Conference unit controlling room functions

• US 8,767,032 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/136,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,325 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1408, 715/717, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• 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 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods and devices for controlling room function devices from a single conference unit. A conference unit can be a video conference unit or a speakerphone. Controlled devices may include external loudspeakers, microphones, room function controllers, powered doors, powered windows, powered window shades or blinders, video screens etc. The connections between devices may be wired, wireless, or a combination of both.

Claims

1. A method for combining all control operations during a conference call, the method comprising:

connecting a room function controller with a link to a conference endpoint;

connecting the room function controller with a plurality of room function devices;

transmitting a plurality of control data for controlling the plurality of room function devices from the conference endpoint to the room function controller through the link, wherein each of the control data indicates at least one room function for a room function device;

sending commands based on the control data from the room function controller to the plurality of room function devices to perform the room functions; and

performing the room functions by room function devices receiving commands from the room function controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a link is a wired link or a wireless link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the conference unit is a speakerphone or a video conference unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended;

and

wherein the room function device executes the control commands intended for the room function device and ignores all other control commands.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting control data from the conference unit to the room function controller through a wired link; and

transmitting commands from the room function controller to a room function device through a wireless link.

9. A video conference endpoint operable during a conference call, the video conference endpoint comprising:

an interface for making a link connecting to a room function controller connected to and controlling a plurality of room function devices; and

a controller operable to transmit a plurality of control data for controlling the plurality of room function devices to the room function controller through the link;

wherein each of the control data indicates at least one function to be performed by a room function device controlled by the room function controller.

10. The video conference endpoint of claim 9 , wherein the interface is operable to make a wired link or a wireless link.

11. The video conference endpoint of claim 10, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

12. The video conference endpoint of claim 10, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

13. The video conference endpoint of claim 9 , wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

14. The video conference endpoint of claim 9,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended.

15. A speakerphone operable during a conference call, the speakerphone comprising:

an interface for making a link connecting to a room function controller connected to and controlling a plurality of room function devices; and

a controller operable to transmit a plurality of control data for controlling the plurality of room function devices to the room function controller through the link;

wherein each of the control data indicates at least one function to be performed by a room function device controlled by the room function controller.

16. The speakerphone of claim 15, wherein the interface is operable to make a wired link or a wireless link.

17. The speakerphone of claim 16, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

18. The speakerphone of claim 16, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

19. The speakerphone of claim 15, wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

20. The speakerphone of claim 15,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended.

21. A conference system for combining all control operations during a conference call, the conference system comprising:

a unit link;

a plurality of device links;

a conference endpoint having;

an interface connected to the unit link; and

a controller operable to transmit a plurality of control data for controlling the plurality of room function devices to a room function controller through the unit link;

a room function controller having;

a unit interface connected to the unit link to receive control data from the conference endpoint; and

a device interface connected to the plurality of device links; and

a plurality of room function devices, each room function device having an interface connected to one of the plurality of device links to receive commands from the room function controller;

wherein each of the control data indicates at least one function to be performed by a room function device controlled by the room function controller; and

wherein each room function device is operable to perform its room function.

22. The conference system of claim 21, wherein a link is a wired link or a wireless link.

23. The conference system of claim 22, wherein the wired link is an HSSB link, an Ethernet link, or a USB link.

24. The conference system of claim 22, wherein the wireless link is an analog RF link, an IEEE 802.11 link, or a Bluetooth link.

25. The conference system of claim 21,

wherein the conference endpoint is a speakerphone or a video conference unit.

26. The conference system of claim 21, wherein the room function device is a powered door, a powered window blinder, a powered window shade, a powered screen, a projector, a lighting fixture, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit or a whiteboard.

27. The conference system of claim 21,

wherein the control data includes one or more control commands, each command having an identifier indicating the room function device for which the control command is intended;

and

wherein the room function device executes the control commands intended for the room function device and ignores all other control commands.