US 5,916,302 A · Multimedia conferencing using parallel networks

Abstract

A conference server system, for internal use in the public switched telephone network (PSTN), links to public data communication networks (e.g. the Internet) for distributing computer displayable data between participants in voice telephone conferences. The server system includes a computer sub-system for storing data generated by the participants and distributing the data in coordination with voice presentations of respective participants. Data so stored and distributed includes computer-displayable data. Other data handled by the computer subsystem represents commands and functional requests issued by participants which pertain to the handling of computer-displayable data and voice parameters of the conference. Conference participants, having separate and concurrent access to both the PSTN and the data network, receive and view computer-displayable data prepared by one of the participants in coordination with the respective voice conference. The conference server system connects to voice conference management resources of the PSTN in a manner enabling the server system to control voice parameters of a voice conference in response to data requests received from participants (e.g. requests from hearing-impaired participants for enhanced audio service), as well as enabling the conference management resources to control functions performed in respect to distribution of displayable data in response to spoken requests uttered by the participants, when the telephone system contains appropriate speech recognition equipment. Telephone system conferences utilizing the present conference server system have the advantage of being usable to support voice-only and/or data-only participants (participants respectively linked to only the voice or data distribution parts of a conference session), as well as to provide conference service between exactly two participants which may be more effective than comparable services that the same two participants would obtain using a direct dial-up telephone connection for voice and a public data network connection completely isolated from the voice conference management resources of the PSTN to exchange data.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A voice and video conferencing system, for the public switched telephone network (PSTN), said PSTN having conferencing circuits entirely internal thereto for routing analog voice signals between end users of said PSTN, and also having conference management facilities entirely internal thereto for managing operations in said conferencing circuits to provide conference connections between said end users;

said conferencing system comprising:
a conference server communicating with said conference management facilities to form an extended conference management facility operating as an internal part of said PSTN;
said conference server having controlling connections to both said internal conferencing circuits and a data communication network external to said PSTN;
said controlling connections enabling said conference server to direct transfers of data signals through said external network in coordination with a voice conference instantly established in said internal conferencing circuits;
said data being transferred in parallel through said external data network, between participants to said established voice conference having connections to said external network, in coordination with voice signals transmitted between said participants through said internal conferencing circuits;
said data being transferred including data representing displayable video images and data representing functional requests and commands issued by individual said participants and requiring attention by said extended conference management system;
said functional requests including data transfer requests, routed from a said participant to said conference server, to have said conference server manage distribution of data representing said displayable video images, said image data having been previously furnished to said conference server by a participant issuing the request, to other said participants;
said controlling connections and requests being used to have said extended conference management facility distribute said data representing said displayable video images between said conference participants in coordination with a vocal presentation instantly being made by a requesting participant;
said controlling connections, requests, and commands further being used for having said extended conference management facility perform controlling functions relative to both said internal conferencing circuits and said external data network.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multimedia conferencing using parallel networks

Life of this patent

Multimedia conferencing using parallel networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17