Video display mode automatic switching system and method

• US 6,744,460 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hein, David, Nimri, Alain, Kenoyer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/684,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.714, 348/14-1-, 348/14.1, 348/14-1-, 348/14.16, 345/765, 345/781, 345/771
• US Class Current: 348/14.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

An automatic switching system and method for determining and effecting an optimal video display mode based on the interaction among participants in a conference or discussion is disclosed. The system includes a timer which continuously monitors the duration of signals received from each of a number of endpoints. The system further includes a signal switching processor which compares the signal durations to predefined parameters which define various display mode switching thresholds. The system reacts to the conversational interaction of endpoint participants by automatically switching the display mode of all endpoints between single-window, single speaker presentation mode, and multiple-window, multiple speaker discussion mode.

Claims

1. A switching system for automatically determining a display mode for a video display device comprising:

a timer, configured to monitor a duration of each of a plurality of signals, the signals being from a source at each of multiple endpoints; and

a switching processor coupled to the timer and to a video switching module, configured to determine an appropriate display mode from the available display modes, wherein available display modes are single-window display and multiple-window display, based upon a comparison of the duration of each of the signals with at least one predefined parameter.

2. A switching system for automatically determining a display mode for a video display device, wherein available display modes are single-window display and multiple-window display, comprising:

a timer, configured to monitor a duration of each of a plurality of signals, the signals being from a source at each of multiple endpoints; and

a switching processor coupled to the timer and to a video switching module, configured to determine an appropriate display mode to the available display modes based upon a comparison of the duration of each of the signals with at least one predefined parameter;

whereupon a determination that the appropriate display mode is different than the current display mode the switching processor transmits to the video switching module a display mode command, the display mode command being chosen from a single-window display command to effect the single-window display and a multiple-window display command to effect the multiple-window display.

3. The system of claim 2:

whereupon the signal duration from each of the endpoint does not exceed a predefined parameter t₁, the switching processor operates with the video switching module to effect the multiple-window display.

4. The system of claim 2:

whereupon the signal duration from one of the multiple endpoints exceeds a predefined parameter t₂ being greater than a predefined parameter t₁, and whereupon none of the signals received from each of the other endpoints exceeds t₁, the switching processor operates with the video switching module to effect the single-window display to display video images originating from the source of the signal that exceeds t₂.

5. The system of claim 2:

whereupon at least two of the signals received from the endpoints exceed a predefined parameter t₁ the switching processor operates with the video switching module to effect the multiple-window display.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the display device is coupled to a multi-point videoconferencing device or application.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal comprises an audio signal representing human speech.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the switching processor effects the display mode of a display device located at each of the multiple endpoints.

9. A method for automatically determining a display mode for a display device comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a signal from each of multiple endpoints;

(b) monitoring a duration of the signal from each of the multiple endpoints;

(c) comparing the duration of the signal from each of the multiple endpoints with predefined parameters; and

(d) determining an optimal display mode from the available display modes, wherein available display modes are single-window display and multiple-window display, based on step (c).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal from each of the multiple endpoints comprises a signal representing speech originating from the respective endpoints.

11. A method for automatically determining a display mode for a display device comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a signal from each of multiple endpoints;

(b) monitoring a duration of the signal from each of the multiple endpoints;

(c) comparing the duration of the signal from each of the multiple endpoints with predefined parameters; and

(d) determining an optimal display mode from the available display modes, wherein available display modes are single-window display and multiple-window display, based on step (c);

(e) whereupon the optimal display mode is different than a current display mode of the display device, transmitting a display mode command signal based on a determination in step (d), the display mode command signal effecting the display mode of the display device; and

wherein step (e) comprises a command signal to effect the multiple-window display upon the duration from each of the multiple endpoints not exceeding a predefined parameter t₁.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (e) comprises a command signal to effect the single-window display to display video images originating from one of the multiple endpoints from which the duration exceeds a predefined parameter t₂ and upon none of the durations from each of the other multiple endpoints exceeds the predefined parameter t₁.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein step (e) comprises a command signal to effect the multiple-window display upon the durations from at least two of the multiple endpoints exceeding a predefined parameter t₁.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the display device is coupled to a videoconferencing device or application.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal from each of the multiple endpoints is transmitted from the videoconferencing application.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the display mode command effects the display mode of a display device located at each of the multiple endpoints.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the display mode command signal is transmitted to each of the multiple endpoints, and wherein the signal received from each of the multiple endpoints and the display mode command signal are transmitted utilizing H.320 series of communication standards for Integrated Services Digital Networks.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the display mode command signal is transmitted to each of the multiple endpoints, and wherein the signal received from each of the multiple endpoints and the display mode command signal are transmitted utilizing H.323 standard for Internet Protocol-based networks.

19. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a machine to perform method steps for changing a display mode of a video display device, the method steps comprising:

receiving a signal from each of multiple endpoints;

monitoring a duration of the signal from each of the multiple endpoints;

comparing the duration of the signal from each of the multiple endpoints with predefined parameters;

determining a desired display mode for the video display from available display modes based on the comparing step, the available display modes being a single window display and a multiple-window display, and

upon the desired display mode being different than a current display mode of the video display device, transmitting a display mode command signal based on the determining step, the display mode command signal effect the desired display mode.