Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A master device (e.g., a laptop) controls a videoconference connection with a far-end and acts as a controller for slave devices in a group. The master establishes the connection with the far-end using a wide area network and connects with the slaves using a Wi-Fi connection of a local area connection. To connect to the slaves, the master outputs an ultrasonic beacon encoding the master's address in the local network. The beacon also allows differences in the various clocks to be handled during audio processing. During the videoconference, the master outputs far-end audio to a loudspeaker and sends the far-end video to its display and to the slaves. Each device captures audio/video with its microphone and camera. The master determines which captured audio is a dominant talker's and may only send that audio to the far-end. The video associated with the dominant talker's device may also be sent to the far-end.

Abstract: Management and display of virtual breakout rooms in a video teleconference by making the virtual experience to more closely align the beneficial capabilities of non-virtual breakout rooms is disclosed. Beneficial aspects include summoning all members of a breakout rooms by video, text, or audio signal and a process of assigning participants to a break out room by drag and drop from a roster, randomizing the assignments, and limiting rooms to a particular number of participants to as to cause participants to scramble for a position in a breakout room. Also disclosed is a system for designating a private breakout room and for delivering content to the breakout room.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A master device (e.g., a laptop) controls a videoconference connection with a far-end and acts as a controller for slave devices in a group. The master establishes the connection with the far-end using a wide area network and connects with the slaves using a Wi-Fi connection of a local area connection. To connect to the slaves, the master outputs an ultrasonic beacon encoding the master's address in the local network. The beacon also allows differences in the various clocks to be handled during audio processing. During the videoconference, the master outputs far-end audio to a loudspeaker and sends the far-end video to its display and to the slaves. Each device captures audio/video with its microphone and camera. The master determines which captured audio is a dominant talker's and may only send that audio to the far-end. The video associated with the dominant talker's device may also be sent to the far-end.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to identify and generate keyword searches in real-time or near real-time for active participants in an on-going Audio, Video and Data Collaboration meeting (also referred to as “Unified Communications and Collaboration” or UCC). In one embodiment, multiple input sources are screened to detect text data and generate search strings from the deciphered keywords. Keywords are deciphered from presentation materials and other forms of data input to a UCC (e.g., documents, video, and audio). Keywords and generated search strings can then be presented to one or more participants for selection (e.g., hyperlink) to retrieve and present supporting material relative to a topic of discussion or point of interest in the UCC. Alternatively, recorded content can be search during or prior to playback to allow incorporation of disclosed embodiments and concepts.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system allows host users to personalize virtual meeting rooms (VMR). A multipoint control unit (MCU) generates VMRs using associated VMR configuration parameters, which include personal VMR parameters specified by the host user, and admin VMR parameters specified by an administrator of the videoconferencing system. The host user can connect to a server at the MCU to request a list of personal VMR parameters, for which the host user can specify values. The server can receive and store the specified values for the personal parameters. The MCU can combine the values of personal VMR parameters with values of admin VMR parameters in generating VMR configuration.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system provides sharing program content during a videoconferencing session. A graphical user interface (GUI) allows participants to select a program to be shared and participants to share the selected program with. A scheduler communicates with the videoconferencing systems of the participants to tune or configure them to receive the selected shared program content at a scheduled time. The scheduler also communicates with a multipoint control unit (MCU) for initiating a videoconferencing session between the participants. The videoconferencing system combines mixed video streams received from the MCU with the program stream of the selected shared program and displays the combined stream on the display device. The scheduler can be located at a program service provider or at the initiating participant's videoconferencing system.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling presentations and videoconference using hand motions and/or laser dots from a laser pointer. A camera captures video of an area relative to content displayed on a display device from a content source. A control unit is communicatively coupled to the content source, the display device, and the camera. The control unit receives captured video from the camera. The control unit detects a hand motion by a presenter or a laser dot from a laser pointer that occurs within the captured video and determines the location within the captured video of at least one control for controlling the presentation or videoconference. The control unit determines if the detected hand motion or laser dot occurs within the determined location of the at least one control, and the control unit controls the content source based on the determined control.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling presentations and videoconference using hand motions. A camera captures video of an area relative to content displayed on a display device from a content source. A control unit is communicatively coupled to the content source, the display device, and the camera. The control unit receives captured video from the camera. The control unit detects a hand motion by a presenter that occurs within the captured video and determines the location within the captured video of at least one control for controlling the presentation or videoconference. The control unit determines if the detected hand motion occurs within the determined location of the at least one control, and the control unit controls the content source based on the determined control.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling presentations and videoconference using hand motions. A camera captures video of an area relative to content displayed on a display device from a content source. A control unit is communicatively coupled to the content source, the display device, and the camera. The control unit receives captured video from the camera. The control unit detects a hand motion by a presenter that occurs within the captured video and determines the location within the captured video of at least one control for controlling the presentation or videoconference. The control unit determines if the detected hand motion occurs within the determined location of the at least one control, and the control unit controls the content source based on the determined control.