Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110268262 | Location-Aware Conferencing With Graphical Interface for Communicating Information - A method for providing a virtual conference includes obtaining participant location information associated with participant identifiers, establishing an audio conference using the participant identifiers, receiving information and communicating the information anonymously to one or more displays, during the audio conference. A distributed system includes client devices associated with respective displays and a conferencing system via a network. A first interface obtains location information associated with respective participant identifiers. An audio conference application establishes an audio conference using the participant identifiers. A second interface receives information and communicates the information anonymously to one or more displays, during the audio conference. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268263 | CONFERENCING ALERTS - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for interfacing with a conference. One embodiment is a method for interfacing with an audio conference via a communication network. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference, via a communication network, with a first participant; a client device requesting to be notified of a predetermined event associated with the audio conference; the conferencing system determining that the predetermined event occurs; the conferencing system providing an alert to the client device indicating the occurrence of the predetermined event; and the client device presenting the alert. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268418 | Record and Playback in a Conference - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for recording and playing back an online conference. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants in the audio conference; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and content; and playing back the synchronized audio conference and content. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270609 | REAL-TIME SPEECH-TO-TEXT CONVERSION IN AN AUDIO CONFERENCE SESSION - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing real-time resources to participants in an audio conference session. One embodiment is a method for providing real-time resources to participants in an audio conference session via a communication network. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference session between a plurality of computing devices via a communication network, each computing device generating a corresponding audio stream comprising a speech signal; and in real-time during the audio conference session, a server: receiving and processing the audio streams to determine the speech signals; extracting words from the speech signals; analyzing the extracted words to determine a relevant keyword being discussed in the audio conference session; identifying a resource related to the relevant keyword; and providing the resource to one or more of the computing devices. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270663 | Location-Aware Conferencing With Participant Rewards - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing a virtual conference. One embodiment is a method for providing a virtual conference. One such method comprises: a conferencing system obtaining participant location information associated with a plurality of participant identifiers; the conferencing system establishing an audio conference with the plurality of participants associated with the participant identifiers; coupling a server to the conferencing system, the server identifying indicia of one or more acts during the audio conference, the one or more acts deemed worthy of a corresponding unit score in a reward program, the server communicating information to a rendering device that displays, during the audio conference, a graphical view via a display device. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270921 | PARTICIPANT PROFILING IN A CONFERENCING SYSTEM - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for profiling participants in a virtual conference. One embodiment is a method for profiling participants in a virtual conference. One such method comprises: a server establishing an audio conference between a first participant and a second participant via a communication network; the server presenting a conference user interface to a first computing device associated with the first participant and a second computing device associated with the second participant, the conference user interface displaying a first object identifying the first participant in association with a first audio indicator and a second object identifying the second participant in association with a second audio indicator; the server presenting, in the conference user interface, a participant profile control associated with the first participant for specifying one or more profile parameters associated with the first participant; the second participant, via the second computing device and during the audio conference: selecting the participant profile control associated with the first participant; and specifying the one or more or more profile parameters associated with the first participant; and the server storing the specified parameters from the second participant in association with a participant identifier associated with the first participant. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270922 | MANAGING PARTICIPANTS IN A CONFERENCE VIA A CONFERENCE USER INTERFACE - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing participants in an online conference via a graphical user interface. One such method comprises: displaying a conference interface via a graphical user interface on a client device connected to a conferencing system via a communication network; displaying a contact list via the graphical user interface, the contact list comprising a plurality of draggable contact objects; selecting one of the draggable contact objects; moving the selected contact object to the conference interface; determining contact information corresponding to the selected contact object; and the conferencing system establishing a connection with a participant associated with the contact information. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270923 | Sharing Social Networking Content in a Conference User Interface - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for incorporating a social networking feature in a conferencing system. