System and method for stereo operation of microphones for video conferencing system
Granted: January 12, 2010
Patent Number:
7646876
A microphone bar for obtaining audio input for a video conferencing system includes a master module and one or more slave modules. The master module houses a first pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar, and each of the slave modules houses a second pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar. Extensions connect the modules together, and at least one bus conducts audio signals through the extension…
Natural pan tilt zoom camera motion to preset camera positions
Granted: November 24, 2009
Patent Number:
7623156
The system disclosed herein seeks to solve the problem of unnatural, dizzy camera motion when moving a camera between two preset positions, e.g., head and shoulder shots of two videoconference participants. Particularly, the system described herein attempts to mimic the camera movement that a professional camera operator would use in a professional video production. A preferred method of moving the camera between two positions is to first zoom out, away from the first position, pan…
Spatially correlated audio in multipoint videoconferencing
Granted: November 3, 2009
Patent Number:
7612793
The disclosed method provides audio location perception to an endpoint in a multipoint videoconference by providing a plurality of audio streams to the endpoint, wherein each of the audio streams corresponds to one of the loudspeakers at the endpoint. The audio streams are differentiated so as to emphasize broadcasting of the audio streams through one or more loudspeakers closest to a position of a speaking endpoint in a videoconference layout that is displayed at the endpoint. For…
Integrated desktop videoconferencing system
Granted: September 22, 2009
Patent Number:
7593031
Disclosed herein is a videoconferencing system that has been integrated into a flat panel display or computer monitor. The integration provides an improved form factor for the videoconferencing system. In addition, the integration offers the dual use as a computer monitor and as a videoconferencing system. The system includes a videoconferencing module attaching to a back of the flat panel display. The videoconferencing module has videoconferencing electronics that electronically connect…
System and method for exchanging connection information for videoconferencing units using e-mails
Granted: September 15, 2009
Patent Number:
7589757
A videoconferencing system includes a first videoconferencing unit coupled to a network and associated with a first e-mail address. The first videoconferencing unit receives a second e-mail address and automatically sends a request e-mail requesting connection information to the second e-mail address. A second videoconferencing unit is coupled to the network and is associated with the second e-mail address. The second videoconferencing unit receives the request e-mail and automatically…
Multicast distribution over one or more addressable buses wherein a switch includes a remapping table for inputting address for one or more destinations
Granted: August 25, 2009
Patent Number:
7581038
Disclosed herein is a method for multicasting data to a plurality of destinations over an addressable bus using a switch adapted to receive a stream of data cells from a data source. The switch is adapted to determine the appropriate recipients of the data using a stream identifier associated with the data cells, replicate the data for each destination, and send the replicated data to each destination. The data source need not be aware of the recipient of the data stream because the…
System and method of monitoring video and/or audio conferencing through a rapid-update website
Granted: August 11, 2009
Patent Number:
7574472
The operation and status of a video/audio conferencing system is monitored through the use of a web-based system. The system includes multiple client computer devices that interconnect with a web server. A server script is set up to operate in a looped configuration. The system is queried on each run of the loop to determine if a status change has occurred. If no change has occurred, a server script delays and then restarts the loop. If a change in status has occurred, the client script…
Method and apparatus for simultaneous incoming digital call processing using ISDN bonding channels
Granted: July 14, 2009
Patent Number:
7561536
Assigning inbound ringing ISDN channels to a particular endpoint's call uses a framing listening technique to distinguish between H.221 framing, master bonding channel framing and slave bonding channel framing. If the channel is receiving Master Bonding Channel framing, the MCU detects that this is a new call from a unique far endpoint and may then begin a process to address this new call. If the channel is receiving Slave Bonding Channel framing, the MCU then transmits a multi-frame…
Computer program and methods for automatically initializing an audio controller
Granted: June 23, 2009
Patent Number:
7552389
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 for actively synchronizing U-APSD service periods
Granted: June 9, 2009
Patent Number:
7545786
A wireless LAN environment includes at least one access point that supports a number of wireless communications devices which are configured to operate in the U-APSD mode. The transmission of packets by an access point to a wireless communications device operating in the U-APDS mode can be accomplished in an efficient manner by coordinating the unscheduled service periods of the wireless communication devices. The service periods are placed into a tightly packed list ordered according to…
Method and system for controlling multimedia video communication
Granted: June 2, 2009
Patent Number:
7542068
In an embodiment, a videoconference system is provided in which a conference can be controlled by an end user (e.g., a participant of the conference) without the assistance of an operator. In another embodiment, the end user is presented with a graphical feature on an image associated with an ongoing conference that links to a menu, which in turn links to routines for selecting various options that change the setup of the conference. In yet another embodiment, the parameters of the…
Delay reduction for transmission and processing of video data
Granted: May 19, 2009
Patent Number:
7535485
The present invention is a method and system for reducing delay in video communication, including, for example, video transcoding and continuous presence in a multipoint multimedia conference. The video communication control unit reduces such delay by processing a video stream in a small number of macroblocks referred to as “chunks,” without waiting to get a full frame of video data. Instead, the incoming video stream is converted into decoded chunks. These decoded chunks are…
Speakerphone with a cellular phone connection
Granted: May 5, 2009
Patent Number:
7529566
A speakerphone with a jack or a plug to allow a full featured speakerphone to be used with a wireless telephone handset. In one embodiment, a jack is installed on a speakerphone. A cable can connect the speakerphone using this jack and a headset jack on wireless phone handset. In another embodiment, the cable is embedded in the speakerphone. In another embodiment, the speakerphone is operated by an internal power source.
