Over Wireless Communication Patents (Class 348/14.02)
  • Patent number: 9319632
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a method for video calling thereof are provided. The method includes: capturing an image; detecting a face of at least one user from the captured image; setting an interest area to include a preset body part of the at least one user whose face has been detected; editing the interest area set in the captured image to generate a video calling image; and transmitting the video calling image to an external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-yoon Kim, Bong-seok Lee, Hee-seob Ryu, Seung-kwon Park, Dong-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9319746
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system to provide the ability for a user to make audio and/or audio-video phone calls simultaneously while watching (co-viewing) provider video content in remote locations. A control system is provided to set up call, direct provider video content, and provide for the phone calls and video content to be delivered and then synchronized. The phone calls may be routed by the control system to PSTN destinations or Internet based destinations and calls made or received may be bridged to other Internet based sources. The provider video content may be provided directly from its source or routed through NAT traversal or through the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: NetTalk.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry M Paxinos, Anastasios Kyriakides, Kenneth Alvin Hosfeld, Anastasios Nicholas Kyriakides
  • Patent number: 9277176
    Abstract: A method for offloading a video portion of a video call form a cellular network to a WLAN is provided. The method can include a wireless communication device participating in a video call with a remote device over a connection between the wireless communication device and a cellular network. The video call can include a first video stream carried over a first bearer on the cellular network and an audio stream carried over a second bearer on the cellular network. The method can further include the wireless communication device establishing a connection between the wireless communication device and a WLAN; performing a call setup procedure with the remote device to establish a second video stream over the WLAN; terminating the first video stream; and using the second video stream and the audio stream to continue the video call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Samy Khay-Ibbat, Sarma V. Vangala, Paul V. Flynn, Wen Zhao, Sreevalsan Vallath, Navid Damji
  • Patent number: 9270931
    Abstract: Responsive to a processor of a first intercom unit establishing a wireless data channel with one or more second intercom units of a plurality of intercom units in a wireless network, and responsive to an encoder of the first intercom unit repeatedly encoding, during a repeated time interval, data to be transmitted to the one or more second intercom units over the wireless data channel while pausing the wireless data channel such that the first intercom unit does not transmit the encoded data during the repeated time interval, the processor may receive an indication to un-pause the wireless data channel. A network controller of the first intercom unit may wirelessly transmit the data last encoded by the encoder during the repeated time interval to the one or more second intercom units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: CLOUDTALK LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Frankel, Isaac Levy
  • Patent number: 9261960
    Abstract: A system includes a video recorder configured to record video data, a sensor configured to sense movement of an object and output sensor data representative of the movement of the object, a transformer configured to transform the sensor data into a haptic output signal, a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect to a user based on the haptic output signal, a display configured to display a video, and a processor configured to synchronize the video data and the haptic output signal, and output the video data to the display and the haptic output signal to the haptic output device so that the haptic effect is synchronized with the video displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Jamal Saboune
  • Patent number: 9258620
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for controlling data distribution via cellular communications with an integrated femtocell and set-top-box (IFSTB) device are provided. In this regard, a cellular enabled communication device may detect when it is within cellular communication range of a femtocell. Upon detection of the femtocell, the cellular enabled communication device may communicate instructions to a content source instructing the content source to deliver multimedia content to the femtocell. In instances that multimedia content is already being delivered to the cellular enabled communication device prior to the detection, the instructions from the cellular enabled communication device may instruct the content source to redirect the multimedia content to the femtocell. In this regard, the multimedia content may be delivered from the content source to the cellular enabled communication device via the femtocell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Xuemin (Sherman) Chen, Charles Abraham, Wael William Diab, Vinko Erceg, Victor T. Hou, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Mark Kent
  • Patent number: 9247232
    Abstract: A display apparatus, three-dimensional (3D) glasses, and a display system including the display apparatus and the 3D glasses are provided. The 3D glasses which interwork with an external display apparatus include: a wireless receiver which receives a sync signal and audio signals from the external display apparatus; a shutter driver which drives shutters according to the received sync signal; and an audio output part which processes and outputs the received audio signal. Thus, users can individually enjoy contents without interfering with one another by selecting and listening to audio corresponding to an image viewed through the display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun-jin Yoon, Tae-don Hwang
  • Patent number: 9241056
    Abstract: A device may include an image display component to display an image that includes a subject, where the image has a header portion, and to display subject information that includes a communication identifier related to the subject, and wherein the subject information is stored in the header portion. The device may include a transceiver to contact the subject via the communication identifier. The device may include a processor to provide the image and the subject information to the display component, to receive a request to contact the subject, to retrieve the communication identifier from the header portion, and to send the communication identifier to the transceiver to cause the transceiver to contact the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Alexander Lönn
  • Patent number: 9210326
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus which controls display regarding capturing, an imaging method and a storage medium are shown. According to one implementation, an imaging apparatus includes, an imaging section, a display section, an imaging control section, a condition related information setting section, a first specifying section, and a display control section. The imaging control section controls automatic imaging processing in which the imaging section automatically images a subject under a predetermined condition. The condition related information setting section sets condition related information regarding the predetermined condition which changes during the automatic imaging processing. The first specifying section specifies a number of subjects as a target of imaging. The display control section displays the set condition related information changing at least one of a size and/or a position according to the number of subjects specified by the first specifying section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Miyata
