Apparatus and method for providing multimedia conferencing services with selective information services
First Claim
1. A method of providing a multimedia conference between a plurality of user devices over a network, comprising:
- receiving start-up signals from one of the plurality of user devices;
sending start-up requests to the others of the plurality of user devices;
receiving start-up signals from each of the others of the plurality of user devices in response to the start-up requests, the start-up signals comprising information for identifying the information services to be provided to at least one of the plurality of user devices;
identifying information services to be provided to the at least one of the plurality of user devices during the multimedia conference; and
providing multimedia conference signals to the at least one of the plurality of user devices, wherein the multimedia conference signals include the identified information services.
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Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus and method that allows the operator of each user device participating in a multimedia conference to selectively receive information services during the multimedia conference. The apparatus includes a controller for receiving start-up signals from a user device, sending start-up requests to destination user devices, and receiving start-up signals from the destination user devices. The start-up signals may include information as to whether each user device requests information services to be provided during the multimedia conference. The controller establishes the multimedia conference and selectively provides the information services to the respective user devices. The information services are provided continuously or non-continuously at the preference of the user devices. The information services may also be provided in various formats at the preference of the user devices.
90 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of providing a multimedia conference between a plurality of user devices over a network, comprising:
- receiving start-up signals from one of the plurality of user devices;
sending start-up requests to the others of the plurality of user devices;
receiving start-up signals from each of the others of the plurality of user devices in response to the start-up requests, the start-up signals comprising information for identifying the information services to be provided to at least one of the plurality of user devices;
identifying information services to be provided to the at least one of the plurality of user devices during the multimedia conference; and
providing multimedia conference signals to the at least one of the plurality of user devices, wherein the multimedia conference signals include the identified information services. - View Dependent Claims (2)
receiving a request from a user device to change the information for the identifying of the information service to be provided to the respective user device.
- receiving start-up signals from one of the plurality of user devices;
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3. A method of providing a multimedia conference between a plurality of user devices over a network, comprising:
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receiving a request from at least two of the plurality of user devices requesting different information services;
identifying information services to be provided to the at least two of the plurality of user devices during the multimedia conference;
determining whether the information services of the at least two of the plurality of user devices are to be provided in at least one of a continuous or non-continuous manner;
providing multimedia conference signals to at least one of the at least two of the plurality of user devices, wherein the multimedia conference signals include the identified information services in at least one of a continuous and non-continuous manner, said step of providing multimedia conference signals further comprising sending multimedia conference signals that selectively include the requested information services to each of the at least two of the plurality of user devices. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A communication apparatus for providing a multimedia conference between a plurality of user devices over a network, comprising:
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a memory; and
a controller in communications with said memory, wherein the controller receives start-up signals from at least one of the plurality of user devices, sends start-up requests to others of the plurality of user devices, and receives start-up signals from each of the others of the plurality of user devices in response to the start-up requests, and wherein the start-up signals comprise information for identifying the information services to be provided to the at least one of the plurality of user devices, and the controller identifies information services to be provided to the at least one of the plurality of user devices during the multimedia conference and provides multimedia conference signals to the at least one of the plurality of user devices, and wherein the multimedia conference signals comprise the identified information services. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A communication apparatus for providing a multimedia conference between a plurality of user devices over a network, comprising:
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a memory; and
a controller in communications with said memory, wherein at least two of the plurality of user devices request different information services, and the controller identifies information services to be provided to the at least two of the of the plurality of user devices during the multimedia conference, the controller sends multimedia conference signals that selectively include the requested information services to each of the at least two of the plurality of user devices, and wherein the multimedia conference signals comprise the identified information services. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification