US 5,710,591 A · Method and apparatus for recording and indexing an audio and multimedia conference

Abstract

A method and apparatus for recording and indexing audio information exchanged during an audio conference call, or video, audio and data information exchanged during a multimedia conference. For a multimedia conference, the method and apparatus utilize the voice activated switching functionality of a multipoint control unit (MCU) to provide a video signal, which is input to the MCU from a workstation from which an audio signal is detected, to each of the other workstations participating in the conference. A workstation and/or participant-identifying signal generated by the multipoint control unit is stored, together or in correspondence with the audio signal and video information, for subsequent ready retrieval of the stored multimedia information. For an audio conference, a computer is connected to an audio bridge for recording the audio information along with an identification signal for correlating each conference participant with that participant's statements.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method for recording and indexing information exchanged during a multimedia conference having a plurality of participants at a plurality of spaced apart terminal devices and interacting through a multimedia bridge connected to a computer, each of the terminal devices having audio input means for inputting an audio signal to the each terminal device, and at least one of the each terminal devices having a video input means for inputting a video signal to the at least one terminal device and a data accessing means for accessing stored data files during the multimedia conference, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting at the computer an audio signal input to the audio input means of the at least one terminal device;
identifying the at least one terminal device from which the detected audio signal originated and generating a location signal representative of the identified terminal device;
and
recording the detected audio signal, an address signal identifying any stored data file accessed during the multimedia conference by the at least one terminal device, at least a portion of the video signal and said location signal identifying the at least one terminal device from which the detected audio signal originated to correlate the recorded detected audio signal, the recorded portion of the video signal, the stored data file address signal and the recorded location signal with each other.

1 more element

A method for recording and indexing information exchanged during a multimedia conference having a plurality of participants interacting with a multipoint control unit (MCU) through a plurality of terminal devices at spaced apart locations, each of the terminal devices having at least audio input means for inputting audio signals to the each terminal device, and at least one of the said each terminal devices having a video input means for inputting a video signal to the at least one terminal device and a data accessing means for accessing stored data files during the multimedia conference, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting at the MCU an audio signal input to one of the audio input means of the at least one terminal device;
identifying the at least one terminal device from which said detected audio signal originated and generating a location signal representative of the identified terminal device;
and
recording said detected audio signal, an address signal identifying any stored data file accessed during the multimedia conference by the at least one terminal device, at least portion of said video signal, and said location signal identifying the at least one terminal device from which said audio signal originated to correlate the recorded detected audio signal, the at least a portion of the video signal, the stored data file address signal and the recorded location signal with each other.

1 more element

An apparatus for recording and indexing information exchanged during a multimedia conference having a plurality of participants communicating through a plurality of terminal devices at spaced apart locations, each said terminal device having an audio input means and at least one of the terminal devices having video input means for inputting a video signal to the at least one terminal device and data accessing means for accessing stored data files, said apparatus comprising:

a multimedia bridge connected to said plurality of terminal devices for receiving an audio signal and a video signal from the audio input means and video input means, respectively, of the at least one of the plural terminal devices;
means connected to said multimedia bridge for generating a location signal identifying the at least one terminal device;
and
means connected to said multimedia bridge for recording said generated location signal, an address signal identifying any stored data file accessed during the multimedia conference by the at least one terminal device, at least a portion of the video signal, and the detected audio signal so as to correlate said detected audio signal, the address signal, the portion of the video signal, and the location signal identifying the at least one terminal device, with each other.

1 more element

An apparatus for recording and indexing information exchanged during a multimedia conference having a plurality of participants communicating through a plurality of terminal devices at spaced apart locations, each said terminal device having at least an audio input means and at least one of the each terminal devices having a video input means for inputting a video signal to the at least one terminal device and a data accessing means for accessing stored data files during the multimedia, conference, said apparatus comprising:

a multipoint control unit (MCU) connected to said plurality of terminal devices, said MCU having means for detecting an audio signal and a video signal, respectively, input to said MCU from the audio input means of said at least one of the each terminal devices and for generating a location signal identifying the at least one terminal device;
and
means connected to said MCU for recording said generated location signal, an address signal identifying any stored data file accessed during the multimedia conference by at least one terminal device, at least a portion of said video signal and the audio signal so as to correlate said audio signal, address signal, portion of said video signal and location signal with each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for recording and indexing an audio and multimedia conference

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for recording and indexing an audio and multimedia conference

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33