Telephonic communications – Substation or terminal circuitry – Conversion of signal form
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-31
2001-10-23
Chan, Wing F. (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Substation or terminal circuitry
Conversion of signal form
C379S110010, C379S201060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307932
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to multimedia telecommunications in general, and to end-user terminals for such communications in particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multimedia communications systems typically use a personal computer (PC)-based desktop video conferencing system as the end-user's multimedia communications terminal. In the desktop video conferencing system, the audio component of a multimedia call is delivered to and received from the end-user through the audio subsystem of the terminal, which usually comprises a sound card mounted in the PC and speakers and a microphone connected to the sound card.
In an integrated multimedia and voice calling environment, an end-user is typically equipped with both the multimedia terminal and a conventional voice telephone, the former for receipt and/or generation (access) of multimedia calls including the audio component, and the latter for the access of conventional voice-only calls. Having a different audio-delivery and generation mechanism for voice and multimedia calls is confusing, annoying, and inconvenient to end-users.
Some multimedia endpoint vendors, e.g., Picture Tel, have addressed this problem by including a telephone-like PC adjunct in their desktop video conferencing system for delivery of the audio component of a multimedia call. This approach potentially gives the end-user a more familiar device for the receipt of the audio medium. However, the telephone-like adjunct may not actually replace the conventional telephone on the end-user's desktop, in which case the end-user is again left with separate audio delivery mechanisms for voice and multimedia calls.
Lucent Technologies Inc. has addressed this problem in their Video Multimedia Call Center by providing a hardware “y” connection that connects the audio circuitry of both the desktop video conferencing system and the telephone to a single headset. This allows the end-user to access the audio medium of both voice and multimedia calls through the same headset. A headset is the audio instrument of choice in call centers, but not in other environments, e.g., general office environments. Hence, to a large extent, the problem remains unsolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to solving these and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art. Illustratively, the solution involves giving the end-user explicit control, via a new telephone feature button, over which audio access mechanism is to be used at any time. Thus, the end user can select audio access either through the audio subsystem of the multimedia terminal or through the voice telephone regardless of whether the call is a multimedia or a voice call.
Generally, the invention can be used in any communications environment, where the telephone is replaced by any end-user communications terminal, the feature button is replaced by any actuator, the desktop video conferencing system is replaced by any terminal endpoint, and the audio medium is replaced by any one or more media, and calls represent any communications. According to one aspect of the invention, therefore, a method of controlling a call comprises the following steps. An actuator at an end-user terminal is actuated, and in response a first signal (e.g., a notification of the actuation) is sent from the terminal to a call controller. The call controller may be a telephone switch, a LAN server, or any other communications controller that handles (e.g., routes, connects, etc.) communications. In response to receiving the first signal, the call controller disconnects a single medium (e.g., audio) of a multimedia call that is connected to a multimedia endpoint from that endpoint, and connects the single medium of the multimedia call to the terminal. Preferably, the call controller leaves the remainder of the multimedia call connected to the multimedia endpoint.
Correspondingly, an end-user terminal for use with a call controller that handles both single-medium calls and multi-media (including the single medium) calls has an actuator which, when actuated, causes the call controller to disconnect the single medium of a multimedia call that is connected to a multi-media endpoint from that endpoint and connect the single medium to the terminal. And a controller for handling both single-medium calls and multi-media (including the single medium) calls responds to receipt of a first signal (e.g., a notification of the actuation of the terminal's actuator) from an end user terminal while a multi-media call is connected to a multi-media endpoint by disconnecting the single medium of the multi-media call from the endpoint and connecting the single medium to the terminal.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the single medium of any call starts out being connected to the same place, thereby presenting the user with a consistent environment. A method of controlling calls therefore comprises the following steps. Initially, a single medium of single-medium calls as well as of multi-media calls is connected to an end-user terminal, while the rest of the multi-media calls is initially connected to a multi-media endpoint. When an actuator at the terminal is actuated, a first signal is sent in response from the terminal to a call controller. The call controller responds to receipt of the first signal by disconnecting the single medium from the terminal and connecting the single medium to the multi-media endpoint. Then, preferably, if the actuator is actuated again, a second signal is sent to the call controller, and it responds to receipt of the second signal by disconnecting the single medium from the multi-media endpoint while leaving the remainder of any multi-media call connected to the multi-media endpoint, and reconnects the single medium to the terminal.
Correspondingly, an end-user terminal, for use with a call controller that initially connects a single-medium of both single-medium calls and multi-media calls to the terminal and connects the rest of the multi-media calls to a multi-media endpoint, has an actuator which, when actuated, causes the single medium to be disconnected from the terminal and to be connected to the multi-media endpoint. A second actuation preferably causes the single medium of the single-medium and of the multi-media calls to be disconnected from the multi-media endpoint and to be reconnected to the terminal while the remainder of the multi-media calls is left connected to the multi-media endpoint. And a controller for handling both single-medium calls and multi-media (including the single medium) calls initially connects a single medium of both the single-medium and the multi-media calls to an end-user terminal and further connects the rest of the multi-media calls to a multi-media endpoint, but responds to receipt of a first signal from the terminal by disconnecting the single medium from the terminal and connecting it to the multi-media endpoint. Receipt of a second signal from the terminal then preferably causes the call controller to disconnect the single medium of the single-medium and of the multi-media calls from the multi-media endpoint and to reconnect the single medium to the terminal while leaving the rest of the multi-media calls to be connected to the multi-media endpoint.
In its illustrative embodiment form, the selection mechanism designed to operate very much like a traditional speakerphone attached to, or integrated in, a voice telephone, making operation familiar and intuitive to users. When a user originates or receives a call, audio is automatically delivered to the handset regardless of whether the call is voice or multimedia. If the user then presses the new feature button (referred to as the PC-Audio button), audio is transferred to the audio subsystem of the multimedia terminal, an LED associated with the PC-Audio button is lit, and the user may cradle the handset without disconnecting the call. If the handset is subsequently lifted, audio is reconnected to the voice telephone and the LED is extinguished. If the PC-Audio button is pressed while its LED is l
Burritt David R.
Gilman Robert R.
King Gary S.
Pessot Albert D.
Raji Farzad
Avaya Technology Corp
Chan Wing F.
Volejnicek David
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