Telephonic communications – Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical... – Having transmission of a digital message signal over a...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-26
2001-03-13
Woo, Stella (Department: 2743)
Telephonic communications
Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical...
Having transmission of a digital message signal over a...
C348S014160, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201859
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of data and video conferencing. More particularly, this invention relates to controlling individual participants' inputs to a data and/or video conference.
2. Background
Computer technology is continuously advancing, resulting in modern computer systems which provide ever-increasing performance. One result of this improved performance is an increased use of computer systems by individuals in a wide variety of business, academic and personal applications. One such use is that of data and/or video conferencing, where users of multiple computer systems in different locations communicate with each other. These different locations can span virtually any distance, such as between two offices in the same building or between two offices in different countries.
The benefits of such conferencing are numerous. Among these benefits is the ability of multiple individuals to effectively and quickly communicate information and ideas to one another over large distances. The information and ideas can be displayed by each computer system, and frequently verbal discussions can accompany the images. Data and video can both be transmitted in a conferencing environment. Typically, data conferencing refers to sharing documents and video conferencing refers to sharing images.
However, several problems can arise in a conferencing environment. One such problem results from the sharing of documents. If multiple users are viewing the same document simultaneously, each of the users may attempt to change the document at the same time. At times this may be beneficial, however at other times this can create substantial confusion among the participants, as well as result in the loss of data. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a method for enforcing order in a conferencing environment.
Additionally, in many conferencing environments technological limitations in the communications links between the conferencing sites prevents all visual images from all of the conferencing sites from being seen simultaneously. Therefore, a choice must be made as to which conferencing sites are being viewed at any particular time. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a system which automatically selects which conferencing site is to be viewed at any particular time.
Furthermore, specific users may desire to view specific conferencing sites, such as a site which has not been automatically selected to be viewed. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a system which allows individuals to select which conferencing sites they view at any particular time.
The present invention provides for these and other advantageous results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for controlling participant input in a conferencing environment is described herein. A conference typically includes at least first and second end points which can operate in at least two different modes. While in the first operating mode, the end points can make changes to the conference data at will. The conference remains in the first operating mode until a request is received from a participant to change the conference to a second operating mode. Once this request is received, the conference switches to the second operating mode. While in the second operating mode, only one of the first and second end points can make changes at any particular time.
In one embodiment, the conference includes audio/video data. In this embodiment, an audio/video chairperson is identified in the second operating mode. The audio/video chairperson can determine the current speaker at any given time.
In one embodiment, the conference includes shared application data. In this embodiment, a token is created for a shared application when in the second operating mode, and whichever end point holds the token at any particular time can make changes to the shared application at that time.
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Memhard Jennifer
Porter Daniel R.
Salvador Anthony C.
Skarbo Rune A.
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Intel Corporation
Woo Stella
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