Robotic dock for video conferencing
A robotic dock for video conferencing is described. In some embodiments, a dock may be configured to receive an Information Handling System (IHS), the dock comprising: a motor; a microcontroller coupled to the motor; and a memory coupled to the microcontroller, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the microcontroller, cause the dock to control the motor to rotate the IHS toward or away from a participant of a video conference.
1. A dock configured to receive an Information Handling System (IHS), the dock comprising:
a motor;
a microcontroller coupled to the motor;
a microphone array coupled to the microcontroller;
a memory coupled to the microcontroller, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the microcontroller, cause the dock to:
control the motor to rotate the IHS toward or away from a participant of a video conference;
detect a voice in a direction of another participant using the microphone array;
determine that the other participant is another dock; and
ignore the other dock in response to the determination.
2. The dock of claim 1 , wherein the IHS comprises a smart phone or tablet.
3. The dock of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a servo motor.
4. The dock of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker array coupled to the motor, wherein the speaker array is configured to output an audio portion of the video conference.
5. The dock of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the microcontroller, cause the dock to detect another voice in a direction of the participant using the microphone array, and to rotate the IHS toward the participant.
6. The dock of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the microcontroller, cause the dock to detect another voice in yet another direction of yet another participant using the microphone array, and to rotate the IHS away from the participant and toward the yet another participant.
7. The dock of claim 1 , further comprising a light ring, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the microcontroller, cause the dock to detect another voice in a direction of the participant using the microphone array, and to change at least one of: (i) a color; or (ii) an intensity of at least one illuminating element of the light ring to indicate a direction of the participant.
8. The dock of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the microcontroller, cause the dock to:
detect another voice in a direction of an ignored participant; and
change at least one of: (i) a color; or (ii) an intensity of at least one illuminating element of the light ring to indicate a direction of the ignored participant.
9. A memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a microcontroller of a dock configured to receive an Information Handling System (IHS), cause the dock to:
rotate the IHS toward or away from a participant of a video conference;
detect a voice in a direction of another participant;
determine that the other participant is another dock; and
ignore the other dock in response to the determination.
10. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to rotate the IHS toward the participant using a motor.
11. The memory device of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to detect a sound emitted by yet another participant, and to turn the IHS away from the participant and toward the yet other participant using the motor.
12. The memory device of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to change at least one of: (i) the color; or (ii) the intensity of at least one illuminating element of a light ring, at least in part, to indicate a direction of the yet other participant.
13. In a dock configured to receive an Information Handling System (IHS), a method comprising:
rotating the IHS toward or away from a participant of a video conference;
detecting a voice in a direction of another participant;
determining that the other participant is another dock; and
ignoring the other dock in response to the determination.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising rotating the IHS toward the participant using a motor.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising detecting a sound emitted by yet another participant, and turning the IHS away from the participant and toward the yet other participant using the motor.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising changing at least one of: (i) a color; or (ii) an intensity of at least one illuminating element of a light ring to indicate a direction of the yet other participant.