Stereo microphone processing for teleconferencing
Granted: April 1, 2014
Patent Number:
8687820
Methods and devices for improving the intelligibility of audio in a teleconferencing unit. Multiple microphones and multiple audio channels are used, in which only the best microphones are selected to represent each audio channel. Multiple microphones signals may be mixed according to microphones' positions in a room to form a single signal to represent one audio channel. The audio signal may be further processed to effectuate other features.
Method and apparatus for automatically suppressing computer keyboard noises in audio telecommunication session
Granted: February 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8654950
A communication system automatically mutes a microphone in response to a key event detected from a coupled keyboard to prevent delivery of noise generated by the keyboard to a far end of the communication session. A timer is initiated for a time period when the key event occurs, and the microphone remains muted for the time period of the timer. The timer may be restarted to maintain the microphone mute in response to a subsequent key event detected while the timer is running. If the…
Method for creating a videoconferencing displayed image
Granted: January 28, 2014
Patent Number:
8638355
A user can design their own custom composed view for a videoconference depending on the users' individualized needs. The view can include segments (windows) in which participating conferees' video images are presented and accessory elements such as window borders, text, icons, and the like. The content of the accessory elements can be linked to events within the conference or the content of other objects within the view. A custom composed view for a video conference can be designed…
Detection and suppression of returned audio at near-end
Granted: January 7, 2014
Patent Number:
8625776
Audio from a near-end that has been acoustically coupled at the far-end and returned to the near-end unit is detected and suppressed at the near-end of a conference. First and second energy outputs for separate bands are determined for the near-end audio being sent from the near-end unit and for the far-end audio being received at the near-end unit. The near-end unit compares the first and second energy outputs to one another for each of the bands over a time delay range and detects the…
Home videoconferencing system
Granted: December 31, 2013
Patent Number:
8619953
A home videoconferencing system interfaces with traditional set-top boxes and typical home A/V equipment. The system includes a camera, a microphone, and a codec module. The module can couple to a modem connected to a television network and can couple to a display and a set-top box. Alternatively, the module can connect to a network for exchanging videoconference data and can connect between the set-top box and the display. The set-top box can connect to the television network on its…
Audio conference platform with dynamic speech detection threshold
Granted: December 17, 2013
Patent Number:
8611520
The present invention comprises a method for audio/video conferencing. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises using a dynamic threshold value to determine whether there is speech on a line. One aspect, the method comprises determining a dynamic threshold value based on one or more characteristics of signals received on a port, associating that dynamic threshold value with the port; and comparing one or more characteristics of signals subsequently received on the port to the…
Controlling videoconference with touch screen interface
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8593502
A videoconferencing system includes a touch screen display device and a videoconferencing unit. The display device displays video data for the videoconference and generates touch data based on user selections relative to the touch screen. The videoconferencing unit is operatively coupled to the touch screen device by a video connection and a data interface connection, for example. The unit establishes and conducts a videoconference with one or more endpoints via a network. The unit sends…
Display
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
D694208
Method and apparatus for wideband conferencing
Granted: November 12, 2013
Patent Number:
8582520
A method and apparatus for wideband voice and optional data conferencing over a telecommunications network channel between at least two wideband communications devices. An exemplary method comprises establishing an audio link, verifying wideband capability between the at least two wideband communications devices, training modems of the at least two wideband communications device to line conditions, and adjusting the telecommunications connection line conditions between the communications…
Speaker with acoustic damped port
Granted: November 12, 2013
Patent Number:
8582794
Systems, methods, and devices for improving speaker performance with an acoustic damped port are disclosed. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a damping material is placed around a vented frame of a speaker driver, and substantially covers or fills the vents of the frame. In some embodiments, the damping material results in improved impedance matching with acoustic delay, without required dimensional tuning (as with conventional ports). In some embodiments,…
Audio signal routing
Granted: October 15, 2013
Patent Number:
8559611
