IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,922,718
Granted Patent B2
US 6,922,718 · App. 10/061,400 · Granted Jul 26, 2005

Method and system for participating locations in a multi-point video conference

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,922,718
App. No.
10/061,400
Granted
Jul 26, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-point video conferencing system and method for managing display of images of multiple participating locations and bandwidth allocated for a multi-point video conference. The multi-point video conferencing system detects an audio signal associated with an image not currently displayed to each participating location in the multi-point video conference. When the number of active display windows is less than the maximum number of active display windows, a first active display window is activated and the image displayed in the first active display window. When the number of the active display windows is not less than the maximum number, a second active display window of the active display windows is inactivated, a third active display window is activated, and the image is displayed in the third active display window.

Claims (195)

1. A method comprising:

detecting an audio signal corresponding to a first participating location of a plurality of

participating locations in a multi-point video conference, wherein

the first participating location has no corresponding active display window, and

the first participating location corresponds to an image;

when a number of active display windows is less than a maximum number of the active display

windows,

activating a first active display window, and

displaying the image in the first active display window to each participating location;

and

when the number of active display windows is not less than the maximum number,

inactivating a second active display window,

activating a third active display window, and

displaying the image in the third active display window to each participating location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

broadcasting the audio signal to each participating location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein

the activating the first active display window comprises allocating first bandwidth for the first active display window; and

the activating the third active display window comprises using second bandwidth allocated for the second active display window.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second active display window occupies a first position among the active display windows; and

the third active display window occupies a second position among the active display windows.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

each active display window of the active display windows is visible substantially simultaneously at each participating location.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window according to a length of time that the second active display window has been displayed.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window according to a length of time that a second audio signal corresponding to the second active display window has been silent.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window from a subset of the active display windows, wherein

the subset excludes a host active display window of the active display windows, the host active display window displaying a host participating location of the participating locations;

the subset excludes a priority active display window of the active display windows, the priority active display window displaying a priority participating location of the participating locations; and

the selecting precedes the inactivating.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window from a subset of the active display windows, wherein

the selecting precedes the inactivating.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window from a subset of the active display windows, wherein

the subset excludes a host display window of the active display windows, the host display window displaying a host participating location of the participating locations; and

the selecting precedes the inactivating.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window from a subset of the active display windows, wherein

the subset excludes a priority display window of the active display windows, the priority display window displaying a priority participating location of the participating locations; and

the selecting precedes the inactivating.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an existing image in an existing active display window of the active display windows substantially simultaneously with the displaying the image in one of the first active display window and the third active display window.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the maximum number of the active display windows from a limited bandwidth available for the multi-point video conference.

14. A method comprising:

detecting a change in audio status corresponding to a first participating location of a plurality of participating locations in a multi-point video conference;

when the change in audio status is from silent to audible, and

when a number of active display windows is less than a maximum number of the active display windows,

activating a first active display window;

starting a first display timer corresponding to the first active display window; and

displaying the image in the first active display window to each participating location;

and

when the change in audio status is from silent to audible, and

when the number of active display windows is not less than the maximum number,

inactivating a second active display window;

stopping a second display timer corresponding to the second active display window;

activating a third active display window;

starting a third display timer corresponding to the third active display window; and

displaying the image in the third active display window to each participating location;

and

when the change in audio status is from audible to silent,

starting a first silence timer corresponding to the first participating location.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

broadcasting the audio signal to each participating location.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein

the activating the first active display window comprises allocating first bandwidth for the first active display window; and

the activating the third active display window comprises using second bandwidth allocated for the second active display window.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein

the inactivating the second active display window is performed according to one of a group consisting of the following:

a second silence timer indicating a first length of time that a second participating location corresponding to the second active display window has been silent, and

a second display timer indicating a second length of time that the second active display window has been displayed.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window when the first length of time corresponds to a highest silence timer value of a plurality of silence timer values.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window when the second length of time corresponds to a highest display timer value of a plurality of display timer values.

20. A method comprising:

detecting a change in audio status corresponding to a first participating location of a plurality of participating locations in a multi-point video conference;

when the change in audio status is from silent to audible, and

when a number of active display windows is less than a maximum number of the active display windows,

activating a first active display window,

starting a first display timer corresponding to the first active display window, and

displaying the image in the first active display window to each participating location;

and

when a number of active display windows is not less than a maximum number of active display windows,

inactivating a second active display window according to one of a group consisting of the following:

a second silence timer indicating a first length of time that the second active display window has been silent, and

a second display timer indicating a second length of time that the second active display window has been displayed;

activating a third active display window;

starting a third display timer corresponding to the third active display window; and

displaying the image in the third active display window to each participating location;

and

when the change in audio status is from audible to silent, starting a first silence timer corresponding to the first participating location.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

broadcasting the audio signal to each participating location.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein

the activating the first active display window comprises allocating first bandwidth for the first active display window; and

the activating the third active display window comprises using second bandwidth allocated for the second active display window.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window when the first length of time corresponds to a highest silence timer value of a plurality of silence timer values.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

selecting the second active display window when the second length of time corresponds to a highest display timer value of a plurality of display timer values.