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing server establishing an audio conference between a plurality of computing devices connected via a communication network; the conferencing server presenting to the computing devices a user interface associated with the audio conference, the user interface comprising a social networking component for providing a social networking feature to a participant during the audio conference; a social networking server authenticating the participant as a member of a social networking system; and during the audio conference, the conferencing server enabling the authenticated participant to access the social networking feature via the social networking component in the user interface. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270933 | TRANSFERRING A CONFERENCE SESSION BETWEEN CLIENT DEVICES - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for transferring a conference session with a conferencing system from a first client device to a second client device. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing a first conference session for an online conference with a first client device via a communication network; presenting a conference interface via a graphical user interface to the first client device, the conference interface displaying a participant object corresponding to a participant identifier associated with a first participant operating the first client device; the participant initiating a transfer request comprising the participant identifier; sending the transfer request to a second client device; the second client device acknowledging the transfer request; and the second client device establishing a second conference session with the conferencing system using the participant identifier. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271192 | MANAGING CONFERENCE SESSIONS VIA A CONFERENCE USER INTERFACE - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing conference sessions via a graphical user interface. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing a conference session between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; presenting a conference interface via a graphical user interface to a client device operated by one of the participants; displaying in the conference interface a participant object identifying each of the plurality of participants in the conference session; selecting one of the participant objects via the graphical user interface; moving the selected participant object via the graphical user interface to a drop target associated with a breakout session; removing the participant from the conference session; and adding the participant to the breakout session. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271197 | Distributing Information Between Participants in a Conference via a Conference User Interface - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for distributing information between participants in an online conference via a graphical user interface. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing a conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; presenting a conference interface via a graphical user interface to a client device operated by one of the participants; displaying in the conference interface a participant object identifying each of the plurality of participants in the conference, each participant object having corresponding profile information; selecting one of the participant objects via the graphical user interface; moving the selected participant object via the graphical user interface to a contact capture location in the conference interface; and creating a new contact containing at least a portion of the profile information associated with the selected participant object. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271204 | Location-Aware Conferencing With Graphical Interface for Participant Survey - A method for providing a virtual conference includes obtaining participant location information associated with participant identifiers, establishing an audio conference using the participant identifiers, and executing logic that receives information from a client device coupled to a conferencing system via a network, the conferencing system further executing logic that communicates the information to one or more client devices. A distributed system includes client devices with respective graphical interfaces and a conferencing system coupled to the client devices via a network. The conferencing system includes a first interface, an audio conferencing application, and a survey application. The first interface obtains location information associated with respective participant identifiers. The audio conference application establishes an audio conference using the participant identifiers. The survey application receives information from a client device coupled to the conferencing system via the network and communicates the information to one or more respective client devices, during the audio conference. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271205 | Location-Aware Conferencing With Graphical Representations That Enable Licensing and Advertising - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing a virtual conference. One embodiment is a method for providing a virtual conference that includes a conferencing system obtaining participant location information associated with a plurality of participant identifiers, the conferencing system establishing an audio conference with participants associated with the plurality of participant identifiers, and executing logic that selects a stored representation and communicates the stored representation to a rendering device that displays, during the audio conference, a graphical view responsive to the stored representation on a display device. A distributed system includes a conferencing system that establishes an audio conference among participants and a licensing application that communicates a representation to a rendering device that displays, during the audio conference, a graphical view responsive to the representation on the display device. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271206 | Location-Aware Conferencing With Calendar Functions - A method for providing a virtual conference is described. The method includes: a conferencing system receiving a request to schedule a meeting; the conferencing system displaying a calendar associated with a first conference participant identifier of the virtual conference; and the conferencing system receiving a request to retrieve calendar data associated with one or more second conference participant identifiers of the virtual conference. The conferencing system then receives calendar data through one or more communication channels associated with one or more second conference participant identifiers. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271207 | Location-Aware Conferencing - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing an online conference. One method comprises: a conferencing system obtaining location information from a plurality of participants; the conferencing system associating the unique location information with a corresponding participant identifier; the conferencing system establishing an audio conference with the plurality of participants; the conferencing system presenting a conference interface to the plurality of participants; and the conference interface selectively displaying a map view of the audio conference which identifies a location of each of the plurality of participants. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271208 | Location-Aware Conferencing With Entertainment Options - A method for providing a virtual conference is described. The method includes a conferencing system that configures a virtual conference location; the conferencing system playing a personalized sound effect corresponding to generating a graphical representation of a conference participant; and the conferencing system displaying the graphical representation of the conference participant in the virtual conference location. The method further includes the conferencing system displaying a graphical user interface that lists one or more entertainment options and the conferencing system receiving one or more selections from the graphical user interface. The method further includes displaying visuals corresponding to one or more of the selections. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271209 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Programs for Providing a Conference User Interface - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing a conference user interface. One embodiment is a method for providing a conference. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting a conference interface to the participants via a graphical user interface and a corresponding client device in communication with the conferencing system via the communication network; and the conference interface displaying a unique participant object identifying each of the plurality of participants in the audio conference according to a graphical representation specified by the corresponding participant. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271210 | Conferencing Application Store - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing a conferencing application store. One embodiment is a method for providing an online conference. One such method comprises: a server establishing an audio conference, via a communication network, with a participant; the server presenting a conference user interface to a computing device associated with the participant, the conference user interface displaying a conferencing application store component for enabling the participant to access a plurality of conferencing applications during the audio conference; the server receiving a selection from the participant of one of the plurality of conferencing applications; and the server providing the selected conferencing application to the participant during the audio conference. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271211 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR CONTROLLING PRESENTATION VIEWS IN AN ONLINE CONFERENCE - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for controlling presentation views in an online conference. One embodiment is a method for controlling presentation views in an online conference. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference, via a communication network, between a plurality of participants; the conferencing system configuring a conference user interface to be presented to the plurality of participants via a corresponding client device in communication with the conference system via the communication network, the conference user interface having a participant view in which each of the plurality of participants are identified with a unique participant object having a graphical representation specified by the corresponding participant and a screen sharing view in which content presented in a first screen of a first client device associated with a first participant may be simultaneously presented in a second screen of a second client device associated with a second participant during a screen sharing session; and the conference user interface enabling the participants to selectively display one or more of the participant view and the screen sharing view during the screen sharing session. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271212 | MANAGING MULTIPLE CONFERENCES VIA A CONFERENCE USER INTERFACE - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing multiple conferences via a conference user interface. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing a current conference, via a communication network, between a host and a first set of participants, the current audio conference having a first scheduled timeslot; during the current conference, the conferencing system: receiving, via the communication network, a request from one or more of a second set of participants to join a next conference between the host and the second set of participants, the next audio conference having a second scheduled timeslot; establishing the next conference between the second set of participants; and notifying the host that the second set of participants have joined the next conference; the conferencing system terminating the current conference; and in response to terminating the current conference, the conferencing system automatically adding the host to the next conference. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271332 | Participant Authentication via a Conference User Interface - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for authenticating a participant in an online conference via a graphical user interface. One such method comprises: determining a conference event requesting authentication of a participant by a conferencing system hosting a conference via a communication network; in response to the conference event, presenting a signature capture area to the participant in a conference interface via a graphical user interface; monitoring location coordinates of an input device in the signature capture area; converting the location coordinates into a participant electronic signature; determining that the participant electronic signature matches a stored electronic signature associated with the participant; and in response to determining the match, authenticating the participant for the conference event. | 11-03-2011 |
20130191763 | Production Scripting in an Online Event - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for producing an online event. One embodiment is a method comprising: creating a production script for an online event comprising an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers, the production script comprising a series of production prompts associated with a production timeline; a server presenting an event production user interface to an event producer and a viewer user interface to the listen-only viewers, the event production user interface configured to selectively control the viewer user interface during the online event; and presenting, in the event production user interface, the production prompts in accordance with the production timeline during the online event. | 07-25-2013 |