  • Patent number: 9179090
    Abstract: A moving image recording device comprising, an item superimposition unit configured to superimpose a superimposition item over a moving image in accordance with an input from a user, a storage control unit configured to cause a storage unit to store the moving image together with the superimposition item; and a control unit configured to control the storage unit to store information of an image over which the superimposition item has been superimposed in association with the moving image so that the image over which the superimposition item has been superimposed is used as a representative image of the moving image based on a change in a superimposed state of the superimposition item superimposed over the moving image by the item superimposition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshimichi Ise, Shuichiro Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9179174
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a storage medium including computer instructions to receive sensory information at a media device from a first mobile communication device where the first mobile communication device obtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least one second mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information, where the sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and where the sensory information comprises images of the environment. The computer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality of personal content includes some of the images captured at different perspectives. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Aleksey Ivanov, Andrea Basso, Tara Hines, Jeffrey Mikan, Nadia Morris
  • Patent number: 9160848
    Abstract: To achieve the objects of the present invention, according to an aspect of the present invention, an electronic device is provided which includes a communication unit, an output unit, and a controller that connects a call received through the communication unit, performs an automatic conversation operation to conduct an automatic conversation with a calling party, and selectively performs one of a first operation to terminate the call and a second operation to generate recognition information on the automatic conversation and to output the recognition information based on the automatic conversation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Taeho Kim, Hyungshin Park
  • Patent number: 9154738
    Abstract: A technique of enabling each communication device to share an image including the same image content in real time is disclosed. In a communication system including a plurality of communication devices for performing transmission and reception of content data with each other, where an instruction to acquire an image from specific video information included in the content data being transmitted or received and store the image has been input by a user, the communication device to which the image storage instruction has been input by the user transmits the image storage instruction to the plurality of communication devices in the communication system. Thus, each of the plurality of communication devices acquires the image from the specific video information being transmitted or received and stores the image based on the image storage instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Hirano
  • Patent number: 9147131
    Abstract: Extracting an optimal subset of facial photographs includes obtaining an initial set of facial photographs, removing from the initial set photographs any photographs that are of unacceptable quality, grouping a remaining set of photographs according to view angle, removing from the remaining set of photographs any photographs having an undesirable facial expression to provide a limited set of representative facial photographs, and, selecting, from the limited set of facial photographs, an optimal subset of facial photographs. Obtaining the initial set of photographs may include using a video camera while diversifying view angles and controlling recording quality. Obtaining the initial set of photographs may include obtaining a series of still images. The still images may be self-recorded by a person with a smartphone front-facing camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Evernote Corporation
    Inventor: Phil Libin
  • Patent number: 9147237
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a region detector configured to receive input image data and to determine a region in which the input image data belongs to among a plurality of regions; and an operation unit configured to perform an operation on the input image data using a coefficient corresponding to the determined region among a plurality of different coefficients, which are predetermined to respectively correspond to the plurality of regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Woo Song, Je Woo Moon
  • Patent number: 9144005
    Abstract: A method, system and device for call switching between a mobile device using a mobile communication network and any data communication equipment using other type of communication network without any disconnection of a on ongoing call is provided. In a method for a call switching service, the first and second mobile devices establish wireless communication channels with the mobile communication network, respectively. The first mobile device transfers a call to specific data communication equipment. The mobile communication network establishes a call channel between the specific data communication equipment to which the call is transferred and the second mobile device that is not transferring the call to the specific data communication equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Saeng Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9143816
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms are provided for sending targeted content and data to mobile devices. Location information associated with a device is determined. In some instances, the location information is manually entered. In other instances, the location information is determined automatically from characteristics associated with the device. Location information can be obtained from global positioning system (GPS) data, cell-site triangulation, Internet Protocol (IP) address detection, etc. Content and advertising can be provided in a location relevant manner to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MobiTV, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica Tran, Gavin Peacock, James Roseborough, David Lowell, Aravind Nallan, Ian Farmer
  • Patent number: 9104241
    Abstract: A method for enabling multiple functions to be performed by a first mobile device during a video conference within a mobile device environment includes: performing a second function at a first mobile device while a first function is being performed at the first mobile device without interruption of the first function, wherein the first function is a video conference between a first entity associated with the first mobile device and a second entity associated with a second mobile device, and wherein the first function and the second function are different functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: TangoMe, Inc.
