# US 2013/0278709 A1 · User Interface Allowing a Participant to Rejoin a Previously Left Videoconference > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0278709 A1 - Document ID: US20130278709A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/451,859 - Filed: 2012-04-20 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-20 - Assignees: Logitech Europe S.A. - Inventors: Wayne E. Mock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278709A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)} - H04L 12/1813: {for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms (instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15)} - H04L 12/1822: {Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission} - H04M 3/567: {Multimedia conference systems} - H04N 7/15: Conference systems - H04N 21/4312: {involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations} - H04N 21/4788: communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)} - H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration - H04N 21/4223: Cameras (H04N23/00 takes precedence) - H04N 21/441: Acquiring end-user identification {, e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card} - H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. These user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for rejoining a previous videoconference, comprising: a videoconferencing unit initiating a videoconference, wherein the videoconference comprises at least one other videoconferencing unit; the videoconferencing unit leaving the videoconference while the videoconference is in progress; the videoconferencing unit displaying a user interface, wherein the user interface includes an option to rejoin the videoconference. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the videoconferencing unit receiving user input to rejoin the videoconference; and the videoconferencing unit rejoining the videoconference in response to the user input ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein after said initiating the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by a server. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein the transfer of hosting is transparent to participants in the videoconference. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein after said leaving the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by another computer system or videoconferencing unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to a network connection issue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to user input. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a first row of icons, wherein the first row of icons comprises a first icon that is user selectable to rejoin the videoconference, wherein said receiving user input to rejoin the videoconference comprises receiving user input selecting the first icon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: after a first period of time, removing the option to rejoin the videoconference from the user interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said removing is performed prior to completion of the videoconference. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for rejoining a previous videoconference, wherein the program instructions are executable to: initiate a videoconference with a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints; leave the videoconference while the videoconference is in progress; display a user interface which includes an option to rejoin the videoconference; receive user input to rejoin the videoconference; and rejoin the videoconference in response to the user input. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein after said initiating the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by a server. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 12, wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein the transfer of hosting is transparent to participants in the videoconference. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein the videoconferencing unit initially hosts the videoconference, wherein after said leaving the videoconference, the videoconference is hosted by another computer system or videoconferencing unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to a network connection issue. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein said leaving the videoconference is performed in response to user input. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises a first row of icons, wherein the first row of icons comprises a first icon that is user selectable to rejoin the videoconference, wherein said receiving user input to rejoin the videoconference comprises receiving user input selecting the first icon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: after a first period of time, removing the option to rejoin the videoconference from the user interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 18, wherein said removing is performed prior to completion of the videoconference. ### Claim 20 A videoconferencing system, comprising: a videoconferencing unit at a participant location; at least one display coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one display is configured to provide video corresponding to other participant locations during a videoconference; at least one audio output coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio output is configured to provide audio corresponding to the other participant locations during the videoconference; at least one video input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one video input is configured to capture video of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations; at least one audio input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio input is configured to capture audio of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations; wherein the videoconference unit is configured to: initiate a videoconference with a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints; leave the videoconference while the videoconference is in progress; display a user interface on the at least one display, wherein the user interface includes an option to rejoin the videoconference; receive user input to rejoin the videoconference; and rejoin the videoconference in response to the user input.