20130198288 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Programs for Suspending and Resuming an Online Conference - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for joining an online conference already in progress. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting to the participants via a graphical user interface the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and the content; during the audio conference, receiving from a new participant a request to join the audio conference already in progress; and in response to the request to join the audio conference, playing back the synchronized audio conference and the content presented in the conference interface to the new participant beginning from a recording start location. | 08-01-2013 |
20130198635 | Managing Multiple Participants at the Same Location in an Online Conference - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing multiple participants at the same location in an online conference. One embodiment is a method for providing an online conference comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, each client device associated with a first participant; the conferencing system determining at least one second participant co-located with one of the first participants and the corresponding client device; and the conferencing system presenting, to each of the client devices, the audio conference and a conference user interface, the conference user interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the first and second participants. | 08-01-2013 |
20130198654 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Programs for Controlling a Conference Interface Without Joining as a Participant - A method for monitoring and controlling a conference interface includes receiving a request indicating that a notification of an event associated with the conference interface is desired, determining occurrence of the event, sending the notice to a computing device that initiated the request, receiving an out-of-conference communication from the computing device and in response thereto, modifying a characteristic of the conference interface. A system includes computing devices coupled to a conferencing platform via one or more networks. The conference platform operates a web server that publishes a graphical user interface associated with an identified subscriber. A computing device associated with the identified subscriber is provided an application that enables the computing device to communicate a request for notification of an event in their conference interface without being present in the conference interface. The application enables the computing device to receive notification of the event and to respond to the same. | 08-01-2013 |
20130198656 | Event Management/Production of an Online Event Using Event Analytics - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for producing an online event. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting an event production user interface to an event producer, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to selectively control a viewer user interface presented to the listen-only viewers during the online event; obtaining analytics data associated with the online event; and during the online event, providing a production recommendation to the event producer in the event production user interface based on the analytics data. | 08-01-2013 |
20130198657 | Integrated Public/Private Online Conference - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing an integrated public/private online conference. One embodiment is computer program embodied in a computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing an online conference. One such computer program comprises: logic configured to establish an audio conference between a plurality of participants operating corresponding computing devices connected via a communication network; logic configured to designate at least one of the participants as a private participant that participates in the audio conference in a private mode and a remaining portion of the participants that participant in the audio conference in a public mode; and logic configured to present the audio conference to the public participants via a public conference interface that visually identifies only the public participants. | 08-01-2013 |
20130202095 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Programs for Transitioning from a Phone-Only Mode to a Web Conference Mode - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for transitioning from a phone-only mode to a web conference mode. One embodiment is a method for participating in an audio conference comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants via a communication network, at least one of the participants participating in the audio conference in a phone-only mode; and a server in communication with the conferencing system presenting to the phone-only participant, via a user interface on a computing device, a phone-only control menu for enabling the phone-only participant to selectively transition from the phone-only mode to a web conferencing mode. | 08-08-2013 |
20130227434 | Audio/Text Question Submission and Control in a Produced Online Event - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing question submissions in an online event produced by an event producer. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers; presenting an event production user interface to an event producer and a viewer user interface to the listen-only viewers, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to control the viewer user interface during the online event; receiving, via the viewer user interface, a text question submitted by one of the listen-only viewers for presentation to one or more speakers; and the event producer selecting the text question, via the event production user interface, for live audio presentation by the listen-only viewer via the audio conference. | 08-29-2013 |
20130290870 | Inter-Conference Alerts for Simultaneous Online Conferences - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for simultaneously providing multiple online conferences via a conference user interface. One embodiment is a computer program embodied in a computer readable medium and executable by a processor for enabling simultaneous participation in at least two online conferences. The computer program comprises: logic configured to establish a first online conference with a first set of participants and a second online conference with a second set of participants, the first and second sets of participants having a common participant simultaneously participating in both; logic configured to present the first online conference via a conference user interface to a client device associated with the common participant; and logic configured to notify the common participant, via the conference user interface, of predetermined events occurring in the secondary conference. | 10-31-2013 |