A communication system that includes multiple conferencing devices connected in a daisy-chain configuration is communicably connected to far-end conference participants. Multiple conferencing devices provide improved sound quality to the far-end participants by reducing aural artifacts resulting from reverberation and echo. The daisy-chain communication system also reduces the processing and transmission time of the near-end audio signal by processing and transmitting the audio signal in…
Method and system for adapting a CP layout according to interaction between conferees
Granted: September 24, 2013
Patent Number:
8542266
A system and method is disclosed for adapting a continuous presence videoconferencing layout according to interactions between conferees. Using regions of interest found in video images, the arrangement of images of conferees may be dynamically arranged as displayed by endpoints. Arrangements may be responsive to various metrics, including the position of conferees in a room and dominant conferees in the videoconference. Video images may be manipulated as part of the arrangement,…
Automatic video layouts for multi-stream multi-site telepresence conferencing system
Granted: September 17, 2013
Patent Number:
8537195
A videoconference multipoint control unit (MCU) automatically generates display layouts for videoconference endpoints. Display layouts are generated based on attributes associated with video streams received from the endpoints and display configuration information of the endpoints. An endpoint can include one or more attributes in each outgoing stream. Attributes can be assigned based on video streams' role, content, camera source, etc. Display layouts can be regenerated if one or more…
Computer program and methods for automatically initializing an audio controller
Granted: September 3, 2013
Patent Number:
8527878
A computer program of the type commonly known as a “wizard” is disclosed that initializes user interface software for controlling an audio conferencing device. The wizard allows the desired audio inputs (e.g., microphone, telephones, etc.) and audio outputs (speakers, recording devices, etc.) to be chosen by an audio system administrator. Thereafter, the wizard allows an audio conferencing device (or devices) to be chosen by the administrator, or allows such a device(s) to be…
Method to populate contact list from recent call log
Granted: August 13, 2013
Patent Number:
8508570
A method for efficiently accessing pertinent information retrieved from a videoconferencing system call log. System call logs typically contain a chronological list of raw information pertaining to inbound and outbound videoconferencing calls. The method for efficiently accessing this chronological information is performed using input from the user at an endpoint to correlate and sort for display the information required at the current time. Videoconferencing systems typically are shared…
System and method for combining a plurality of video stream generated in a videoconference
Granted: August 6, 2013
Patent Number:
8502857
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for videoconferencing that allows video images from two or more cameras at the same site to be displayed as a single panoramic image. Accordingly, a conferencing endpoint having a single monitor can display the panoramic image of the two or more video images from an endpoint having multiple cameras, such as a telepresence endpoint. A sliding display area can be used to manually define a zoomed portion of the panoramic image to be displayed.…
Managing mobile device interactions using barcodes
Granted: July 30, 2013
Patent Number:
8496180
A system allows a connecting a mobile device with a barcode scanner to a stationary device by scanning a barcode displayed on a display of the stationary device. The system allows connecting only one mobile device to the stationary device at any given time and allows connecting the mobile device to only one stationary device at any given time. Once connected to the stationary device, the mobile device may be used to scan additional printed barcodes and barcodes displayed by the…
Speaker and speaker enclosure
Granted: July 23, 2013
Patent Number:
8494203
Systems, methods, and devices for providing high quality speaker performance in a small-scale design are disclosed. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a small-scale speaker assembly is provided which is capable of delivering high-fidelity wideband audio. The speaker assembly includes a speaker driver and a number of electronic components within an enclosure. In some embodiments at least one microphone is included in the assembly. In some embodiments the…
System and method for lost packet recovery with congestion avoidance
Granted: July 23, 2013
Patent Number:
8493862
Devices and techniques for overcoming lost packets and avoiding congestion when conducting media conferences over packet switched networks are described herein. To avoid the problem of lost packets, redundant information is inserted into the media stream that permits the receiver to reconstruct any lost packets from the redundant information. Congestion avoidance techniques include adjusting the bitrate of the media stream to find the highest bitrate that can be supported without packet…
Method and apparatus to virtualize people with 3D effect into a remote room on a telepresence call for true in person experience
Granted: July 16, 2013
Patent Number:
8487977
A video conference system provides “in the room” telepresence to near end participants. The video conference system includes a frameless or bezelless display device placed in front of a front wall for displaying edge-to-edge 3D images of far end participants. Color of the near end front wall is configured to be the same as the color of the far end rear wall. As a result, images displayed on the display device can merge or blend into the near end front wall, giving the near end…
