US 10,855,827 B2 · Speakerphone configuration for conferencing

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a speakerphone configuration for audio and/or video conferencing that includes a cavity underneath the speakerphone where cable ports are arranged. The arrangement of the cable ports are such that when a power plug is installed in the speakerphone, a telecommunication port is blocked, and vice versa. In addition, the port arrangement allows cables to attach to opposite walls in the cavity such that cables run parallel to each other within the cavity. The disclosed speakerphone may be daisy-chained together and function as a single unit. Therefore a speakerphone according to the disclosure may function as either a master unit, a mid unit, or an end unit in a string of speakerphones depending on how the speakerphone is wired. The port arrangement in the cavity increases ease for setup and daisy-chaining of multiple speakerphone units.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A plurality of connected electronic devices, comprising:

a first electronic device configured to be connected to an external audio source;
and
a second electronic device configured to be connected to the first electronic device,
wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices includes a housing configured to house at least a speaker and a microphone, the housing including a cavity defined by a well formed in a bottom face of the housing, the well including:
a first wall including a first port;
and
a second wall adjacent to the first wall, the second wall including a second port;
wherein, in a first mode, access to the first port is blocked, and, in a second mode, access to the second port is blocked.

5 more elements

A method of operating a plurality of connected electronic devices, the electronic devices including a housing having a first port in a first wall of a well defined in a bottom face of the housing, a second port in a first wall of the well, a third port in a third wall of the well, and a fourth port formed the first wall, the method including, for each of the connected electronic devices:

detecting a first cable connected to the first port or the third port of the respective electronic device;
determining that the respective electronic device is connected to another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices in response to the detection of the first cable connected to the first port or the third port of the respective electronic device;
determining a type of the respective electronic device in response to the determined connection of the respective electronic device to another electronic device, including:
determining that the respective electronic device is a master-unit electronic device in response to detection of a second cable connected between the fourth port of the respective electronic device and an external audio source;
determining that the respective electronic device is a mid-unit electronic device in response to detection of a third cable connected to the first port or the third port of the respective electronic device;
and
determining that the respective electronic device is an end-unit electronic device in response to detection that the respective electronic device is not configured as a master-unit electronic device or a mid-unit electronic device;
and
operating the respective electronic device in accordance with the determined type.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Speakerphone configuration for conferencing

Life of this patent

Speakerphone configuration for conferencing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18