User interface allowing a participant to rejoin a previously left videoconference
View Patent ↗System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. These user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions.
1. A method for reconnecting to a previous videoconference, comprising:
a videoconferencing unit initiating a videoconference, wherein the videoconference comprises at least one other videoconferencing unit;
the videoconferencing unit leaving the videoconference while the videoconference is in progress, wherein after leaving the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit is no longer connected to the videoconference;
at a first time, after leaving the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit determining that the videoconference is still available;
the videoconferencing unit displaying a user interface, wherein the user interface includes a first icon selectable by the user to reconnect to the videoconference in response to the videoconferencing unit leaving the videoconference and in response to determining that the videoconference is still available, wherein the first icon is different than a second icon used for dialing, wherein, in response to user input selecting the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit is configured to reconnect to the videoconference;
at a second time, after displaying the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit determining that the videoconference is no longer available; and
in response to determining that the videoconference is no longer available, the videoconferencing unit removing the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference from the user interface.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the videoconferencing unit receiving user input to reconnect to the videoconference; and
the videoconferencing unit reconnecting to the videoconference in response to the user input.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein after said initiating the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by a server.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein the transfer of hosting is transparent to participants in the videoconference.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein after said leaving the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by another computer system or videoconferencing unit.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to a network connection issue.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to user input.
8. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for reconnecting to a previous videoconference, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor of a first videoconferencing unit to:
initiate a videoconference with a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints;
leave the videoconference while the videoconference is in progress, wherein after leaving the videoconference, the first videoconferencing unit is no longer connected to the videoconference;
at a first time, after leaving the videoconference, determine that the videoconference is still available;
display a user interface which includes a first icon selectable by the user to reconnect to the videoconference in response to leaving the videoconference and determining that the videoconference is still available, wherein the first icon is different than a second icon used for dialing, wherein the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference is included in the user interface in response to leaving the videoconference;
at a second time, after displaying the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference, determine that the videoconference is no longer available; and
in response to determining that the videoconference is no longer available, remove the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference from the user interface.
9. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein after said initiating the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by a server.
10. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 9 , wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein the transfer of hosting is transparent to participants in the videoconference.
11. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein after said leaving the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by another computer system or videoconferencing unit.
12. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to a network connection issue.
13. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to user input.
14. A videoconferencing system, comprising:
a videoconferencing unit at a participant location;
at least one display coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one display is configured to provide video corresponding to other participant locations during a videoconference;
at least one audio output coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio output is configured to provide audio corresponding to the other participant locations during the videoconference;
at least one video input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one video input is configured to capture video of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations;
at least one audio input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio input is configured to capture audio of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations;
wherein the videoconference unit is configured to:
initiate a videoconference with a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints;
leave the videoconference while the videoconference is in progress, wherein after leaving the videoconference, the videoconferencing system is no longer connected to the videoconference;
at a first time, after leaving the videoconference, determine that the videoconference is still available;
display a user interface on the at least one display, wherein the user interface includes a first icon selectable by the user to reconnect to the videoconference in response to the videoconferencing system leaving the videoconference and in response to determining that the videoconference is still available, wherein the first icon is different than a second icon used for dialing;
at a second time, after displaying the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference, determine that the videoconference is no longer available; and
in response to determining that the videoconference is no longer available, remove the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference from the user interface.
15. The videoconferencing system of claim 14 , wherein after said initiating the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by a server.
16. The videoconferencing system of claim 15 , wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein the transfer of hosting is transparent to participants in the videoconference.
17. The videoconferencing system of claim 14 , wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein after said leaving the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by another computer system or videoconferencing unit.
18. The videoconferencing system of claim 14 , wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to a network connection issue.
19. The videoconferencing system of claim 14 , wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to user input.