Extended Presence for Video Conferencing Systems
AssigneePolycom, Inc.
InventorsBalaji Iyer, Guruprasad Subbarao, Ken Faubel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods of providing extended presence information for multi-user devices are described. Communication devices used in conference rooms represent a different nature than single user devices such as a personal computer. Conference rooms also have attributes that may be added to existing presence information and provide an enhanced experience for scheduling and dissemination of conference room capabilities. Information such as actual people in attendance may be added to the presence information maintained by a presence server to provide an overall enhancement to the meeting room whether it is physically a single conference room or a multitude of endpoints remotely connected to a conference.
Claims43
A method of using extended presence information to schedule a conference from a user interface device, the method comprising:
- receiving from the user interface device a selection of meeting invitees to participate in a conference;
- receiving from the user interface desired capabilities of conferencing devices to be used in the conference;
- obtaining at least a portion of the extended presence information associated with the meeting invitees and conferencing devices from a presence server;
- identifying an available time for the conference based upon availability of the meeting invitees and the conferencing devices compatible with the desired capabilities;
- and
- updating at least a portion of the extended presence information based upon selection of an identified time.
A method executed by a presence server of processing extended presence information associated with one or more conference entities participating in a conference, the method comprising:
- obtaining extended presence information about one or more conferencing entities engaged in a conference;
- correlating the extended presence information in a presence server;
- monitoring for changes to the extended presence information;
- and
- transmitting at least a portion of the changed extended presence information to a conferencing entity engaged in the conference.
A method of processing extended presence information associated with one or more conference entities participating in a conference, the method comprising:
- maintaining extended presence information associated with conference participants and conference resources in a presence server;
- receiving updates to at least a portion of the extended presence information from at least one first conferencing device participating in the conference;
- and
- providing updates of at least a portion of the extended presence information to at least one second conference device participating in the conference.
A method of using extended presence information to initiate an ad hoc conference, the method comprising:
- receiving from a meeting coordinator, a set of parameters for a conference, wherein the set of parameters indicate meeting invitees and required resources and are received at a programmable control device;
- monitoring extended presence properties associated with the meeting invitees and the required resources wherein the monitoring is performed via the programmable control device;
- determining availability of meeting invitees based on the monitored extended presence properties;
- providing an indication to the meeting coordinator when all the meeting invitees are available, wherein the indication prompts the meeting coordinator to begin the conference;
- and
- launching the conference, based on input from the meeting coordinator.
A conference communication end user device comprising:
- a programmable control device;
- wherein the programmable control device is configured to:
- obtain extended presence information about one or more users of the communication device;
- transmit at least a portion of the extended presence information to a presence server;
- monitor for changes in the obtained presence information;
- and
- transmit at least a portion of changes in the obtained presence information to the presence server.
A presence server comprising a programmable control device and communicatively coupled to a plurality of conferencing entities wherein the programmable control device is configured to:
- receive extended presence information from at least one first conferencing entity;
- correlate the extended presence information with extended presence information received from at least one second conferencing entity;
- and
- transmit extended presence information to a third conferencing entity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.