Video conference system and methods for use at multi-station sites

A system comprising:

• (a) a network;
• (b) a plurality of participant stations for participating in a conference coupled to the network, the plurality arranged with at least one site having a multiplicity of particular participant stations, the plurality including the multiplicity;
• and
• (c) a conference control station for coordinating a conference coupled to the network and located at the site, wherein the conference control station provides notice to a participant for directing the participant to a particular participant station;
• wherein the conference control station identifies appropriate sites for the conference through comparing available sites to areas to which the participants are allowed access;
• and
• (d) wherein at least one participant station is located in a secured location, wherein in person contact to the participant is limited.

A system comprising:

• (a) a network;
• (b) a conference control station for operating a database comprising participant location information;
• the conference control station coupled to the network;
• and
• (c) a plurality of sites, each site comprising:
• a respective multiplicity of first participant stations, coupled to the network;
• and
• a respective second conference control station for coordinating a conference, the second conference control station physically distinct from the first conference control station, the second conference control station coupled to the network;
• wherein
• (d) notice is provided to a participant to attend a conference, notice being provided by a particular conference control station of a particular site determined in accordance with the database to be nearest the participant at a time prior to the conference and to which the participant is allowed access;
• (e) wherein at least one of the plurality of sites is located in a secured location to which access is restricted;
• and
• (f) wherein the conference control station selects a time for the participant to begin transit to the site where the conference will be held.

A system for conducting a conference, the system comprising:

• (a) a network;
• and
• (b) a plurality of hubs, each hub being for coupling a respective plurality of participant stations to the network;
• wherein each hub comprises:
• a data store for storing respective indicia of the conference, wherein indicia of the conference comprise a start time, identification of participant stations of the respective plurality for the conference;
• wherein participant stations are identified by comparing the location of available stations to locations which participants' are allowed access;
• and
• a switch for initiating communication to conduct the conference, communication
• being with the identified participant station;
• initiating being aborted if a signal is not received by the switch from the identified participant station within a period after the start time.

A method for conducting a conference via a system having a plurality of sites, each site including a multiplicity of participant stations and a control station, the system further comprising a database for maintaining a tuple including a conference identifier, an identifier of a participant, and an identifier of a participant station, the method comprising:

• a step for obtaining a notice at the control station of a site, the notice comprising the conference identifier, the identifier of a participant, and the identifier of a participant station;
• a step for calculating a time for a participant to begin to get ready for the conference based on a transit time associated with the participant or the participant's location;
• and
• a step for directing a participant to a participant station in accordance with the notice, the participant corresponding to the identifier of the participant, the participant station corresponding to the identifier of the participant station.

A method for conducting a conference via a system having a multiplicity of participant stations and a control station, the system further comprising a database for maintaining a tuple including a conference identifier, an identifier of a participant station, and an identifier of a participant, the method comprising:

• a step for detecting the unavailability of a first participant station of the multiplicity;
• a step for detecting the availability of an alternate participant station of the multiplicity;
• a step for comparing a wear factor associated with the alternate participant station with a plurality of wear factors associated with individual participant stations of the multiplicity of participant stations and selecting an alternate participant station with the least amount of wear;
• a step for obtaining confirmation that the alternate participant station is to be used in the conference corresponding to the conference identifier;
• a step for obtaining confirmation that a participant is allowed access to a location where the alternative participant station is located;
• a step for revising the tuple to exclude the first participant station and to include an identifier of the alternate participant station to reschedule the conference;
• a step for obtaining at the control station a notice that the conference associated with the conference identifier is to commence, the notice in accordance with the revised tuple;
• and
• a step for directing a participant corresponding to the identifier of the participant to the alternate participant station in accordance with the notice.

A method for conducting a conference via a system having a multiplicity of participant stations and a control station, the system further comprising a database for maintaining a first tuple and a second tuple, the first tuple relating a conference identifier, an identifier of a participant station, and an identifier of a participant, the second tuple relating the identifier of the participant and a location of the participant, the method comprising:

• a step for detecting a revision of the second tuple;
• and
• a step for rescheduling the conference in accordance with the revised second tuple;
• a step for determining the location of participant stations available for the rescheduled conference;
• and
• a step for comparing the location of available participant stations with locations to which the participant is allowed access.