25. A multi-point video conferencing system comprising:

detecting means for detecting an audio signal corresponding to a first participating location of a plurality of participating locations in a multi-point video conference, wherein

the first participating location has no corresponding active display window, and

the first participating location corresponds to an image;

first displaying means for, when a number of at least one active display window is less than a maximum number of the at least one active display window,

activating a first active display window, and

displaying the image in the first active display window;

and

second displaying means for, when the number of the at least one active display window is not less than the maximum number,

inactivating a second active display window;

activating a third active display window; and

displaying the image in the third active display window.

26. The multi-point video conferencing system of claim 25 further comprising:

broadcasting means for broadcasting the audio signal to each participating location.

27. The multi-point video conferencing system of claim 25 wherein

the first displaying means further comprise bandwidth allocating means for allocating first bandwidth for the first active display window; and

the second displaying means further comprise bandwidth using means for using second bandwidth allocated for the second active display window.

28. The multi-point video conferencing system of claim 25 wherein

each active display window of the active display windows is visible substantially simultaneously at each participating location of the participating locations.

29. The multi-point video conferencing system of claim 25 further comprising:

selecting means for selecting the second active display window according to a length of time that the second active display window has been displayed.

30. The multi-point video conferencing system of claim 25 further comprising:

selecting means for selecting the second active display window according to a length of time that an audio signal corresponding to the second active display window has been silent.

31. The multi-point video conferencing system of claim 25 further comprising:

selecting means for selecting the second active display window from a subset of the active display windows, wherein

the subset excludes a host active display window of the active display windows, the host active display window displaying a host participating location of the participating locations;

the subset excludes a priority active display window of the active display windows, the priority active display window displaying a priority participating location of the participating locations; and

the selecting precedes the inactivating.

32. An information handling system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions executable by the processor, wherein

the information handling system is configured to communicate with a plurality of audio signal detecting devices, a corresponding audio signal detecting device for each participating location of a plurality of participating locations;

the information handling system is further configured to communicate with a plurality of display devices, a respective display device for each participating location of a set of the participating locations; and

the instructions comprise:

detecting instructions to detect an audio signal corresponding to a first participating location of the participating locations, wherein

the detecting is performed by a first audio signal detecting device of the audio signal detecting devices,

the first participating location has no corresponding active display window, and

the first participating location corresponds to an image;

first displaying instructions to, when a number of active display windows is less than a maximum number of the active display windows,

activate a first active display window, and

display the image in the first active display window on each display device of the display devices;

and

second displaying instructions to, when the number of the active display windows is not less than the maximum number,

inactivate a second active display window;

activate a third active display window; and

display the image in the third active display window on each display device of the display devices.

33. The information handling system of claim 32 wherein

the first displaying instructions further comprise bandwidth allocating instructions to allocate first bandwidth for the first active display window; and

the second displaying instructions further comprise bandwidth using instructions to use second bandwidth allocated for the second active display window.

34. The information handling system of claim 32 wherein the instructions further comprise:

broadcasting instructions to broadcast the audio signal to each participating location.

35. The information handling system of claim 32 wherein

the first displaying instructions and the second displaying instructions are configured so that each active display window of the active display windows is visible substantially simultaneously on each display device of the display devices at each participating location of the participating locations.

36. The information handling system of claim 32 wherein the instructions further comprise:

selecting instructions to select the second active display window according to a length of time that the second active display window has been displayed.

37. The information handling system of claim 32 wherein the instructions further comprise:

selecting instructions to select the second active display window according to a length of time that a second audio signal corresponding to the second active display window has been silent.

38. The information handling system of claim 32 wherein the instructions further comprise:

selecting instructions to select the second active display window from a subset of the active display windows, wherein

the subset excludes a host active display window of the active display windows, the host active display window displaying a host participating location of the participating locations;

the subset excludes a priority active display window of the at least one active display window, the priority active display window displaying a priority participating location of the participating locations; and

the selecting precedes the inactivating.

39. A computer program product comprising:

detecting instructions to detect an audio signal corresponding to a first participating location of a plurality of participating locations in a multi-point video conference, wherein

the first participating location has no corresponding active display window, and

the first participating location corresponds to an image;

first displaying instructions to, when a number of active display windows is less than a maximum number of the active display windows,

activate a first active display window, and

display the image in the first active display window;

and

second displaying instructions to, when the number of the active display windows is not less than the maximum number,

inactivate a second active display window;

activate a third active display window; and

display the image in the third active display window.

40. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein the instructions further comprise:

broadcasting instructions to broadcast the audio signal to each participating location.

41. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein

the first displaying instructions further comprise bandwidth allocating instructions to allocate first bandwidth for the first active display window; and

the second displaying instructions further comprise bandwidth using instructions to use second bandwidth allocated for the second active display window.

42. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein

the first displaying instructions and the second displaying instructions are configured so that each active display window of the active display windows is visible substantially simultaneously at each participating location.

43. The computer program product of claim 39 further comprising:

selecting instructions to select the second active display window according to a length of time that the second active display window has been displayed.

44. The computer program product of claim 39 further comprising:

selecting instructions to select the second active display window according to a length of time that a second audio signal corresponding to the second active display window has been silent.

45. The computer program product of claim 39 further comprising:

selecting instructions to select the second active display window from a subset of the active display windows, wherein

the subset excludes a host active display window of the active display windows, the host active display window displaying a host participating location of the participating locations;

the subset excludes a priority active display window of the active display windows, the priority active display window displaying a priority participating location of the participating locations; and

the selecting precedes the inactivating.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL USA L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
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PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
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To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
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From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →