Automatic utilization of resources in a realtime conference

#Existing communications architectures enable users to easily join realtime conferences from personal computers and join the realtime modes supported, such as audio, video, and application sharing. This works well for a single user joining a conference from an office or workspace. However, when entering a conference room that has resources not readily usable for that meeting, someone has to configure the resources. For example, the user may have to dial into the conference from the conference room phone, configure the resources separately or request that the resources be configured ahead of the meeting. The resources can be technically insufficient in that some of the resources oftentimes employed in the conference are manually configured for the meeting. For example, resources such as the conference room phone, conference room audio/video system, whiteboard camera, or electronic whiteboard can require upfront time and effort to prepare these resources for efficient utilization during the meeting or conference.

#The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some novel embodiments described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

#The disclosed architecture facilitates the association of resources (e.g., hardware software) with a meeting location such as a conference room or conference space. Additionally, the room and resources can be associated with a realtime conference or meeting at the meeting location. Still further, the resources can be automatically joined to the meeting being held in the room, for both the organizer of the meeting and the remote participants of the meeting.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a computer-implemented communications system in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a system that further employs registration and join of the resources for realtime communications during the session.

#FIG. 3 illustrates a system of session environments for interacting in a session.

#The disclosed architecture enables automatic configuration and utilization of realtime communications components in a realtime meeting or conference. Network addressable resources are automatically registered and associated with physical meeting locations, and then automatically joined to the meeting. The architecture is not restricted to conferences, but can also be employed in mesh networks, for example, without conferencing servers. Other details are described herein below.

#Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a computer-implemented communications system 100 in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The system 100 includes network addressable resources 102 associated with a meeting location 104, and a connection component 106 for automatically connecting the resources 102 to a session 108 (e.g., conference, meeting) associated with the meeting location 104 for realtime utilization of the connected resources 102 by local and remote session participants.