US 2007/0177529 A1Published application

Apparatus and method for combining network conferences that are not co-located

AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.

InventorsJoseph Provino, Jonathan Kaplan

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Abstract

An audio management apparatus manages simultaneous streams of packet-switched audio data for a network conference tool, and allows the combining of conferences that are not co-located. The apparatus uses at least two audio bridges, each of which receives audio inputs from a plurality of local connection points, does mixing of the audio data for each local connection-point and provides the audio outputs thereto. Also provided is a communications link between the two audio bridges, and each of the audio bridges creates an audio mix from its local connection points and outputs it over the communications link to the other audio bridge. Each bridge may treat the audio data from the other audio bridge as it does any other call. In this way, the combining of the two conferences is accomplished in a simple and straightforward manner.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An audio management apparatus for managing simultaneous streams of packet-switched audio data for a network conference that provides communication between a plurality of different connection points, audio data being received from and transmitted to the connection points by the audio management apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a first audio bridge having a conference manager that receives audio data from each of a first group of the connection points, and provides an output mix of audio data to each connection point of said first group according to respective mixing protocols maintained for each connection point of said first group;
a second audio bridge having a conference manager that receives audio data from each of a second group of the connection points, and provides an output mix of audio data to each connection point of said second group according to respective mixing protocols maintained for each connection point of said second group;
and
an audio communications link between the first audio bridge and the second audio bridge that allows the transmission of audio data between the first audio bridge and the second audio bridge, wherein the conference manager of the first audio bridge provides an output mix of audio data from a plurality of the connection points of the first group to the conference manager of the second audio bridge via the link, and wherein the conference manager of the second audio bridge provides an output mix of audio data from a plurality of the connection points of the second group to the conference manager of first audio bridge, such that audio communication is enabled between the first group of the connection points and the second group of the connection points.

1 more element

A method for managing simultaneous streams of packet-switched audio data for a network conference that provides communication between a plurality of different connection points, the method comprising:

providing a first audio bridge having a conference manager that receives audio data from each of a first group of the connection points, and provides an output mix of audio data to each connection point of said first group according to respective mixing protocols maintained for each connection point of said first group;
providing a second audio bridge having a conference manager that receives audio data from each of a second group of the connection points, and provides an output mix of audio data to each connection point of said second group according to respective mixing protocols maintained for each connection point of said second group;
connecting the first audio bridge and the second audio bridge with an audio communications link that allows the transmission of audio data between the first audio bridge and the second audio bridge;
generating a first mix of audio data from a plurality of the connection points of the first group with the conference manager of the first audio bridge and providing the first mix to the conference manager of the second audio bridge via the link;
and
generating a second mix of audio data from a plurality of the connection points of the second group with the conference manager of the second audio bridge and providing the second mix to the conference manager of first audio bridge via the link, such that audio communication is enabled between the first group of the connection points and the second group of the connection points.

3 more elements

means for receiving audio data from each of a first group of the connection points associated with a first audio bridge and providing an output mix of audio data to each connection point of said first group according to respective mixing protocols maintained for each connection point of said first group;
means for receiving audio data from each of a second group of the connection points associated with a second audio bridge and providing an output mix of audio data to each connection point of said second group according to respective mixing protocols maintained for each connection point of said second group;
means for connecting the first audio bridge and the second audio bridge with an audio communications link that allows the transmission of audio data between the first audio bridge and the second audio bridge;
means for generating a first mix of audio data from a plurality of the connection points of the first group and providing the first mix to the second audio bridge via the link;
and
means for generating a second mix of audio data from a plurality of the connection points of the second group and providing the second mix to the first audio bridge via the link, such that audio communication is enabled between the first group of the connection points and the second group of the connection points.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.