Patents by Inventor Brian A. Howell

Brian A. Howell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100118112
    Abstract: A group table top videoconferencing device for communication between local participants and one or more remote participants provides a camera assembly and display screens on the same housing—giving the remote participant the perception that the local participant is making direct eye-to-eye contact with him/her. The housing is placed such that the housing is within the field of view of every local participant viewing any other local participant. Because, the remote participant is always within the field of view of the local participant, the remote participant does not get the feeling of non-intimacy during the videoconference. A wall mounted display operates in conjunction with the videoconferencing device to display media content received from the remote participants. Keypad and a touch screen provide user interface for controlling the operation of the videoconferencing device. Speakers convert audio signals received from the remote participants into sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: POLYCOM, INc.
    Inventors: ALAIN NIMRI, Anthony Martin Duys, Brian A. Howell, Gary R. Jacobsen, Taylor Kew, Rich Leitermann, Kit Russell Morris, Brad Philip Collins, Nicholas Poteraki, Hayes Urban, Stephen Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7373379
    Abstract: According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or “people/presenter/video/” A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth M. Comstock, William L. Kruger, Brian A. Howell, Stephen C. Botzko, Robert V. Seiler, Jeffrey G. Bernstein, Gary J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7139807
    Abstract: According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or “people/presenter/video.” A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth M. Comstock, William L. Kruger, Brian A. Howell, Stephen C. Botzko, Robert V. Seiler, Jeffrey G. Bernstein, Gary J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20040133696
    Abstract: According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or “people/presenter/video.” A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Elizabeth M. Comstock, William L. Kruger, Brian A. Howell, Stephen C. Botzko, Robert V. Seiler, Jeffrey G. Bernstein, Gary J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20040083266
    Abstract: According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or “people/presenter/video/” A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Elizabeth M. Comstock, William L. Kruger, Brian A. Howell, Stephen C. Botzko, Robert V. Seiler, Jeffrey G. Bernstein, Gary J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6704769
    Abstract: According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or “people/presenter/video.” A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth M. Comstock, William L. Kruger, Brian A. Howell, Stephen C. Botzko, Robert V. Seiler, Jeffrey G. Bernstein, Gary J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5767897
    Abstract: A video conferencing system wherein a director controller is adapted for disposition on a lecture podium. The controller includes an interconnected control section and a video display section for controlling the distribution of generated audio and video information signals among a local and remote sites selectively in accordance with command signals fed to the controller by a podium speaker. The system is adapted to operate in one of two operating modes: a "Main-screen" mode and a "Mark-up" mode. In the "Main-screen" mode, the video display section is made up of two display areas; a "presentation" display area, and a "preview" display area. The "presentation" display area displays the video information which typically is currently being viewed by the audience/participants at the remote and local sites. The "preview" video display area is privately viewable by the podium speaker, displays video information signals from a second podium speaker selected one of the video sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: PictureTel Corporation
    Inventor: Brian A. Howell