System and method for communicating data during an audio conference
Granted: April 28, 2009
Patent Number:
7526078
A method for communicating data during an audio conference is provided. Digital data is received from a data source. The digital data is then modulated onto a carrier signal. The modulated carrier signal is subsequently combined with an audio signal of the audio conference. The combined signal is communicated to at least one remote communication device. Upon receipt by the at least one remote communication device, the combined signal is separated into the audio signal and the modulated…
Method and apparatus for videoconference interaction with bluetooth-enabled cellular telephone
Granted: April 21, 2009
Patent Number:
7522181
A videoconferencing station is disclosed which includes apparatus for establishing a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) in the immediate vicinity of the videoconferencing station. In one preferred embodiment, the PAN is a Bluetooth piconet. A Bluetooth-enabled cellular telephone may then be used to make an audio connection via the telephone network to a remote user not in a conference room equipped with a videoconferencing station. The remote user may thereby participate in at least…
Multi-site conferencing system and method
Granted: February 17, 2009
Patent Number:
7492730
A system and method for cascading local conferences into a multi-site conference is disclosed. The local conferences are located in different sites where each site has endpoints served by a local multipoint control unit (MCU). An invitation to a multi-site conference is sent to participants at the different sites. The invitation includes a conference ID of the multi-site conference. The invited participants join the multi-site conference by calling a dial-in number of the local MCU…
Electronic pan tilt zoom video camera with adaptive edge sharpening filter
Granted: December 30, 2008
Patent Number:
7471320
An apparatus and a method is provided for enhancing a digital image comprised of pixels by adaptively sharpening the pixels and clipping the numerical values of the sharpened edge pixels so as to fall between the smallest unsharpened numerical value and the greatest unsharpened numerical value, respectively, of the pixels located within a neighborhood of the pixels. Pixels which are located on an edge are sharpened in the direction perpendicular to the edge. The threshold value used to…
Conferencing system with integrated audio driver and network interface device
Granted: November 11, 2008
Patent Number:
7450149
A conferencing system with improved audio response, interface, and audio source tracking capabilities includes a low-profile base unit capable of capturing and processing audio and video information and of interfacing with other external devices, and a separate network interface device coupled to the low-profile base unit and capable of connecting to a network, producing audible sound, regulating power, and housing removable interface circuitry.
Signal routing for reduced power consumption in a conferencing system
Granted: October 21, 2008
Patent Number:
7440750
A technique is provided for reducing power consumption of an internally powered console in an audio system through frequency based signal routing. A system employing the technique includes a base unit having an interface for receiving a signal representative of acoustic information. The base unit includes a filter system for splitting the signal into low-frequency and high-frequency component signals. The low-frequency signal is routed to a first audio driver for reproduction. The…
Method and means for providing scheduling for a videoconferencing network in a manner to ensure bandwidth
Granted: October 14, 2008
Patent Number:
7437463
A method and system for scheduling and conducting videoconferences that ensure that the necessary bandwidth for the videoconference will be available and that select the least cost equipment to carry the videoconference. An embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of determining for a schedule request by a user if the necessary bandwidth to conduct a videoconference will be available. Also, the embodiment measures the performance of equipment and systems used to conduct the…
