Abstract: A teleconferencing system with capability to store incoming multiple medium messages for later retrieval and playback is disclosed. The system includes a communications multiplexer which, in normal mode, receives the incoming message and routes the message to various output functions, including video, audio, and computer display. In store mode, the communications multiplexer receives the incoming message and communicates it to disk storage, for example by way of direct memory access. During playback, the communications multiplexer receives data from the disk storage, and controls its communication to the various output functions, in the same manner as during receipt of a normal incoming message during an interactive teleconference. As a result, multiple medium messages may be stored for later retrieval, with the playback appearing in the same manner as a conventional teleconference message.

Abstract: A camera is targeted using voice recognition analysis. Audio information is received by a talker identification (TID) module from a microphone. The TID module automatically performs a voice recognition analysis on the audio information to uniquely identify which of a plurality of talkers is talking. The camera is automatically controlled to target a camera preset location corresponding to the talker identified to be talking.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system with capability to store incoming multiple medium messages for later retrieval and playback is disclosed. The system includes a communications multiplexer which, in normal mode, receives the incoming message and routes the message to various output functions, including video, audio, and computer display. In store mode, the communications multiplexer receives the incoming message and communicates it to disk storage, for example by way of direct memory access. During playback, the communications multiplexer receives data from the disk storage, and controls its communication to the various output functions, in the same manner as during receipt of a normal incoming message during an interactive teleconference. As a result, multiple medium messages may be stored for later retrieval, with the playback appearing in the same manner as a conventional teleconference message.

Abstract: A postfiltering process for improving the appearance of a video image includes motion compensated temporal filtering and spatial adaptive filtering. For each target pixel being filtered, the temporal filtering uses multiple motion vectors and one or more pixel values for a prior frame to determine one of more reference values for the target filter. In one embodiment, a weighted average of multiple motion vectors for blocks near or containing the target pixel value provides a filter vector that points to a pixel value in the prior frame. This pixel value is a reference value for the target pixel value and is combined with the target pixel value in a filter operation. Alternatively, multiple motion vectors for blocks near or containing the target pixel value point to pixel values in the prior frame that are averaged to determine a reference value for the target pixel value. In each alternative, the weighting for the average is selected according to the position of the target pixel value.

Abstract: A method of processing video information includes scaling the video information using a first number of fields if a field indicator indicates the first number of fields and scaling the video information using a second number of fields if the field indicator indicates the second number of fields. The video information is searched for motion. The field indicator is set to indicate the first number of fields if the video information includes a first amount of motion, and the field indicator is set to indicate the second number of fields if the video information includes a second amount of motion.

Abstract: A videoconference system includes a video switch for selecting focus video information, a physical video input node coupled to provide physical video information to the video switch, a graphics processing module coupled to provide graphical video information to the video switch, and a remote source interface coupled to provide remote video information to the video switch. The videoconference system further includes an audio processing module for processing audio information. A record controller is coupled to the video switch, the graphics processing module and the audio processing module. The record controller is coupled to receive event information from the audio processing module and the graphics processing module. The record controller automatically determines a focus video source from among the physical video input, the graphics processing module and the remote source interface responsive to receiving the event information.

Abstract: A method for determining a talk/listen state using voice detection includes receiving an audio sample and detecting whether the audio sample includes voiced sound. The audio sample represents sound measured during a sample time interval. The method further includes deriving an audio level from the audio sample and comparing the audio level to a threshold level. The audio level represents an average power level of the audio sample. The method further includes determining the talk/listen state depending on a relation of the audio level to the threshold level and depending on whether the audio sample includes voiced sound.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to be used for videoconferencing when the presentation is to include displays of documents or other visuals. A camera is focused on the document and detects when the document is being handled by the presenter. It automatically determines when to initially display the document, as well as when to update frames of data representing the document.

Abstract: A voice activated camera preset selection system (15) is provided. The system includes a preset storage unit (17) operable to store a plurality of camera presets (21). Each camera preset (21) defines a camera preset location and camera preset data. A preset selector (16) is coupled to the preset storage unit (17). The preset selector (16) is operable to receive position data representing a speaker location based upon the voice of the speaker. The preset selector (16) is also operable to select a camera preset (21) from the plurality of stored camera presets (21) by determining a camera preset (21) that defines a camera preset location that is proximate the speaker location. The preset selector (16) is further operable to provide camera preset data defined by the selected camera preset (21) to a camera controller (18) such that a camera (19) can be automatically moved to view the camera preset location defined by the selected camera preset (21).

Abstract: An object sharing application provides a method and system for sharing an object (20)in a teleconference communications environment (10). The invention includes the steps and instructions for establishing a teleconferencing session between a source terminal (12) and a destination terminal (14). Then, the invention identifies object (20) having at least one link (36)to a source terminal application program (120, 122, 124) associated with the source terminal (12)occurs. The steps and instructions also include sharing the object between the source terminal (12) and the destination terminal (14)during the teleconferencing session without sharing the source terminal application program (120, 122, 124) from source terminal (12).

Abstract: A video conference platform includes a graphical user interface for configuration and control of a video conference. In particular, the graphical user interface allows for "windows" type operations to control various aspects of the video conference, including initial configuration, camera control, and data transmission.

Abstract: A noise reduction filter (28) is provided. The noise reduction filter (28) comprises a signal analysis block (30). The signal analysis block (30) is operable to receive an input audio signal and to determine a short term signal level. A noise floor block (32) is coupled to the signal analysis block (30). The noise floor block (32) is operable to receive the short term signal level from the signal analysis block (30) and to determine a noise floor level based upon the value of the short term signal level. A noise factor block (34) is coupled to the signal analysis block (30) and to the noise floor block (32). The noise factor block (34) is operable to receive the short term signal level and the noise floor level and operable to calculate a noise factor. A multiplier node (36) is coupled to the noise factor block (34) and receives the input audio signal.

Abstract: A method for determining a talk/listen state using a dynamic threshold is provided that can be implemented in a multipoint control unit (12). An audio sample is received and represents sound measured during a sample time interval. An audio level is generated from the audio sample The audio level represents an average power level of the audio sample. A dynamic threshold is set by processing the audio level. The audio level is compared to the dynamic threshold. A talk/listen state is determined to be a talking state if the audio level is above the dynamic threshold and to be a listening state if the audio level is below the dynamic threshold. The previous steps are repeated for each audio sample in a sequential stream of received audio samples such that the dynamic threshold is maintained and used to determine the talk/listen state.

Abstract: A video conference platform includes a graphical user interface for configuration and control of a video conference. In particular, the graphical user interface allows for "windows" type operations to control various aspects of the video conference, including initial configuration, camera control, and data transmission.

Abstract: A multipoint video conference system (8) is provided that has video rate control and allows communication of audio, video and data information between end-point units (16). The multipoint video conference system comprises a multipoint control unit (10, 20) having a plurality of interface units (12, 22) located therein. Each interface unit (12, 22) is operable to communicate with other interface units (12, 22) via a backplane (14, 24) of the multipoint control unit (10, 20). A plurality of end-point units (16) are each coupled to an associated interface unit (12, 22). Each end-point unit (16) is operable to communicate and process real data information and operable to receive and resend fill data information. The multipoint control unit (10, 20) is operable, with respect to each participating end-point unit (16) in a data channel, to allow communication of real data information and, with respect to each non-participating end-point unit (16), to allow communication of an equal amount of fill data information.