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 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:
detect a sound during a video conference; and
turn the IHS with respect to a participant of the video conference in response to the sound.
2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
determine that the sound is emitted by the participant; and
turn the IHS toward the participant.
3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to change 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 participant.
4. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
detect another sound during the video conference;
determine that the other sound is emitted by another participant; and
turn the IHS away from the participant and toward the other participant.
5. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to change at least one of: (i) the color; or (ii) the intensity of the illuminating element to indicate another direction of the other participant.
6. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
detect another sound during the video conference;
determine that the other sound is emitted by an ignored participant; and
abstain from turning the IHS toward the ignored participant.
7. The memory device of claim 6 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to change at least one of: (i) the color; or (ii) the intensity of the illuminating element to indicate another direction of the ignored participant.
8. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
detect another sound during the video conference;
determine that the other sound is emitted by another dock; and
abstain from turning the IHS toward the other dock.
9. The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to change at least one of: (i) the color; or (ii) the intensity of the illuminating element to indicate another direction of the other dock.
10. In a dock configured to receive an Information Handling System (IHS), a method comprising:
detecting a sound during a video conference; and
turning the IHS with respect to a participant of the video conference in response to the sound.
11. The method of claim 10 , 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 participant.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting another sound during the video conference;
determining that the other sound is emitted by another participant; and
turning the IHS away from the participant and toward the other participant.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising changing at least one of: (i) the color; or (ii) the intensity of the illuminating element to indicate another direction of the other participant.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting another sound during the video conference;
determining that the other sound is emitted by another dock; and
abstaining from turning the IHS toward the other dock.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising changing at least one of: (i) the color; or (ii) the intensity of the illuminating element to indicate another direction of the other dock.
16. A dock configured to receive an Information Handling System (IHS), the dock comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the dock to
detect a sound during a video conference; and
turn the IHS with respect to a participant of the video conference in response to the sound.
17. The dock of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
determine that the sound is emitted by the participant; and
turn the IHS toward the participant.
18. The dock of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
detect another sound during the video conference;
determine that the other sound is emitted by another participant; and
turn the IHS away from the participant and toward the other participant.
19. The dock of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
detect another sound during the video conference;
determine that the other sound is emitted by an ignored participant; and
abstain from turning the IHS toward the ignored participant.
20. The dock of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the dock to:
detect another sound during the video conference;
determine that the other sound is emitted by another dock; and
abstain from turning the IHS toward the other dock.