    Inventors: Quoc Le, Guy Fighel
  • Publication number: 20150145944
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a UE is participating in a communication session that shares a video stream with target UE(s). The UE receives user input that identifies high priority portion(s) of the video stream. The UE generates a first video feed based on the high priority portion(s) and a second video feed based at least on other portion(s) of the video stream. The first and second video feeds are exchanged with the target UE(s) on first and second links, respectively. In an example, the first link that carries the first video feed can be allocated QoS. The target UE(s) combine the first and second video feeds to reconstruct a version of the video stream, and then present the reconstructed version of the video stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony Pierre Stonefield, Shane Dewing, Mark Aaron Lindner
  • Patent number: 9041765
    Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints and enables a multi-party video conferencing session in real time among the plurality of participants. Each of the participants is offered a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing participants and a moderator of the video conference is further offered with in-meeting management and control over a plurality of security and privacy settings during the video conference. These interactions encompass controlling of a video conferencing session, its configuration, privacy, security, the visual layout of the participants, customization of the VMR and adaptation of the room to different vertical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Blue Jeans Network
    Inventors: Alagu Periyannan, Krish Ramakrishnan, Raghavan Anand, Anand Raghavan, Ravi Kiran Kalluri, Emmanuel Weber
  • Patent number: 9030523
    Abstract: Real-time interactive broadcast sessions for client devices include: for each client device in the interactive broadcast session, configuring downstream video and audio ports for the interactive broadcast session between a central controller and the client device; receiving from each client device a selected broadcaster corresponding to a broadcaster flow control signal; in response to receiving the selected broadcaster from each client device, sending video and audio streams of the selected broadcaster to each client device over the interactive broadcast session; receiving a request from a given client device on the interactive broadcast session to interact with the selected broadcaster; configuring upstream and downstream video ports for one-to-one video chat session between the central controller and the given client device; and sending the video and audio streams of the given client device, and the video and audio streams of the selected broadcaster, to each client device over the interactive broadcast se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Shah Talukder
  • Patent number: 9024997
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for connecting a plurality of mobile devices in a videoconference over a cellular network via a videoconferencing server. At least one of the mobile devices includes a camera to capture a video of a participant in the videoconference. The video is transmitted to the videoconferencing server on the cellular network. The videoconferencing server edits the video and sends the edited video to receiving mobile devices in real-time. The receiving mobile devices output the video as a projection by using an internal mobile projector or transmit the video to an external display device. A sending mobile device may also act as a receiving mobile device, such that each of the participants may view video of other participants in his/her own background/environment while communicating with the other participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property L.L.P.
