Conference endpoint instructing a remote device to establish a new connection

• US 8,934,381 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey, Drell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhou, Yong
• Application Number:
  US11/080,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,591 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 370/263, 370/264, 370/266, 370/270
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5036 using conference for collection of feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge.

Claims

1. A conference endpoint for communicating with a second conference endpoint, the conference endpoint comprising:

an audio processing unit;

a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the control module;

wherein the control module is operable to transmit control data in-band with audio data to the second conference endpoint via an audio communication channel;

wherein the control data comprises an instruction from the conference endpoint that the second conference endpoint establish a second communication channel; and

wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

2. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the conference endpoint is remote from the second conference endpoint.

3. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the second communication channel comprises a video link.

4. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the audio communication channel comprises a POTS connection.

5. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the audio communication channel comprises an IP connection.

6. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the second communication channel comprises an IP connection.

7. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the network interface sends and receives data according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.

8. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device without the control module combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

9. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the second conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device without the control module combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

10. The conference endpoint of claim 1, further comprising:

a video processing unit communicably coupled to the network interface.

11. A conferencing system comprising:

a plurality of conference endpoints including a first conference endpoint and a second conference endpoint separated from the first conference endpoint; and

a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the plurality of conference endpoints including the first conference endpoint and the second conference endpoint;

wherein the first conference endpoint comprises a first control module operable to provide control data in-band with audio data to the second conference endpoint;

wherein the control data comprises an instruction from the first conference endpoint that the second conference endpoint establish a second communication channel;

wherein the second conference endpoint establishes the second communication channel; and

wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

12. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the first conference endpoint is remote from the second conference endpoint.

13. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the second conference endpoint comprises a second control module operable to provide control data combined in-band with audio data to the first conference endpoint.

14. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the second communication channel comprises a video link.

15. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the first communication channel comprises a POTS connection.

16. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the first communication channel comprises an IP connection.

17. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the second communication channel comprises an IP connection.

18. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.

19. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the first conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device without the first control module combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

20. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein the second conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

21. A method for establishing a new communication channel during a conference, the method comprising the steps of:

combining a control signal in-band with an audio signal;

sending the combined audio and control signal to one or more conference endpoints; and

instructing the one or more conference endpoints to establish a new communication channel based on the control signal

wherein the control signal is substantially humanly inaudible.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.

23. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer to establish a new communication channel during a conference with one or more conference endpoints by performing the steps of:

combining a control signal in-band with an audio signal;

sending the combined audio and control signal to the one or more endpoints; and

instructing the one or more conference endpoints to establish a new communication channel based on the control signal;

wherein the control signal is substantially humanly inaudible.

24. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer of claim 23, wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.