A method for conducting a conference via a system, the system including a multiplicity of participants and a database for maintaining a tuple of a conference identifier and an identifier of a first participant, the method comprising:

• a step for detecting the unavailability of a participant corresponding to the identifier of the first participant;
• a step for detecting the availability of an alternate participant;
• and
• a step for revising the tuple to exclude the identifier of the first participant and to include an identifier of the alternate participant, to reschedule the conference;
• a step for determining whether or not the participants are allowed to have a conference with each other;
• a step for revising the tuple based upon the allowability of the conference;
• a step for determining whether or not the conference should be recorded and if recorded, whether or not the participants should be notified of the recording;
• and
• a step for revising the tuple based on whether or not the conference is to be recorded.

A method for scheduling a first conference in accordance with a request, the request comprising indicia of a plurality of participants and a start time, the method comprising:

• a step for maintaining for at least one participant of the plurality a list of participants the at least one participant may confer with;
• a step for confirming that each participant of the plurality may confer with every other participant of the plurality;
• a step for maintaining for each participant of the plurality a respective first list of future times;
• a step for forming for each participant of the plurality a respective sublist of the first list including times after the start time;
• a step for forming for each participant of the plurality a respective second list of unavailable times;
• a step for intersecting for each participant of the plurality the respective first list and the respective second list to form a respective availability list;
• a step for intersecting all participant availability lists to form an opportunity list;
• a step for determining whether recording the conference between the participants is desired;
• a step for determining whether recording the conference is allowed;
• a step for determining whether the participants of the conference should be notified that the conference is being recorded;
• a step for scheduling the first conference in accordance with a selected item of the opportunity list, wherein scheduling of the first conference is conditional on acceptance of a score based on a transit time associated with a participant of the first conference:
• and
• a step for rescheduling a second conference after scheduling the first conference, the second conference being rescheduled to eliminate a conflict with the first conference, wherein rescheduling of the second conference is conditional on acceptance of a score based on a transit time associated with a participant of the second conference.

A method for scheduling a conference among stations of a plurality in accordance with a first request formed at a first station of the plurality, the first request comprising indicia of a plurality of participants and a start time, the method comprising:

• a step for maintaining for at least one participant of the plurality a list of participants the at least one participant may confer with;
• a step for confirming that each participant of the plurality may confer with every other participant of the plurality;
• a step for maintaining for each participant of the plurality a respective first list of future times;
• a step for sending a second request to a second station of the plurality, the second request comprising indicia of at least one particular participant of the plurality of participants and the start time;
• a step for forming for each participant of the plurality a respective sublist of the first list including times after the start time;
• a step for forming for each participant of the plurality a respective second list of unavailable times;
• a step for intersecting for each participant of the plurality the respective first list and the respective second list to form a respective availability list;
• a step for receiving a response to the second request, the response comprising an availability list of the particular participant;
• a step for intersecting all participant availability lists including the availability list of the particular participant to form an opportunity list;
• a step for forming a proposed schedule of the conference in accordance with a selected item of the opportunity list;
• a step for providing a notice to the second station in accordance with the proposed schedule;
• and
• a step for scheduling the conference in accordance with a response to the notice.

A method for conducting a video conference by a system, the system including a database, at least two conference coordinators and at least two conference participant stations, each station comprising a microphone for inputting audio and a sensor for detecting use of the microphone by a participant, of the method comprising:

• a step for recalling from the database a start time for a conference;
• a step for detecting use of the respective microphone of each station;
• a step for coupling the conference participant stations for the video conference in accordance with whether use was detected at each station within a respective predetermined time that includes the start time;
• a step for revising the start time in accordance with failing to detect use of the respective microphone of each station within the respective predetermined time;
• a step for beginning the conference when use of the respective microphone of each station is detected within the respective predetermined time;
• a step for terminating the conference when one of the at least two conference coordinators determines that a participant's behavior is inappropriate;
• and
• a step for terminating the conference when termination of use of the microphone is detected.

A method for conducting a conference via a system having a multiplicity of participant stations and a control station, the system further comprising a database for maintaining a tuple including a conference identifier, an identifier of a participant station, and an identifier of a participant, the method comprising:

• a step for detecting the unavailability of a first participant station of the multiplicity;
• a step for detecting the availability of an alternate participant station of the multiplicity;
• a step for comparing a wear factor associated with the alternate participant station with a plurality of wear factors associated with individual participant stations of the multiplicity of participant stations and selecting an alternate participant station with the least amount of wear;
• a step for obtaining confirmation that the alternate participant station is to be used in the conference corresponding to the conference identifier;
• a step for revising the tuple to exclude the first participant station and to include an identifier of the alternate participant station to reschedule the conference;
• a step for obtaining at the control station a notice that the conference associated with the conference identifier is to commence, the notice in accordance with the revised tuple;
• and
• a step for directing a participant corresponding to the identifier of the participant to the alternate participant station in accordance with the notice.