    Inventors: Saurabh Kumar, Sorabh Saxena, Anand K. Singh
  • Patent number: 9024994
    Abstract: Voice or video communication is incorporated into a television or compatible audio capable visual display by routing a television signal through a communication interface apparatus connected to a voice or video communication network and switching between a call and at least the audio portion of the television signal when a call is detected and the user chooses to answer the call in response to an on-screen menu superimposed on the video portion of the television signal. The communication interface apparatus includes a controller that is configured to allow speed dialing using a wireless remote, as well as making calls from a user-defined contact list or a regional phone directory that is updatable from a remote source via the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael Book
  • Patent number: 9026175
    Abstract: An electronic device that is accessible to a first storage medium that has no communication function and a second storage medium that has a communication function and is detachable to the device, comprising: an input unit configured to input image data; a designation unit configured to designate at least one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium as a storage medium serving as a storage destination of the image data input by the input unit; and a control unit configured to, if the first storage medium is designated as the storage destination of the image data and the second storage medium is not designated, store the image data in the first storage medium and store the image data in the second storage medium as well so as to transmit the image data to an external apparatus by the communication function of the second storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhisa Kojima
  • Patent number: 9024998
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Pollycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Yibo Liu
  • Publication number: 20150116447
    Abstract: An apparatus of this invention is directed to an information processing apparatus that predicts the necessity of device connection to a mobile terminal and instructs a user to perform the predicted device connection. The information processing apparatus includes a device connection predictor that predicts device connection to the mobile terminal, and a device connection instruction information transmitter that transmits via a network, to the mobile terminal carried by the user, device connection instruction information for instructing the user to perform the device connection predicted by the device connection predictor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9019336
    Abstract: A first terminal is coupled to a wide-area packet-based network and installed with first client application. One or more second terminals are coupled to the first terminal via a local wireless link, and each installed with an instance of a lightweight sub-client having reduced functionality relative to the first client. The first client establishes a call with a remote, third terminal over the network, based on a user credential identifying the first client. Each second terminal generates an audio or video stream, and each sub-client transmits the respective stream to the first client over the local wireless link for use in the call. The first client switches between a second state in which the call uses the streams from the sub-clients and a first state in which the call uses a stream generated by the first terminal without the streams from the sub-clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventors: Jonas Lindblom, Teemu Suutari
  • Publication number: 20150109399
    Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for automatically linking a mobile device to a video conference control unit of a video conference site, providing control of the video conference control unit by the mobile device. A proximity detector and a wireless controller provide automatic linking with the mobile device. The linked mobile device adds the participant using the mobile device to a video conference and also controls video conference settings or functions without the need for a central user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Friedrich KUSCHER, Zelidrag Hornung
  • Patent number: 9013534
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing a video telephony service in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The apparatus for providing the video telephony service in the mobile communication terminal includes a controlling unit for receiving preferred video format information from a peer mobile communication terminal during a signaling procedure with the peer mobile communication terminal for the video telephony service and for determining a video format to use in the video telephony service using the received preferred video format, and a video codec for encoding and decoding video data that is transmitted to and received from the peer mobile communication terminal, using the determined video format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 9013536
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a processor configured to: process, automatically and in real time, segmentation of a video object from a portion of a video, wherein the video object is a foreground of the video, and wherein a remaining portion of the video is a background of the video; and remove the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fengqing Zhu, Fengjun Lv, Pengwei Wang
  • Patent number: 9014661
    Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes determining a location of a mobile computing device using one or more of a plurality of data sources; communicating, by the mobile computing device, with another computing device as part of a two-way video chat session over a first network connection, the communicating including transmitting the location of the mobile computing device; displaying, as part of the two-way video chat session, real-time video from the other computing device; recording video using one or more cameras that are accessible to the mobile computing device; and transmitting, over a second network connection, the video to a remote storage system for persistent storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher deCharms
  • Publication number: 20150097916
    Abstract: A system comprising a switching device linked to a common display screen and including a wireless receiver configured to receive content, the switching device configured to use the received content to drive the common display screen and a plurality of interface devices, each interface device including an interface housing, an interface device processor, a control button mounted within the housing and a plug linked to the housing via a cable, the plug receivable within a connection port of a computing device, a first interface device including a first device processor, a first plug and a first control button, the first processor configured to perform the steps of, with the first plug received in the connection port of the first computing device and first content presented on the first display screen while other content is presented on the common display screen, detecting selection of the first control button and, upon detecting selection of the first control button, causing a wireless transmission to the switc
