Methods and apparatus for providing egalitarian control in a multimedia collaboration session

• US 7,421,069 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Intercall Incorporated (West Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Dan, Vernon, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Creighton H
• Application Number:
  US10/776,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 379/204.01
• 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 configured to allow control of the presentation;

a viewer control configured to allow control the session;

a multiple presentation control configured to allow multiple presentations to be presented by the plurality of participants at the same time; and

a selection control configured to allow each of the plurality of participants to choose which of the multiple presentations to view.

2. 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 configured to allow control of the presentation;

a viewer control configured to allow control the session;

a multiple presentation control configured to allow multiple presentations to be presented by the plurality of participants at the same time;

a selection control configured to allow each of the plurality of participants to choose which of the multiple presentations to view; and

a change control configured to allow each of the plurality of participants to change the presentation being viewed.

3. A multimedia collaboration system comprising a client device configured to enable a participant to participate in a collaboration session, the client device including:

a user interface comprising;

an identification section;

a current presentation section; and

a control section including an opened presentation feature, wherein the presentation feature allows a participant to independently control a presentation at any time during the collaboration session, said independent control including at least dynamically selecting which of a plurality of presentations to view in the collaboration session.

4. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the client device further comprises client software configured to send media streams from the client device.

5. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 4, further comprising a central server interfaced with the client device, wherein the client software is further configured to send control commands to the central server.

6. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 5, wherein the control commands comprise instructions requesting that the central server begin receiving media streams from the client device and relay them to other client devices participating in the collaborative session.

7. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 6, wherein any of the other client devices can send a similar control command at any time.

8. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 7, wherein the central server is configured to implement the most recently received control command.

9. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 7, wherein the central server is configured to arbitrarily implement one of two simultaneously received control command.

10. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the identification section further includes a presentation title.

11. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 10, wherein the presentation title changes to reflect the current presentation in the session.

12. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the identification section further includes the presenting participant'"'"'s identity.

13. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the identification section further includes a recording indicator.

14. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the user interface further comprises a live history section including information corresponding to materials presented in the collaboration session.

15. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 14, wherein the information displayed in the live history section is a series of iconic representations.

16. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 15, wherein the live history section scrolls through the information displayed.

17. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 16, wherein the movement of the information displayed in the live history section can be independently adjusted by the participant.

18. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 15, wherein a particular subset of the information displayed in the live history section can be independently selected by the participant.

19. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 15, wherein at least one iconic representation is associated with a link corresponding to material stored on the client device.

20. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 19, wherein the material stored on the client device is distributed and stored on the client device at the time the collaborative session is initiated.

21. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the control section of the user interface further includes a presentation views control feature to select a format in which presented material is viewed.

22. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the control section of the user interface further includes a synch to presenter feature.

23. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the control section of the user interface further includes a phone icon.

24. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the control section of the user interface further includes a video icon.

25. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 24, wherein the video icon of the user interface enables the participant to receive video stream feeds.

26. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the user interface further includes a presentation icon.

27. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the user interface further includes an application sharing icon.

28. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the local user interface further includes a report icon.

29. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the user interface further includes a media manager icon.

30. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the participant can select a particular presentation to view.

31. The multimedia collaboration system of claim 3, wherein said independent control further includes dynamically selecting which media type for any of the plurality of presentations to be shared in the collaboration session.