20130297409 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Programs for Providing Advertisements in a Conference User Interface - Various embodiments of methods, systems, and computer programs are disclosed for providing advertisements in a conference user interface. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing a conference between a plurality of participants via a corresponding computing device connected to the conferencing system via a communication network; presenting a conference user interface to the computing devices, the conference user interface displaying each of the participants as a unique participant object in a virtual location; an online advertising platform selecting advertisement data from one or more advertisers; providing the selected advertisement data to the conferencing system; and displaying the advertisement data with an associated advertisement object in the virtual location during the conference. | 11-07-2013 |
20130298040 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Programs for Providing Simultaneous Online Conferences - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing simultaneous online conferences via a conference user interface. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing a first online conference with a first set of participants and a second online conference with a second set of participants, the first and second sets of participants having a common participant simultaneously participating in both; the conferencing system simultaneously presenting to a client device associated with the common participant a first conference user interface and a second conference user interface, the first conference user interface for providing the first online conference and the second conference user interface for providing the second online conference; and the conferencing system enabling the common participant to selectively designate one of the first and second conference user interfaces as a primary display and the other as a secondary display. | 11-07-2013 |
20140040369 | Systems and Methods for Providing a Cue When a Participant Joins a Conference - A method for providing a cue when a nonparticipant joins a conference includes identifying received data indicating that a particular nonparticipant has joined the conference, searching a cue store for information associated with the particular nonparticipant, and publishing a cue responsive to the information associated with the nonparticipant. A conferencing system includes client devices with respective display devices, a conference host computer coupled to the client devices via one or more networks, the conference host computer operating a web server, and a cue store coupled to the host computer. The cue store includes at least one cue element identified by a nonparticipant privileged to join the conference, the cue element including information designated for publication by the web server to one or more client devices connected to the conference. | 02-06-2014 |
20140040777 | Customizing Participant Information in an Online Conference - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for customizing participant information in an online conference. One embodiment is a method for customizing display of participant information in an online conference. The method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an online conference with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, each client device associated with a participant in the online conference; the conferencing system presenting a conference user interface to the client devices, the conference user interface displaying an interactive participant object identifying each of the participants; and during the online conference, one of the participants customizing presentation of at least one of the interactive participant objects via the conference user interface. | 02-06-2014 |
20140047025 | Event Management/Production for an Online Event - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing and/or producing an online event. One embodiment is a computer program embodied in a computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing an online event. One such computer program comprises: logic configured to establish an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers; logic configured to present the audio conference to the plurality of listen-only viewers via a viewer user interface; and logic configured to present an event production user interface to an event producer, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to selectively control the viewer user interface presented to the listen-only viewers during the online event. | 02-13-2014 |
20140161244 | Systems and Methods for Selectively Reviewing a Recorded Conference - A method for selectively reviewing a conference includes synchronously recording an audio conference and content presented in a conference user interface to generate a recorded conference, the conference user interface published to a client device associated with one or more participants, using a characteristic of the conference user interface to index the recorded conference and providing a review interface, responsive to at least one indicator that identifies content of interest within the recorded conference. A conferencing system includes client devices with respective displays, a conference host computer operating a web server and coupled to the client devices via one or more networks, and a data store coupled to the conference host computer. The data store includes a synchronously recorded audio conference and content presented in a conference user interface that defines a recorded conference. The recorded conference includes an index responsive to a characteristic of the conference user interface. | 06-12-2014 |
20140232817 | Systems, Methods, and Computer Programs for Joining an Online Conference Already in Progress - Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for joining an online conference already in progress. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting to the participants via a graphical user interface the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and the content; during the audio conference, receiving from a new participant a request to join the audio conference already in progress; and in response to the request to join the audio conference, playing back the synchronized audio conference and the content presented in the conference interface to the new participant beginning from a recording start location. | 08-21-2014 |