises any of a lighting level, an audio level, a climate setting, and a security level.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for maintaining a local copy at each of the conference sites of an entire conference state.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, at any time, one conference site of the plurality of conference sites is designated as a conference master.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the conference sites are configured to synchronize a portion of the conference state by notifying the conference master.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for storing the conference state includes a database for storing the conference state in a tree data structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a root node of the tree data structure corresponds to an entire conference state.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the conference sites includes one or more participant stations, and wherein a primary branch of the tree data structure tracks any of which of the participant stations are occupied, and a state of a collaboration tool associated with at least one of the participant stations.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the associated collaboration tool includes any of collaborative whiteboard contents and senders, recipients, and contents of private messages.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a computer programmed for polling the database for all or a portion of the conference state;

wherein conference sites can join a conference already in progress;

wherein upon joining a conference and subscribing to one or more nodes within the tree data structure, a joining conference site polls the database for a subscribed portion of the tree data structure and synchronizes its state to a state shared by conference sites already present in the conference.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a programming language for implementing the database, including a mechanism for linking multiple interpreters together over a network and for providing network transparency of stack symbol lookups.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the programming language further includes an event-notification system for notifying conference sites of changes;

wherein conference sites can subscribe as listeners to a node and receive notification of changes made to the node.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the event notification system further includes a communications layer for passing and broadcasting at least one message to interested parties anywhere on a teleconference site network by setting a value field of a known node to the content of the message.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each conference site stores a local state for site-specific information.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environmental variable comprises at least one of:

a lighting level, an audio level, a climate setting, and a security level at both of a first conference site and at least one other synchronized, remote conference site.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conference state ensures that a new conference master is selected should an existing conference master become unavailable.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the database effects redundant storage of the conference state.

18. A method for providing networked environmental control at a plurality of conference sites, comprising:

storing a conference state for each of the plurality of conference sites in a distributed fashion in regard to an environmental variable; and

synchronizing the conference state in an event driven manner to synchronize the environmental variable between at least two of the plurality of conference sites.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the environmental variable comprises any of a lighting level, an audio level, a climate setting, and a security level.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the conference state is stored in a tree data structure within a database.

21. A method for providing networked environmental control at a plurality of conference sites, comprising:

storing a conference state for each of the plurality of conference sites in a distributed fashion in regard to an environmental variable;

updating the conference state for a specific conference site of the plurality of conference sites, based on an event that changes the environmental variable for the specific conference site; and

synchronizing the environmental variable for at least one other conference site of the plurality of conference sites, based on the event.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the environmental variable comprises any of a lighting level, an audio level, a climate setting, and a security level.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the conference state is stored in a tree data structure within a database.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the event comprises an adjustment of the environmental variable for the specific conference site by a participant at the specific conference site.