Abstract: A system and method for integrating a personal computer based presentation with a videoconferencing system. A coupling device includes a card, insertable into a PCMCIA slot of a laptop computer or like machine, which includes a cable coupled to the card at a first end and to a connector coupled at a second end. The card includes firmware for loading into RAM of the computer and software operable to execute code.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a personal computer based presentation with a videoconferencing system. A coupling device includes a card, insertable into a PCMCIA slot of a laptop computer or like machine, which includes a cable coupled to the card at a first end and to a connector coupled at a second end. The card includes firmware for loading into RAM of the computer and software operable to execute code.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a personal computer based presentation with a videoconferencing system. A coupling device includes a card, insertable into a PCMCIA slot of a laptop computer or like machine, which includes a cable coupled to the card at a first end and to a connector coupled at a second end. The card includes firmware for loading into RAM of the computer and software operable to execute code.

Abstract: A videoconference system can automatically transmit first and second images from a local site to a remote site where the first image is a high-resolution live image and the second image may be transmitted either as a high-resolution live or still frame image. Two video streams representing the first and second images are transmitted together to the remote site within a single carrier channel. The second image is transmitted as a still image whenever the second image is static to conserve bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method are provided which utilize biometrics technology in a conference environment. A biometrics engine detects facial images of a user, generates biometrics of the detected facial images, and compares the generated biometrics with biometrics information of authorized users. If a match is found, then the user is authorized and is automatically logged into the conference network. Once logged in, conferences may be automatically established, the user may be tracked by at least one video sensor, user preferences may be automatically set, and/or conference content may be easily accessed and shared with remote conference participants.

Abstract: A system and method for high resolution video conferencing is shown and described. A transmitting station and a receiving station including video cameras or sensors, a plurality of microphones and speakers, video, audio and communication processing engines are disclosed. Video is processed and transferred through the system allowing for multiple video streams to be produced and audio is processed and transferred through the system allowing for sound to be played back with an indication of position in relation to the videoconferencing system.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for computing a location of an acoustic source is disclosed. The method includes steps of processing a plurality of microphone signals in frequency space to search a plurality of candidate acoustic source locations for a maximum normalized signal energy. The method uses phase-delay look-up tables to efficiently determine phase delays for a given frequency bin number k based upon a candidate source location and a microphone location, thereby reducing system memory requirements. Furthermore, the method compares a maximum signal energy for each frequency bin number k with a threshold energy Et(k) to improve accuracy in locating the acoustic source.

Abstract: A system and method for high resolution video conferencing is shown and described. A transmitting station and a receiving station including video cameras or sensors, a plurality of microphones and speakers, video, audio and communication processing engines are disclosed. Video is processed and transferred through the system allowing for multiple video streams to be produced and audio is processed and transferred through the system allowing for sound to be played back with an indication of position in relation to the videoconferencing system.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system may include, for example, a camera, microphones, speakers, a computer system (e.g., a portable computer) and a codec box. The videoconferencing system may send/receive signals through a network coupled to the computer system. In some embodiments, the codec functionality may be incorporated in a set-top box (e.g., a cable box, a satellite box, or a gaming box). The various functions to support the videoconference (e.g., compression and decompression of video signals, etc.) may be performed, for example, by circuitry in the camera, codec box/set top box, and/or the computer system. For example, video processing and encoding of signals for the videoconference may be implemented in the camera and audio processing and decoding of signals for the videoconference may be implemented in the codec box.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system may include a camera, microphones, speakers, and a codec. In some embodiments, the codec functionality may be incorporated in a set-top box (e.g., a cable box, a satellite box, or a gaming box). The codec functionality may also be split between different components of the videoconferencing system. The camera and speakers may be coupled to or placed around a display. The videoconferencing system may send/receive signals through a network coupled to the computer system. The various functions to support the videoconference (e.g., compression and decompression of video signals) may be performed by circuitry in the camera base, codec/set top box, and/or on the computer system. The computer system may be a laptop computer. In some embodiments, ported speakers may be used to maximize sound quality for the provided speaker size.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the components of a videoconferencing system may be incorporated in a unitary housing. For example, an integrated videoconferencing system may include microphones to capture participant audio and a camera to capture participant video (along with corresponding audio processing capabilities) in a unitary housing. The unitary housing may also include speakers to produce audio from conference participants and a display to provide video of conference participants. The integrated videoconferencing system may include a codec for encoding and/or decoding). The integrated videoconferencing system may also perform other conference related functions. The integrated videoconferencing system may be used as a speakerphone (e.g., in audio only calls) and/or a videoconference system. The integrated videoconferencing system may also fold into a compact form for portability.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a multi-component videoconferencing system (MCVCS) may be used as a videoconferencing endpoint. The MCVCS may include a camera, microphones, speakers, and a codec. The camera and speakers may be coupled to or placed around a display. The MCVCS may send/receive signals through a network coupled to the computer system. The various functions to support the videoconference (e.g., compression and decompression of video signals) may be performed by circuitry in the camera base, codec box, and/or on the computer system. The computer system may be a laptop computer. In some embodiments, the codec functionality may be incorporated in a set-top box. In some embodiments, the components of the MCVCS may be incorporated into a unitary housing. In some embodiments, ported speakers may be used to maximize sound quality for the provided speaker size.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a camera may be controlled by one or more motors in a base of the camera. Cables and other components may be used to manipulate the camera lens through the side arms of the camera. Putting the motors in the base may reduce the size of the outer case of the camera and add stability. A pan motor may pan the camera while a tilt motor may move a tilt pulley relative to a lens portion of the camera (which may or may not tilt the camera depending on the panning motion of the camera). In some embodiments, images from the camera may be converted into a serialized stream and transported over a cable from the lens through a center shaft of the camera.

Abstract: A management system may test network paths prior to scheduled calls. Testing network paths may include one endpoint placing a test call to an endpoint on the other end of the path. Various characteristics of the network path may be tested. If the network path fails and/or in some way does not meet the predefined characteristics for the call, an administrator may be notified and/or alternate network path may be detected and tested. The call may be rescheduled if a satisfactory network path is not found in time.

Abstract: A system and method are provided which utilize biometrics technology in a conference environment. A biometrics engine detects facial images of a user, generates biometrics of the detected facial images, and compares the generated biometrics with biometrics information of authorized users. If a match is found, then the user is authorized and is automatically logged into the conference network. Once logged in, conferences may be automatically established, the user may be tracked by at least one video sensor, user preferences may be automatically set, and/or conference content may be easily accessed and shared with remote conference participants.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for selecting a video input signal to send to remote endpoints in a videoconference are disclosed. The method may comprise simultaneously displaying a plurality of icons on a display device, where each icon displays a live version of a video input signal from a respective local video source. The icons are selectable to select a video input signal to send to the remote endpoints in the videoconference. In other words, by selecting a particular icon, a user can select the video input signal displayed by the icon as the video input signal to send to the remote endpoints.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system may include a first conferencing system with a first speaker and a second speaker. The first conferencing system may be coupled to a second conferencing system and a third conferencing system. In some embodiments, audio from the second conferencing system may be reproduced through the first speaker, and audio from the third conferencing system may be reproduced through the second speaker. In some embodiments, audio from various participants at various conferencing systems may be reproduced on audio system components relative to the location of participants at the conferencing system. For example, audio from a first participant on the left side of a camera at a second conferencing system may be reproduced through left side speakers at the first conferencing system.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a videoconferencing system and methods for visually indicating status and/or control information on a continuous presence display for a videoconference are described herein. In one embodiment, status information may be received from one or more of the endpoints of the videoconference and one or more status icons may be displayed on a continuous presence display in response to the status information. In another embodiment, a control icon may be displayed on the continuous presence display in order to visually indicate an endpoint that has been selected for controlling one or more of its properties.

Abstract: System and method for controlling video display modes in a video conferencing system. An audio signal from each of a plurality of video conferencing system locations may be received. An accumulated amount of audio signal may be determined from each of one or more of the audio signals. Subsequently, a display mode of two or more possible display modes may be determined for at least one of the video conferencing system locations based on the determined accumulated audio signal. Determining the accumulated audio signal may comprise determining a signal metric for each of one or more of the audio signals using an integrated form of the signal. The method may include comparing accumulated amounts of audio signal from one or more audio signals with at least one accumulation threshold. The display mode may also be determined based on the comparison between the accumulated audio signal and at least one accumulation threshold.

Abstract: A system may be configured to: receive remote audio signals and corresponding spatial indicators from remote systems; generate output signals for local speakers based on the remote audio signals and the corresponding spatial indicators; supply a microphone input signal to a first echo canceller in a series of echo cancellers, where each echo canceller of the series corresponds to a position in a set of positions along a one-dimensional locus connecting the speakers; map each of the remote audio signals to a corresponding one of the positions based on the corresponding spatial indicator; for each position of the set of positions, combine any of the remote audio signals that map to that position in order to form a corresponding input signal for the corresponding echo canceller; transmit a resultant signal including at least an output of a last echo canceller of the series to the remote systems.