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Lewis Epstein, Brett Kincaid, Hyun Yoo, Suzanne Stage, Lukas Scherrer, Larry Cheng
  • Patent number: 9001176
    Abstract: A lens assembly for a smartphone and a method of use is disclosed. In a first aspect, a lens assembly comprises a rotatable wheel; wherein the wheel includes at least two lenses. The lens assembly includes a skin portion coupled to the rotatable wheel, wherein the skin portion is adjustable to cover a smartphone. The at least two lenses of the wheel are positioned such that when one of the lens of the assembly is properly positioned it covers the lens of a camera on the smartphone. In a second aspect the method comprises providing a lens assembly over a camera lens of a smartphone chassis. The lens assembly includes a plurality of lenses that are rotatable. The method includes ensuring that the center of the smartphone lens is congruent with the center of the selected lens of the plurality of lens by referencing at least two surfaces of the smartphone chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: AppBANC, LLC
    Inventor: Gilbert Springer
  • Patent number: 9001177
    Abstract: There is discussed a method of selecting an access domain for receiving a speech and/or video call at a mobile station of a mobile communications network in which calls are routed via a central service control common to a plurality of access domains. The method comprises the central service control transmitting an invite to establish a call to the terminating mobile station; the mobile station deciding on an access domain for receiving the call taking into account the capabilities of the local access network, and transmitting the selected access domain to the central service control; and establishing the call in accordance with the selected access domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Craig Bishop, Chen-Ho Chin
  • Patent number: 8995636
    Abstract: The present invention allows a user to customize her personal conference bridge such that conference participants who connect to the bridge are provided conference information selected by the user. In particular, after each conference participant gains access to the personal conference bridge, the conference information is delivered to a terminal of the conference participant. Although the user associated with the personal conference bridge may be a conference participant, delivery of conference information to the user is optional. The conference information may be any type of media content, or information identifying the location of media content to present to the conference participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLP
    Inventor: Dany Sylvain
  • Patent number: 8996165
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot with a head that supports a monitor and is coupled to a mobile platform. The mobile robot also includes an auxiliary camera coupled to the mobile platform by a boom. The mobile robot is controlled by a remote control station. By way of example, the robot can be remotely moved about an operating room. The auxiliary camera extends from the boom so that it provides a relatively close view of a patient or other item in the room. An assistant in the operating room may move the boom and the camera. The boom may be connected to a robot head that can be remotely moved by the remote control station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Kevin Hanrahan, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Marco Pinter
  • Patent number: 8994775
    Abstract: A handheld communication device is used to capture video streams and generate a multiplexed video stream. The handheld communication device has at least two cameras facing in two opposite directions. The handheld communication device receives a first video stream and a second video stream simultaneously from the two cameras. The handheld communication device detects a speech activity of a person captured in the video streams. The speech activity may be detected from direction of sound or lip movement of the person. Based on the detection, the handheld communication device automatically switches between the first video stream and the second video stream to generate a multiplexed video stream. The multiplexed video stream interleaves segments of the first video stream and segments of the second video stream. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Han Lee, E-Cheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20150085058
    Abstract: A technology for interacting with a collaborative videoconferencing environment is disclosed. A display having a substantially “L-shaped” configuration allows for display of collaborative materials and video of remote participants simultaneously, which provides for a more natural interaction for a meeting participant interacting with the collaborative materials. Meeting participants in the collaborative videoconferencing environment can be classified based on position with respect to the environment, or their likely interaction profile. The technology can configure a meeting experience based on the classification of the meeting participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yajun Zhang, Yi You, Zhongping Zhu, Susie Wee, Qibin Sun
  • Publication number: 20150085059
    Abstract: A hands-free wireless wearable GPS enabled video camera and audio-video communications headset, mobile phone and personal media player, capable of real-time two-way and multi-feed wireless voice, data and audio-video streaming, telecommunications, and teleconferencing, coordinated applications, and shared functionality between one or more wirelessly networked headsets or other paired or networked wired or wireless devices and optimized device and data management over multiple wired and wireless network connections. The headset can operate in concert with one or more wired or wireless devices as a paired accessory, as an autonomous hands-free wide area, metro or local area and personal area wireless audio-video communications and multimedia device and/or as a wearable docking station, hot spot and wireless router supporting direct connect multi-device ad-hoc virtual private networking (VPN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald Eugene FISHER, Bryan Jonathan DAVIS, Bradley Brian BUSHARD, Mark Joseph MEYER, James FISHER, Nitin PATIL, Ben YOUNG, Daniel JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20150085057
