Abstract: A method may involve receiving output signals from each microphone of a plurality of microphones in the environment, each of the plurality of microphones residing in a microphone location of the environment, the output signals corresponding to an utterance of a person. The method may involve determining, based at least in part on the output signals, a zone within the environment that has at least a threshold probability of including the person's location and generating a plurality of spatially-varying attentiveness signals within the zone. Each attentiveness signal may be generated by a device located within the zone. Each attentiveness signal may indicate that a corresponding device is in an operating mode in which the corresponding device is awaiting a command and may indicate a relevance metric of the corresponding device.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising an interface for receiving a respective uplink data stream from each of three or more further apparatuses, and for transmitting a respective downlink data stream to each of the further apparatuses; and a logic system in communication with the interface. The logic system is configured: to receive first data in the uplink data stream received from a first one of the further apparatuses; and in a first mode, to include at least some of the first data in the respective downlink data streams transmitted to every other one of the further apparatuses, or, in a second mode, to include at least some of the first data in the downlink data stream transmitted to a second one of the further apparatuses and to omit or attenuate substantially all of the first data in the downlink data stream transmitted to at least a third one of the further apparatuses. Corresponding methods and computer readable media are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the re-joining of a virtual meeting by a participant. The method comprises determining at what time the participant was disconnected from the virtual meeting; and determining whether or not the participant was talking within a time period containing the time at which the participant was disconnected from the virtual meeting. If it is determined that the participant was talking within the time period, then, consequently, the method comprises deciding not to enable the participant to replay stored data representative of a missed portion of the virtual meeting. As well as the method, related apparatuses, systems and computer readable storage media are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising an interface for receiving a respective uplink data stream from each of three or more further apparatuses, and for transmitting a respective downlink data stream to each of the further apparatuses; and a logic system in communication with the interface. The logic system is configured: to receive first data in the uplink data stream received from a first one of the further apparatuses; and in a first mode, to include at least some of the first data in the respective downlink data streams transmitted to every other one of the further apparatuses, or, in a second mode, to include at least some of the first data in the downlink data stream transmitted to a second one of the further apparatuses and to omit or attenuate substantially all of the first data in the downlink data stream transmitted to at least a third one of the further apparatuses. Corresponding methods and computer readable media are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the re-joining of a virtual meeting by a participant. The method comprises determining at what time the participant was disconnected from the virtual meeting; and determining whether or not the participant was talking within a time period containing the time at which the participant was disconnected from the virtual meeting. If it is determined that the participant was talking within the time period, then, consequently, the method comprises deciding not to enable the participant to replay stored data representative of a missed portion of the virtual meeting. As well as the method, related apparatuses, systems and computer readable storage media are disclosed.