Granted Patent B2

US 7,133,062 · App. 10/631,667 · Granted Nov 7, 2006

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A method for selecting the video source signal for display during a videoconference comprising:

presenting a plurality of selectable icons for user selection on a first videoconferencing terminal;

associating, in response to user selection, an icon with a certain source of video signal to be transmitted by the first videoconferencing terminal;

sending a plurality of icons each associated with a source of video signal to a second videoconferencing terminal; and,

switching the video signal transmitted by the first videoconferencing terminal to the second videoconferencing terminal in response to user activation of an icon on the second videoconferencing terminal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising

presenting a text box for user input of alphanumeric characters;

associating the alphanumeric characters input by the user with the selected icon.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the text box is initially displayed with a default string of alphanumeric characters which may be overwritten by the user.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising

grouping the selectable icons into predefined categories.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of the predefined categories is selected from the group consisting of medical-related icons, legal-related icons, education-related icons, manufacturing-related icons, and corporate-related icons.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the icon group is selected by the user from a menu of available icon categories.

7. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein a name is associated with each predefined category.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the name associated with each predefined category is displayed in the language selected by the user from a list of available languages.

9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the name associated with each predefined category is displayed in a language associated with the country code of a telephone number input by the user.

10. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the name associated with each predefined category is displayed in a language associated with the country code of a telephone number selected by the user from a directory of telephone numbers.

11. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the name associated with each predefined category is displayed in a language associated with the country code of a telephone number selected by the user from a list of recently-called numbers.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising

exchanging user selection of icons between the first videoconferencing terminal and the second videoconferencing terminal.

13. A method for selecting the video source signal for display during a videoconference comprising:

presenting, in response to user input, a plurality of selectable icons for user selection on a first videoconferencing terminal;

associating, in response to user selection, an icon with a certain source of video signal input to the first videoconferencing terminal;

sending the icon to a second videoconferencing terminal;

displaying the selected icons on a video display associated with the second videoconferencing terminal in response to user activation of an input device; and

switching the video signal displayed on the second videoconferencing terminal in response to user activation of a displayed icon associated with a video signal source.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising

selecting near-end or far-end icons for display.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein an input device is used to select the near-end or far-end icons for display.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a remote control, a mouse, a trackball, a touch pad, a touch screen, a joy stick and a light pen.

17. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising

displaying, in association with a selected icon, a label comprised of alphanumeric characters.

18. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising

removing the icons from the display in response to user activation of a displayed icon.

19. A method for selecting the video source signal for display during a videoconference comprising:

presenting a plurality of selectable icons on a first videoconferencing terminal;

selecting an icon for association with a certain source of video signal;

sending the icon to a second videoconferencing terminal; and,

activating the icon on the second videoconferencing terminal to cause switching of the video source signal displayed to the video signal source associated with the activated icon.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising

entering a string of alphanumeric characters for association with the source of video signal and

displaying the string of alphanumeric characters upon activation of the selected icon.

21. A processor-based videoconference terminal comprising a medium storing instructions for causing the processor to present a plurality of selectable icons for user selection on a first videoconferencing terminal;

associate, in response to user selection, a first icon with a first source of video signal;

associate, in response to user selection, a second icon with a second source of video signal;

send the first icon and the second icon to a second videoconferencing terminal;

switch the video signal transmitted by the first videoconferencing terminal in response to user activation of an icon on the second videoconferencing terminal.

Assignments (10)