    Abstract: In an example, a mobile device such as a tablet, phone, or similar, is configured for use with a virtual conference software provided by a virtual conference server. The mobile device is configured to receive one or more triggers such as battery-below-threshold, switch to a low-bandwidth data network, signal-below-threshold, switch to hands-free mode, switch to a short-range transceiver, lock screen, etc. Upon receiving the trigger, the mobile device enters a reduced-functionality state, where at least part of the virtual conference stream is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hua Ouyang, Yi Lu, Huahua Yin, Qi Shi, Yunwei Luo
  • Patent number: 8988556
    Abstract: A user attempting to obtain information about an object can capture image information including a view of that object, and the image information can be used with a matching or identification process to provide information about that type of object to the user. Information about the orientation of the camera and/or device used to capture the image can be provided in order to limit an initial search space for the matching or identification process. In some embodiments, images can be selected for matching based at least in part upon having a view matching the orientation of the camera or device. In other embodiments, images of objects corresponding to the orientation can be selected. Such a process can increase the average speed and efficiency in locating matching images. If a match cannot be found in the initial space, images of other views and categories can be analyzed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Karakotsios, Volodymyr V. Ivanchenko, Isaac S. Noble, Dong Zhou
  • Patent number: 8988482
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing an emotion expression service in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The method includes performing a video call with another terminal, recognizing, by the mobile communication terminal, a shaking of the other terminal using images received from the other terminal, and generating a vibration of the mobile communication terminal corresponding to the recognized shaking of the other terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Hwi Eun, Hee-Won Seo
  • Patent number: 8988481
    Abstract: In a communication environment where a voice bearer is established between a multimedia terminal of a first user and a voice terminal of a second user to allow voice communications between the first and second users, the present invention allows the second user to gain access to video content of the first user through a web session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
    Inventor: Dany Sylvain
  • Patent number: 8988479
    Abstract: A video communication method, computer program product and video communication terminal implementing the same are disclosed, by which a terminal user is assisted by identifying what kind of conversation he had with a specific correspondent user by reading a phone call list on a terminal. The present invention includes a step of accessing the video communication, a step of storing a video of the video communication, and a step of displaying a communication list item of the video communication together with the stored video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Seong Kim, Yeon Woo Park
  • Patent number: 8989362
    Abstract: Overriding a ring back signal involves receiving a ring back signal at a communications apparatus from a communication network in response to a user-initiated connection request. The ring back signal is rendered to a user of the communications apparatus, and a user input is received at the communications device to override the ring back signal. An alternate output is rendered to the user in place of the ring back signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Core Wireless Licensing, S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Jingxin Wang, Bing Li, Jian Yuan, Can Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 8988480
    Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 8982174
    Abstract: A video telephony system and a control method thereof are provided. The video telephony system includes a first mobile communication terminal and a second mobile communication terminal, wherein, during a video telephone call connection, the first mobile communication terminal receives a command from a user and sends the received command to the second mobile communication terminal and wherein the second mobile communication terminal executes the command received from the first mobile communication terminal and reconfigures multi-media data transmitted to the first mobile communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 8982176
    Abstract: A federated media server system. The federated media server system may include a plurality of media servers. A first media server may be coupled to a second media server over a network. The first media server may also be coupled to a third media server over the network. Additionally, the second and third media servers may be coupled to a plurality of respective clients. The first media server may be configured to record video, e.g., videoconferences, and stream recordings to clients and/or the second and third media servers. The second and third media servers may assist in performing video recording, transcoding, storage of recordings, multicasting, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Binu Kaiparambil Shanmukhadas, Hitesh Chouhan, Hrishikesh G. Kulkarni, Sandeep Lakshmipathy, Sudeep U. Nayak, Vikas
  • Patent number: 8970656
    Abstract: A communication device may include logic configured to detect a request to initiate a video call by the user of the communication device; select an avatar for the video call, wherein the avatar corresponds to an image selected by the user to be used as a replacement for a video stream for video calls associated with the user; determine a facial expression associated with the user of the communication device; select an avatar facial expression for the selected avatar, based on the determined facial expression; and incorporate the selected avatar facial expression into a video stream associated with the video call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Lee N. Goodman, Elliot G. Eichen
  • Patent number: 8970652
    Abstract: A camera having communication ability can switch a mode between a communication mode and a shooting mode. The camera combines features of a communication device and a digital camera. The camera comprises a communication device, an imaging device, and a switching device. The switching device switched the communication mode to the shooting mode responsive to completion of communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Itaru Homma, Chiyuki Kuwata, Akira Ohmura