Abstract: A presentation system capable of detecting one or more gestures and contacts on a touch sensitive display. The presentation system can displaying indicia of such contacts, such as when a user writes with a fingertip, and can remove or alter such indicia responsive to other gestures and contacts. The system can accurately distinguish between types of gestures detected, such as between a writing gesture and an erasing gesture, on both large and small touch sensitive displays, thereby obviating the need for a user to make additional selective inputs to transition from one type of gesture to another. The system can determine how long to keep user annotations displayed during a presentation, based on the nature of the gesture used to make the annotations and the context in which they are made.

Abstract: A novel universal bridge (UB) can handle and conduct multimedia multipoint conferences between a plurality of MREs and LEPs without using an MRM, an MCU and a gateway. Further, a UB can be configured to allocate and release resources dynamically according to the current needs of each conferee and the session.

Abstract: Functions and controls for multimedia sessions are shared amongst pluralities of electronic components, rather than run by a single control unit. A disaggregate multipoint control includes a plurality of electronic components which are, or can be, coupled over a network. The various components are configured to recognize the others and share functions and controls normally associated with a single endpoint device, in order to facilitate a multimedia session.

Abstract: Content is shared by rendering the content in a shared session and providing the rendered content to the participating devices. The originating device has access to an original version of the content in a virtual session, which is accessed by logging into cloud content services and downloading the desired content into the virtual session. A rendering engine in a rendered session then renders the content and distributes the rendered content to the participants. Only rendered content is provided to the participants, so that the participants cannot see the credentials of the originating user, cannot see the document source and do not have access to the document itself. The participants can mark up the rendered content, which markups are shared to the other participants.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.

Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.

Abstract: A conferencing endpoint includes a loudspeaker component, a base microphone, and an adaptive volume control module which evaluates near-end audio conditions at a conferencing endpoint and automatically determines whether to change the audio volume at a near-end loudspeaker. The endpoint can, for example, detect that a person speaking into the base microphone has begun to speak more loudly to compensate for nearby background noise. The endpoint can automatically adjust the loudspeaker volume or provide an alert that the loudspeaker will be changed, giving the user the opportunity to accept or decline an increase in speaker volume.

Abstract: A method includes generating first audio data based on sound detected by a sound sensor at a first time. The method further includes transmitting, via one or more communication interfaces, the first audio data to another device during a communication session based on a determination that the sound sensor is unmuted with respect to the communication session at the first time. The method further includes generating second audio data based on sound detected by the sound sensor at a second time. The method further includes refraining from transmitting the second audio data to the other device during the communication session based on a determination that the sound sensor is muted with respect to the communication session at the second time. The method further includes initiating a natural language processing operation on the second audio data based on detecting a wake phrase in the second audio data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaboratively controlling the display of information across multiple displays is disclosed. A plurality of electronic devices linked to a plurality of co-located display devices are accessed. At least one of the plurality of electronic devices is a master electronic device. Different users can select and transfer content elements from the set displayed on the master display device to the remainder of display devices, such that the selected and transferred content elements advance in order across the remainder of display devices. Users can select individual content elements from a device under their control for display by one or more display devices without the need to transfer an entire document or file from which the content element is taken. Once a content element is so displayed, other currently displayed content elements are advanced in a logical manner, or removed from display.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.

Abstract: A device includes one or more processor devices, an audio sensor, a speaker device, and one or more memory devices. The audio sensor is configured to generate an audio stream. The one or more memory devices store data including data identifying a wake phrase and instructions. The instructions are executable by the one or more processor devices to initiate, as a result of detecting the wake phrase in the audio stream and determining that the wake phrase is invalid, presentation via the speaker device of audio output identifying a valid wake input. The instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to initiate, as a result of detecting the valid wake input, communication of a portion of the audio stream to a natural language processing service.

Abstract: A novel universal bridge (UB) can handle and conduct multimedia multipoint conferences between a plurality of MREs and LEPs without using an MRM, an MCU and a gateway. Further, a UB can be configured to allocate and release resources dynamically according to the current needs of each conferee and the session.

Abstract: A circuit having a dynamically adjustable common mode rejection ratio. The circuit has a high common mode rejection ratio without the need for input transformers. The circuit's ability to adjust the circuit's common mode rejection ratio is enhanced by the circuit's high input impedance. The circuit includes first and second input terminals, and output terminals. A positive leg runs from the first input terminal to the first output terminal, the positive leg including a resistor, and a negative leg runs from an input terminal to an output terminal. The digital signal processor controls a potentiometer on one of the legs to dynamically adjust the common mode rejection ratio of the circuit.

Abstract: A technique for merging conference session dialogs allows presenting content and media streams from a non-Skype endpoint to a Skype multipoint control unit (MCU), so that they present a single caller in a conference with both media and content. A signaling adapter intercepts session dialogs and merges or other modifies. When adding the non-Skype endpoint, requests from a content server are dropped while requests from the MCU handling non-Skype media streams are forwarded to the Skype MCU. Responses to the request from the MCU are also forwarded to the content server. When creating subscription dialogs, requests from the content server are modified to appear as if they came from the MCU, while responses go back to the proper requester. Conference notifications are forked to go to both the content server and the MCU. Because Skype uses separate media and content dialogs, merging of audio/video and content dialogs may be omitted. By merging dialogs, user experience is improved.

Abstract: Traditional audio feedback elimination systems may attempt to reduce the effect of the audio feedback by simply scaling down the audio volume of the signal frequencies that are prone to howling. Other traditional feedback elimination systems may also employ adaptive notch filtering to detect and “notch” the so-called “singing” or “howling” frequencies as they occur in real-time. Such devices may typically have several knobs and buttons needing tuning, for example: the number of adaptive parametric equalizers (PEQs) versus fixed PEQs; attack and decay timers; and/or PEQ bandwidth. Rather than removing the singing frequencies with PEQs, the devices described herein attempt to holistically model the feedback audio and then remove the entire feedback signal. Two advantages of the devices described herein are: 1.) the system can operate at a much larger loop-gain (and hence with a much higher loudspeaker volume); and 2) setup is greatly simplified (i.e., no tuning knobs or buttons).