Abstract: A telecommunications system including a network; a plurality of user devices coupled to the network; a multipoint control unit coupled to the network and configured to supervise multipoint conferencing among the plurality of user devices, the multipoint control unit including a presentation mixer, the presentation mixer configured to remove one or more backgrounds from a presentation and mix a live video feed into the presentation as a substitute background; and a screen for displaying a resulting mixed presentation such that a full area of the screen is used to display the mixed presentation. In some embodiments, the presentation mixer is further configured to adjust a level of transparency of the substitute background.

Abstract: An electronic business card is provided with voice data associated with the card owner. In some embodiments, the voice data is a digitized voice sample; in other embodiments, the voice data is a selection of pre-processed voice recognition data associated with a voice sample. In some implementations, the electronic business card can be transferred to other parties using a Bluetooth personal network. A user application can then make use of the voice sample or pre-processed voice recognition data for security or user identification.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for facilitating power management in a communications system. The communications system includes a server and one or more communications devices operably coupled to a network, each communications device being operable to enter a low power state in response to a “hibernate” command. The “hibernate” command may be provided by a power management unit in the server in response to, for example, a change in routing preference, location or availability status of the user.

Abstract: A digital personal video stream manager (102) includes a control processor (202), a media interface (204), and one or more control interfaces. The media interface (204) can receive broadband audio and video and convert it into digital file format for transmission on a LAN, such as an IEEE 802.11 based wireless LAN, to a personal computer (110). The media interface (204) can likewise receive digital media files from the personal computer (110) via the wireless interface, and convert them to a format for playback by the audio system (118) or television (116). Further, the digital personal video stream manager (102) can receive controls from remote users to supervise media recording. The control interfaces allow control of the digital personal video stream manager, such as via infrared remote controls.

Abstract: A method includes receiving audio electronic business card data during a conference; comparing said audio electronic business card data with voices of conference speakers to confirm identities of said speakers; performing an acoustic triangulation to determine a position of speakers; correlating a position of said speakers with said identities; and displaying locations of said speakers.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network; a plurality of user devices coupled to the network; a multipoint control unit coupled to the network and configured to supervise multipoint conferencing among the plurality of user devices, the multipoint control unit including a presentation mixer, the presentation mixer configured to remove one or more backgrounds from a presentation and mix a live video feed into the presentation as a substitute background; a screen for displaying a resulting mixed presentation such that a full area of the screen is used to display the mixed presentation; and a feature recognition system configured to identify a party from one or more features displayed on the screen and selectively adjust a transparency of said one or more features other than said party.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a telephone comprising an interface port to receive a computer network interface device.

Abstract: A system including a conferencing telephone coupled to or in communication with an identification service. The identification service is configured to poll user devices of conference participants to determine or confirm identities. In response, the user devices transmit audio electronic business cards, which can include user voice samples and/or preprocessed voice recognition data. The identification service stores the resulting audio electronic business card data. When the corresponding participant speaks during the conference, the identification service identifies the speaker.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network; a social networking service operably coupled to the network and configured to allow registration of users, to allow identification of registered users' interests, and to identify associated users, said associated users being associated with registered users; a presence service operably coupled to the network and configured to determine an availability of associated users responsive to one or more availability criteria; a translation unit configured to convert user information from a social networking service format to a presence service format; and a messaging service operably coupled to the network and configured to send notification messages to associated users determined to be available and having a common interest corresponding to an event responsive to an occurrence of the event and one or more availability criteria.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network; a plurality of user devices operably coupled to said network and including a microphone and a speaker; a collaboration server configured to cause a playing of one or more test tones at said plurality of user devices and compensate for feedback if said test tones are detected by microphones associated with said plurality of user devices.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system for synchronizing participant copies of presentation data during a collaboration session. A presenter/server controlling the session sends synchronization commands when a change in state of the presentation data occurs. The synchronization commands can be received by a mobile communication device and then forwarded to the participant computer system where it is used to synchronize the copy of the presentation data with the presenter/server.

Abstract: A text chat messaging system in which messages are displayed in chronological order on a message-by-message basis according to chat participants includes a messaging server (102); and a plurality of network clients (104) defining said chat participants and configured to identify messages (204) in a chat session according to chat participants and arrange said chat session for display according to a conversation order of participation in said chat session.

Abstract: Embodiments may provide a telephone and a computing device coupled to the telephone, the computing device to establish a telephone call with the telephone using a signaling protocol other than a Session Initiation Protocol.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer network, a computing device coupled to the computer network, and a telephone coupled to the computer network and to a telephone line. The telephone may receive telephone call signals from the telephone line and transmit information associated with the telephone call signals to the computing device over the network.

Abstract: Embodiments may provide a computer network, a telephone coupled to the computer network, and a computing device coupled to the computer network, the computing device to establish a telephone call with the telephone.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system for synchronizing participant copies of presentation data during a collaboration session. A presenter/server controlling the session sends synchronization commands when a change in state of the presentation data occurs. The synchronization commands can be received by a mobile communication device and then forwarded to the participant computer system where it is used to synchronize the copy of the presentation data with the presenter/server.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of network clients (150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502); and a positioning server (152) configured to receive position information from said positioning controller (504); wherein said positioning server includes a timer (1804) for determining when said position information is to be received from associated ones of said plurality of network clients.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide receipt by a telephone of call control signals from an external device, the call control signals associated with a third party call control protocol, and execution of telephone call functionality in accordance with the call control signals.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of network clients (150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502); and a positioning server (152) including a coordinating controller (161) for maintaining a database of network clients to be tracked and provide updates of position-related information to a presence server (104). The plurality of network clients (150) are configured to transmit position information received via the positioning controller (504) to the positioning server (104) using the communications controller (502).

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a wireless device (150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502), said wireless device adapted to cause an audible warning to be generated if said wireless device is determined to be outside a first predetermined range; and an administrative device (30-152) for receiving alerts from said wireless communication device via said communications controller when said positioning controller determines that said wireless device is outside said first predetermined range for longer than a predetermined period or is outside said first predetermined range and a second predetermined range.