Low-bandwidth remote conferencing

• US 6,233,605 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Watson, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US09/112,961
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/204, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A remote conferencing system. Prior to a conference, visual images are distributed to computers of conference participants. Also, conference participants are supplied with pictures of all other participants. During the conference, one participant, a leader, periodically issues selection signals to all computers, causing them all to select one of the distributed images, and display it. In addition, the participants hold a telephone conference while viewing the images. The selection signals and the telephone conference are carried by a single voice-grade telephone channel.

Claims

1. A method of holding a remote conference among participants, comprising the following steps:

a) prior to the conference, transferring digitized images to participants'"'"' computers;

b) during the conference,

i) causing images designated by a conference participant to be displayed on the computers, through signals received on a voice-grade telephone channel; and

ii) maintaining an audio conference using said channel.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein no other conference information is transmitted among the participants during the conference, apart from said signals and said audio conference.

2. A method of holding a conference among a group of computers, comprising the following steps:

a) prior to the conference, transferring image-data to the computers;

b) during the conference, as a participant speaks,

i) capturing the speech and distributing it to other computers, using POTS channels; and

ii) indicating to other computers the identity of the speaking participant; and

c) causing the computers to display a common image, selected from the image data stored locally in each computer.

4. A system for participating in remote conferences using a computer, consisting essentially of:

a) software means for running on the computer and

i) receiving data packets from a remote conference participant and, in response,

ii) selecting images from local storage and displaying the images;

b) means for holding a telephone conference using the computer; and

c) a modem connecting the computer to a voice-grade telephone line, for carrying said speech packets and the telephone conference.