Presentation systems and related methods

• US 9,462,225 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zeller Digital Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zeller Digital Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: McArdle, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hemant
• Application Number:
  US14/216,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20140285615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 370259-271, 370351-357, 379/201.01, 37920201-20701, 709201-207, 709217-248
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A videoconferencing system includes a codec configured to generate one or more acknowledgement signals, a remote control for controlling the codec, a system controller in communication with the codec, and at least one other videoconferencing component. The system controller is configured to send one or more commands to the other videoconferencing component in response to the one or more acknowledgement signals generated by the codec. Other videoconferencing systems and presentation systems and related methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A videoconferencing system comprising:

a codec configured to generate one or more acknowledgement signals;

a remote control for controlling the codec;

a system controller in communication with the codec for receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals generated by the codec; and

at least one other videoconferencing component;

the system controller configured to send one or more commands to the other videoconferencing component independently of the codec in response to receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals generated by the codec.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the codec is configured to generate one or more acknowledgement signals in response to a command from the remote control, and wherein the system controller is configured to send one or more commands to the other videoconferencing component in response to receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals generated by the codec in response to the command from the remote control.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the system controller is not configured to generate one or more commands to the codec.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the system controller does not include a remote control.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote control is not configured for controlling the other videoconferencing component(s).

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the remote control is configured for controlling only the codec.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the system controller does not include a tactile user interface.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the system includes a plurality of other components.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to send one or more commands to each of the other components in response to receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals generated by the codec.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the other components are selected from the group consisting of flat panel displays, window treatment controls, lighting controls, camera controls, video transmitters, video receivers, video scalers, video switchers, room divider controls, microphone controls, alarms, and audio speaker controls.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the system controller is configured to send one or more commands to the codec.

12. A presentation system comprising:

a presentation switch having an input for connecting a presentation source, the presentation switch configured to generate one or more acknowledgement signals;

a system controller in communication with the presentation switch for receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals generated by the presentation switch; and

at least one other presentation component;

the system controller configured to send one or more commands to the other presentation component or the presentation switch in response to receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals generated by the presentation switch.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the presentation switch includes a video switcher.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the system is configured to automatically perform one or more functions without user input.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the system controller communicates with the codec via an application programming interface of the codec.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the system controller is configured to automatically shut down one or more of the other components.

17. A videoconferencing system comprising:

a codec configured to issue one or more acknowledgement signals;

a remote control including a single user interface for controlling the codec;

a system controller in communication with the codec for receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals issued by the codec; and

at least one other videoconferencing component;

the system controller configured to send one or more commands to the other videoconferencing component independently of the codec in response to receiving the one or more acknowledgement signals issued by the codec.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the single user interface is not configured for controlling the other videoconferencing component.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the single user interface is configured for controlling only the codec.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the single user interface is configured to implement only predefined functions.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the system controller does not include a user interface.