Patent Application
20080043962
Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
A method, system, and computer program product for providing enhanced conferencing services is provided in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The enhanced conferencing services facilitate group conferences among various participants in a shared communication environment. The conferencing may include content frames that are presented to participants in the conference where each content frame corresponds to a participant. The conferencing services identify a triggering event (e.g., a voice/audio input, video input, static image, etc.) that is defined via the conferencing services. For example, a triggering event may be defined by an active participant in the conference (e.g., a participant that is initiating a voice communication). Upon the occurrence of the triggering event, one or more content frames associated with the triggering event are modified. This modification enables participants to distinguish one or more content frames from the group in response to, and based upon, the triggering event.
Turning now to
In exemplary embodiments, participant client systems 104A-104C are implemented by devices enabled with teleconferencing components. For example, as shown in
In exemplary embodiments, each of participant client systems 104A-104C includes a processor that executes a conferencing application 108. Conferencing application 108 may be a proprietary tool or may be a commercial product that enables users of participant client systems 104A-104C to engage in interactive conferencing activities (e.g., e-meetings, collaboration, chat, etc.). The video teleconferencing components implemented by participant client systems 104A-104C may utilize adopted standards for conferencing, such as H.323, a standard used for conducting video over IP and Voice over IP. Web conferencing standards, such as ITU T.120 may be used by participant client systems 104A-104C.
While only three participant client systems 104A-104C are shown in the system of
In exemplary embodiments, host system 102 is a service provider of the enhanced conferencing services described herein. Host system 102 may be implemented using a high-speed processing device, e.g., mainframe computer that services a number of participant client systems. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the enhanced conferencing services may be implemented via one of participant client systems 104A-104C, which acts as a control system (e.g., supervisor) for the remaining participating client systems.
In exemplary embodiments, host system 102 implements a multi-point control unit 110 (MCU 110) that interconnects calls or communications received from various sources, such as participant client systems 104A-104C, such that a conference among the interconnected client systems is facilitated. The MCU 110 receives communications (i.e., inputs) from participating client systems (e.g., participant client systems 104A-104C) at a configured number of ports residing on the MCU 110 and combines these inputs into a shared communications environment. Thus, in one aspect, MCU 110 acts as a bridging device among participants in a conference. If there are a greater number of participating client systems than there are physical ports on the MCU 110, host system 102 may be configured with multiple MCUs 110 that are interconnected as needed. MCU 110 may be implemented using software or a combination of hardware and software elements.
As shown in the system of
Network(s) 106 may include any type of known network including, but not limited to, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a global network (e.g. Internet), a virtual private network (VPN), and an intranet. The network(s) 106 may be implemented using a wireless network or any kind of physical network implementation known in the art. A participant client system 104 may be coupled to the host system 102 through multiple networks (e.g., intranet and Internet) so that not all participant client systems 104 are coupled to the host system 102 through the same network. One or more of the participant client systems 104 and the host system 102 may be connected to the network 106 in a wireless fashion.
As described above, and as illustrated in
Turning now to
At step 206, the conference manager 112 establishes a content frame for each identified source device (e.g., participant client systems 104A-104C). Using the video conferencing example above, the content frame established at step 206 may be a video frame. The video frame is generated from a video feed (video inputs) received from the source device over network(s) 106. At step 208, each of the video frames is presented in a shared communications environment. For example, the video frames representing feeds of content are combined and presented as a single content feed over network(s) 106. A sample display screen presenting combined content feeds for a conference is shown in
At step 210, the conference manager 112 monitors the individual inputs received from participant client systems 104A-104C. The individual inputs are monitored in order to determine an occurrence of a triggering event. As described in the flow diagram of
At step 212, it is determined whether the audio input has been received. Alternatively, if the triggering event were related to a video element, the determination performed at step 212 would specify whether a video input has been received. If no trigger event has occurred, the process returns to step 210 whereby the conference manager application 112 continues to monitor the input feeds.
Otherwise, if a trigger event has occurred at step 212 (e.g., a pre-defined audio input signal is received), the conference manager application 112 identifies the source device responsible for the trigger event (e.g., which of participant client systems 104A-104C transmitted the feed which caused the trigger event) at step 214.
At step 216, the content frame (e.g., video frame) corresponding to the source device causing the trigger event is modified. The content frame may be modified in various ways in order to highlight it or distinguish it from the other content frames. As shown in
If multiple simultaneous trigger events occur, the conference manager 112 may be configured to select one or more of the content frames to modify based upon pre-defined rules.
At step 218, the conference manager 112 continues to monitor the input feeds to ascertain whether the trigger event is complete. For example, if the trigger event is an audio signal (e.g., a speaker), then the audio signal is monitored to determine whether it has ceased. If the trigger event has completed (e.g., the speaker has finished), at step 220, the content frame is returned to its original form at step 224 (e.g., as shown in display screen 300A of
Once the content frame has been returned to its original form at step 224, the conference manager 112 determines if the conference has completed at step 226. If not, the process returns to step 210 whereby the conference manager 112 continues to monitor the input feeds for a trigger event. If, however, the conference has completed at step 226, the process ends at step 228.
As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
