Abstract: A telepresence device comprising: a body; a camera apparatus; a first microphone; a loudspeaker; a transceiver receiving port, the transceiver receiving port operable to connect a detachable transceiver to the body; and a processor coupled to the camera apparatus, the first microphone, the loudspeaker, and the transceiver receiving port, the processor operable to communicate with an electronic communications device, wherein the transceiver receiving port is configured to couple the detachable transceiver to the processor when the detachable transceiver is connected to the body at the transceiver receiving port to enable the telepresence device to wirelessly communicate with a headset.

Abstract: A telepresence device comprising: a body; a camera apparatus; a first microphone; a loudspeaker; a transceiver receiving port, the transceiver receiving port operable to connect a detachable transceiver to the body; and a processor coupled to the camera apparatus, the first microphone, the loudspeaker, and the transceiver receiving port, the processor operable to communicate with an electronic communications device, wherein the transceiver receiving port is configured to couple the detachable transceiver to the processor when the detachable transceiver is connected to the body at the transceiver receiving port to enable the telepresence device to wirelessly communicate with a headset.

Abstract: A wireless audio conferencing system has one base station and a number of portable parts each of which is able to establish a communication link with the base station. The base station is controlled to initiate and to terminate communication sessions with other communication devices over a communications network such as a LAN or a WAN, and the base station includes a DSP the implements a digital radio and system application functionality that monitors and stores certain operational state characteristics associated with the portable parts. The base station uses the stored operational state characteristics associated with each portable part to determine whether, at the end of a communication session, a portable part is connected to a charging tray or not, and if not, the base station operates to transmit a warning message indicating that a portable part is not being charged.

Abstract: A wireless audio conferencing system has one base station and a number of portable parts each of which is able to establish a communication link with the base station. The base station is controlled to initiate and to terminate communication sessions with other communication devices over a communications network such as a LAN or a WAN, and the base station includes a DSP the implements a digital radio and system application functionality that monitors and stores certain operational state characteristics associated with the portable parts. The base station uses the stored operational state characteristics associated with each portable part to determine whether, at the end of a communication session, a portable part is connected to a charging tray or not, and if not, the base station operates to transmit a warning message indicating that a portable part is not being charged.

Abstract: A docking system includes a mobile robotic device and a charging station to which the robotic device is to dock. The robotic device is comprised of sensors to capture a homing signal emitted by the charging station, docking logic that processes the homing signal so that it can be used to control the movements of the robotic device towards and dock with the charging station, and it is comprised of a mechanism for receiving a cylindrical charging post. The charging station is comprised of a circular platform in the center of which is located the charging post that is generally cylindrical in shape. The charging post includes a charging contact, ground contacts and an IR emitter. The geometry of the receiver mechanism elements and the shape of the charging post and geometry of the charging station generally permits the robotic device to approach the charging station and to dock with the charging station from any angle.

Abstract: A docking system includes a mobile robotic device and a charging station to which the robotic device is to dock. The robotic device is comprised of sensors to capture a homing signal emitted by the charging station, docking logic that processes the homing signal so that it can be used to control the movements of the robotic device towards and dock with the charging station, and it is comprised of a mechanism for receiving a cylindrical charging post. The charging station is comprised of a circular platform in the center of which is located the charging post that is generally cylindrical in shape. The charging post includes a charging contact, ground contacts and an IR emitter. The geometry of the receiver mechanism elements and the shape of the charging post and geometry of the charging station generally permits the robotic device to approach the charging station and to dock with the charging station from any angle.

Abstract: A mobile robotic device includes functionality that enables it to support an audio/video conference session. The mobile robotic device includes an upper body section and a lower body section. The upper body section is comprised of one or more microphones and speakers and a display with the speakers being proximate to the display. The lower body section is comprised of a base that can include the audio and video processing electronics, one or more speakers and means for propelling the robotic device in its environment. The range of frequencies played by the speakers in the upper section and the range of frequencies played by the speakers in the lower section are distributed such that the source of the sound appears to come from the upper section proximate to the display.

Abstract: A mobile robotic device includes a microphone array for detecting sound energy in its immediate environment. The sound energy received by each microphone in the microphone array is digitized, sampled and quantified. The quantified sound energy is used to calculate a sound energy difference factor between neighboring microphones in the array, the sound energy difference factors calculated over time are counted to be greater than or lesser than a nominal value and the counts are used to calculate a series of two-dimensional sound energy factors. The output of the microphone with the two highest calculated two-dimensional energy factors is then selected for processing and transmission over a network to be played at a far-end location.

Abstract: One or more presence capable shared or non-shared client communication devices that are members of a communications group are connected to a communications network server that is capable of receiving presence information from any of the shared or non-shared client communication devices and publishing this presence information to other member of the group. The network server maintains publication instructions that are based upon a listing of the member in the group and only publishes presence information to shared and non-shared client communication devices that are members of the group. The network server also maintains permissions rules, created a primary user of a shared client communication device, that limits access by non-primary users to the shared client communication device who are member of the communications group and that controls how the presence information is displayed in a multi-level contact directory located at either a shared or non-shared client communication device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a videoconferencing system that has been integrated into a flat panel display or computer monitor. The integration provides an improved form factor for the videoconferencing system. In addition, the integration offers the dual use as a computer monitor and as a videoconferencing system. The system includes a videoconferencing module attaching to a back of the flat panel display. The videoconferencing module has videoconferencing electronics that electronically connect to integral electronics of the display. The system also includes a microphone/camera module attaching to a top of the flat panel display. The microphone/camera module has a camera and microphone that both electronically connect to the videoconferencing electronics.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a videoconferencing system that has been integrated into a flat panel display or computer monitor. The integration provides an improved form factor for the videoconferencing system. In addition, the integration offers the dual use as a computer monitor and as a videoconferencing system. The system includes a videoconferencing module attaching to a back of the flat panel display. The videoconferencing module has videoconferencing electronics that electronically connect to integral electronics of the display. The system also includes a microphone/camera module attaching to a top of the flat panel display. The microphone/camera module has a camera and microphone that both electronically connect to the videoconferencing electronics.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a videoconferencing system that has been integrated into a flat panel display or computer monitor. The integration provides an improved form factor for the videoconferencing system. In addition, the integration offers the dual use as a computer monitor and as a videoconferencing system. The system includes a videoconferencing module attaching to a back of the flat panel display. The videoconferencing module has videoconferencing electronics that electronically connect to integral electronics of the display. The system also includes a microphone/camera module attaching to a top of the flat panel display. The microphone/camera module has a camera and microphone that both electronically connect to the videoconferencing electronics.

Abstract: Transmitting and receiving video data includes an encoder storing macroblocks in a plurality of reference buffers, the encoder transmitting macroblocks encoded relative to each of the reference buffers, a decoder receiving the macroblocks, and, in response to the decoder indicating an error with respect to a particular macroblock corresponding to a first one of the buffers, the encoder using a second one of the buffers for error recovery if there is no error associated with the second buffer. In response to the decoder indicating an error with respect to a particular macroblock and all of the buffers having errors associated therewith, the encoder may transmit at least one macroblock that is encoded independent of any other macroblocks.