Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100070598 | System and Method for Exchanging Connection Information for Videoconferencing Units Using E-mails - 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 returns a response e-mail including connection information to the first e-mail address. The first videoconferencing unit receives the response e-mail and automatically obtains the connection information from the response e-mail. Using the connection information, the first videoconferencing unit initiates a videoconference call with the second videoconference unit. | 03-18-2010 |
20100118112 | GROUP TABLE TOP VIDEOCONFERENCING DEVICE - A group table top videoconferencing device for communication between local participants and one or more remote participants provides a camera assembly and display screens on the same housing—giving the remote participant the perception that the local participant is making direct eye-to-eye contact with him/her. The housing is placed such that the housing is within the field of view of every local participant viewing any other local participant. Because, the remote participant is always within the field of view of the local participant, the remote participant does not get the feeling of non-intimacy during the videoconference. A wall mounted display operates in conjunction with the videoconferencing device to display media content received from the remote participants. Keypad and a touch screen provide user interface for controlling the operation of the videoconferencing device. Speakers convert audio signals received from the remote participants into sound. | 05-13-2010 |
20100289867 | Method and System for Launching a Scheduled Conference Based on the Presence of a Scheduled Participant - A conferencing system for an enterprise is disclosed. The conferencing system initiates a scheduled conference upon detecting that a scheduled conferee is present at a conferencing endpoint. | 11-18-2010 |
20110025818 | System and Method for Controlling Presentations and Videoconferences Using Hand Motions - A system and method are disclosed for controlling presentations and videoconference using hand motions and/or laser dots from a laser pointer. A camera captures video of an area relative to content displayed on a display device from a content source. A control unit is communicatively coupled to the content source, the display device, and the camera. The control unit receives captured video from the camera. The control unit detects a hand motion by a presenter or a laser dot from a laser pointer that occurs within the captured video and determines the location within the captured video of at least one control for controlling the presentation or videoconference. The control unit determines if the detected hand motion or laser dot occurs within the determined location of the at least one control, and the control unit controls the content source based on the determined control. | 02-03-2011 |
20110187814 | Automatic Audio Priority Designation During Conference - During a conference, a multipoint control unit (MCU) designates priority and non-priority endpoints. The MCU forms priority audio from the priority endpoint and sends that audio to the other endpoints at a normal level. However, the MCU forms non-priority audio from the non-priority endpoint and handles that audio based on whether the input audio from the priority endpoint is from speaking or not. If the priority endpoint's audio indicates a participant at that endpoint is speaking, then the MCU sends the non-priority audio to the other endpoints at a reduced level. Designation of which endpoint has priority can be based on which endpoint has a current duration of audio indicative of speech that is longer than other endpoints. Alternatively, the designation can be based on which endpoint is currently presenting content during the conference or based on a mix of speech audio and content presentation. | 08-04-2011 |
20110285809 | Automatic Camera Framing for Videoconferencing - A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view. | 11-24-2011 |
20120062687 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING SHARED PROGRAM CONTENT VIDEOCONFERENCING - A videoconferencing system provides sharing program content during a videoconferencing session. A graphical user interface (GUI) allows participants to select a program to be shared and participants to share the selected program with. A scheduler communicates with the videoconferencing systems of the participants to tune or configure them to receive the selected shared program content at a scheduled time. The scheduler also communicates with a multipoint control unit (MCU) for initiating a videoconferencing session between the participants. The videoconferencing system combines mixed video streams received from the MCU with the program stream of the selected shared program and displays the combined stream on the display device. The scheduler can be located at a program service provider or at the initiating participant's videoconferencing system. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062689 | PERSONALIZED VIRTUAL VIDEO MEETING ROOMS - A videoconferencing system allows host users to personalize virtual meeting rooms (VMR). A multipoint control unit (MCU) generates VMRs using associated VMR configuration parameters, which include personal VMR parameters specified by the host user, and admin VMR parameters specified by an administrator of the videoconferencing system. The host user can connect to a server at the MCU to request a list of personal VMR parameters, for which the host user can specify values. The server can receive and store the specified values for the personal parameters. The MCU can combine the values of personal VMR parameters with values of admin VMR parameters in generating VMR configuration. | 03-15-2012 |
20120150956 | Extended Video Conferencing Features Through Electronic Calendaring - Systems and methods to integrate or interface video conference rooms, video conference infrastructure equipment and electronic calendars are disclosed. Example embodiments include providing: security for meeting information; interfaces for personal electronic calendar applications and video conferencing equipment; and implementations for video conferencing infrastructure components to integrate with meeting scheduling software. Also disclosed are systems and methods for making information automatically available via interfaces to the scheduling software (e.g., via a plug-in or extension to the regular interface software and integration modules executing in video conferencing infrastructure equipment) without a change in how a user interacts with existing meeting scheduling software. | 06-14-2012 |
20130235146 | EXTENDED VIDEO CONFERENCING FEATURES THROUGH ELECTRONIC CALENDARING - Systems and methods to integrate or interface video conference rooms, video conference infrastructure equipment and electronic calendars are disclosed. Example embodiments include providing: security for meeting information; interfaces for personal electronic calendar applications and video conferencing equipment; and implementations for video conferencing infrastructure components to integrate with meeting scheduling software. Also disclosed are systems and methods for making information automatically available via interfaces to the scheduling software (e.g., via a plug-in or extension to the regular interface software and integration modules executing in video conferencing infrastructure equipment) without a change in how a user interacts with existing meeting scheduling software. | 09-12-2013 |
20140111600 | Automatic Positioning of Videoconference Camera to Presenter at Presentation Device - In a system and method of conducting a videoconference, a videoconferencing unit detects an activation related to a presentation device at a near-end of the videoconference. The unit stores a current orientation of at least one camera and directs the at least one camera at the presentation device. At this point, the unit begins outputting to a far-end at least one of (i) video captured of the presentation device with the at least one directed camera and (ii) content displayed with the presentation device. At some point, the unit detects a deactivation related to the presentation device at the near-end and then redirects the at least one camera to the stored orientation so the videoconference can proceed as before. | 04-24-2014 |
20140122588 | Automatic Notification of Audience Boredom during Meetings and Conferences - During a conference, a multipoint control unit (MCU) designates speaker and audience endpoints. The MCU receives votes from peripheral devices at the audience endpoints. The votes are aggregated and compared against a threshold by the MCU, and the MCU sends a notification or indication to the speaker endpoints if the threshold is exceeded. The votes have a lifespan over which they are valid. The votes may be weighted when there are targeted and non-targeted audience participants. | 05-01-2014 |
20140267550 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN IMPROVED VIRTUAL BREAKOUT ROOM - Management and display of virtual breakout rooms in a video teleconference by making the virtual experience to more closely align the beneficial capabilities of non-virtual breakout rooms is disclosed. Beneficial aspects include summoning all members of a breakout rooms by video, text, or audio signal and a process of assigning participants to a break out room by drag and drop from a roster, randomizing the assignments, and limiting rooms to a particular number of participants to as to cause participants to scramble for a position in a breakout room. Also disclosed is a system for designating a private breakout room and for delivering content to the breakout room. | 09-18-2014 |