Abstract: In conventional audio and video conferencing, connecting the devices of participants in the same room to the conference can degrade the audio quality for every conference participant. Different speakers emit the same audio signals at different times, even in the same room, making echo cancellation difficult or impossible. Routing signals among devices in the same consumes bandwidth and introduces variable latency. The inventive conferencing technology eliminates these problems with more intelligent routing and mixing. An inventive conference bridge organize colocated clients into groups, picks one Elected Speaker per group, and sends signals to only the Elected Speakers. The Elected Speakers mix audio from other groups, share it within their groups using low-latency local connections, and play the audio after a delay.

Abstract: A speaker assembly, and an associated method, is operable in conjunction with operation of a content capable mobile station, such as a mobile station that stores and plays out MP3-formatted files. A Bluetooth™, or other, transceiver of the speaker assembly communicates with a corresponding transceiver of the mobile station. When content is played out by the mobile station, signals representative of the content are communicated to the transceiver of the speaker assembly, and converted into acoustical form. When the mobile station is operated in a telephonic mode, the speaker assembly operates in a full-duplex mode in which hands-free operation is provided to a user by way of the speaker assembly.

Abstract: A speaker assembly, and an associated method, is operable in conjunction with operation of a content capable mobile station, such as a mobile station that stores and plays out MP3-formatted files. A Bluetooth™, or other, transceiver of the speaker assembly communicates with a corresponding transceiver of the mobile station. When content is played out by the mobile station, signals representative of the content are communicated to the transceiver of the speaker assembly, and converted into acoustical form. When the mobile station is operated in a telephonic mode, the speaker assembly operates in a full-duplex mode in which hands-free operation is provided to a user by way of the speaker assembly.