WO2010076759A2

WO2010076759A2 - A conference control system

Info

Publication number: WO2010076759A2
Application number: PCT/IB2009/055971
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Emin Ozgul
Original assignee: Turkcell Teknoloji Arastirma Ve Gelistirme Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-12-31
Filing date: 2009-12-29
Publication date: 2010-07-08
Also published as: TR200810096A2; WO2010076759A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conference control system (1) which allows the host of a conference to select the environment values set, enables the host of a conference to select members, to control and to select priority levels of members, start date of the conference and the participation password and the environment values set, and enables notification of the start date and time, address and password of the conference to the terminals (4,5,6) by means of the methods such as SMS, e-mail or voice/video call, enables the active speakers to be selected in accordance with the voice level/power coming from the terminals (4,5,6) and to the priority levels, and enables data transmission between the terminals (4,5,6) and the conference control unit (2).

Description

A CONFERENCE CONTROL SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a conference control system which enables the host of a conference to select the members, conference and environment values, and comprises a switcher which enables data exchange with the terminals, and enables the active speaker to be selected according to the voice levels and the priority levels.

Prior Art

Communication via cell phones firstly began in 1980 with IG technology, hi this technology, analogue broadcast is used and can be listened to by anyone. Therefore, 2G technology was developed in 1991. This technology uses digital broadcast unlike IG. Digital broadcast provides advantages of data services such as more compression, error control, SMS and e-mail as well as more privacy.

Information transfer rate has increased much more with the package exchange application. This application is called GPRS. Cell services in which GPRS is used are called as 2.5G technology. GPRS allows information transfer rates till 56-114 kbit/s. GPRS application can be used in WAP, SMS and MMS services as well as internet connection. The cell services wherein EDGE (or EGPRS) application, which is has higher speed than 2.5G technology, is used are called as 2.75G. EDGE means enhanced GPRS and reaches to the information transfer rate of 236,8 kbit/s.

The third generation communication standards which reach to the information transfer rates of 2 Mbit/s are defined as 3 G technology. Due to such a high data transfer rates, it is possible to use the applications such as video, television, listening to the music, videophone talk through internet with the phones having 3G technology. In addition, by means of this technology videoconference can be made with these phones.

The communication protocol which is required to carry out videoconference with 3G technology is H.324m. H.324m protocol works in the circuit-switching connections established between the two terminals. This feature requires adaptor within the connections comprising more than two terminals. Moreover, as the telephone screen is low resolution, it causes practical problems that the screen is divided so as to show all images in the conference connections. Apart from these problems, it is causes protocol compatibility problems that H.324m protocol requires using different video channels instead of divided images. As another problem, H.324m protocol does not enable the negotiation process which is realize to select environment values set comprising terminal multiplexing, error detection and correction, control channel, audio and video features to be updated after the process has been completed. Therefore, in order that the terminals that may comprise different features sets can communicate with each other, data are required to be converted real-timely. Finally, due to continuous conversion, requirements of high-performance processor and CODEC necessary for conversion of each terminal increase the cost.

In US2004028199(Al), one of the patent document in the state of the art, technical information related to a conference control method is provided and disclosed. The control program allows host of a conference call to designate other hosts, create private meetings among conference call participants, mute any number of participants in relation to each other, or completely exclude participants. The participants may also send messages to other participants or the host.

In US2008101575(Al), one of the patent document in the state of the art, technical information related to a system for prioritizing a participant in a teleconference is provided and disclosed. Within the system, the participants can interrupt a currently speaking participant where necessary according to their priority levels. When the participant indicates a desire to interrupt a currently speaking participant, the system compares the priorities of the participant and the currently speaking participant, and selects accordingly the speaker.

Summary of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to realize a conference control system which enables the host of a conference to select members, to control and to select priority levels of the members, to select start date of the conference and participation password and environment values set.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize a conference control system which enables selection of the active speaker according to voice level received from the terminal and priority levels.

A further objective of the present invention is to realize a switcher which enables data exchange between the control system and the terminals.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A conference control system realized to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figure wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the inventive conference control system.

The parts illustrated in the figure are individually numbered where the numbers refer to the following:

1. Conference control system

2. Conference control unit 3. Switcher

4. First terminal

5. Second terminal

6. Third terminal

The inventive conference control system (1) essentially comprises:

— at least one conference control unit (2) which decides on selection of the video to be sent to the screen of the terminals (4,5,6) participated into the conference,

— at least one switcher (3) which enables transmission of the video and voice information coming from the terminals (4,5,6) to the other terminals (4,5,6) under the control of said system.

In the inventive control system (1), the first terminal (4) makes a video call to the conference system (1), and this call is received by the switcher (3). The switcher (3) replies to the incoming call, completes H.324m negotiation process, and saves the agreed parameter set as the environment values set. In addition, the switcher (3) sends the call control to the conference control unit (2). The first terminal (4) and the conference control unit (2) allow creating the conference, selecting the members, selecting the start date of the conference, participation password and environment values set by means of mutual communication.

This negotiation and selections are conducted through the switcher (3) between the first terminal (4) and the conference control unit (2). The first terminal (4) adjusts the settings of:

— selecting the conference members,

— defining the participation levels of the members (only listening, only speaking, bidirectional conference) and the control levels (changing the active speaker, inviting a member),

— priority levels of the members, — conference (start date and time, participation password, adding/excluding the members automatically to/from the conference),

— selecting the method for determination of values to be used as valid H.324m environment values set: i. so as to be the environment values set of the terminal with which the first connection is established (if selection is not made, this choice is used automatically), (DEG-I) ii. so as to be the environment values set of a selected terminal, (DEG-2) iii. so as to determine each environment value manually, (DEG-3) iv. so as to use the common values set determined for the conference control system (DEG-4).

The members are informed about the start date, time, address and password of the conference by means of SMS, e-mail, voice or video call via the conference control unit (2). The user which receives the conference invitation makes a video call to the number which has made an invitation, and is responded by the switcher (3). (KOS-I)

In the inventive conference control system, the switcher (3) which responds the call controls whether the newly connected terminal (5,6) is a H.324m environment values set:

-If there exist valid H.324m environment values sets of the conference, the switcher (3) tries to condition this terminal (5,6) so as to use the parameters selected during H.324m negotiation process,

-if the terminal (5,6) supports this set, the next step is proceeded, -if not, the set which provides the most proper choice in terms of cost and performance is selected, and the next step is proceeded. -If there does not exist valid H.324m environment values set of the conference, and

-if DEG-I is selected, the negotiation process initiated, and the environment values set which is obtained from the negotiation made with this terminal (5,6) is selected as the valid environment values set for this conference.

-if DEG-2 is selected, the negotiation process is initiated, and if this terminal is selected as the terminal which will determine the environment value valid in DEG-2 choices, the environment values set obtained from negotiation is saved as the valid set for this conference.

The conference control unit (2) sends the request for calling the terminals (5,6) which will be included in the conference to the switcher (3). The switcher (3) initiates a video call to the terminal (5,6). If the terminal responds, the terminal is added into the conference as a result of the KO§-1 conditioning steps. If the terminal does not respond, or connection cannot be established, the request for the connection is postponed to a later date. Terminals (5,6) which fulfill KO§-1 conditioning steps enter the password which identifies them if it is sent with the notification, and are added to the conference. Thereby, bidirectional voice, video and call channels between the terminals (4,5,6) and the switcher (3) are established.

After establishment of the conference, the switcher (3) and the conference control unit (2) process the voice and video data coming from the terminals (4,5,6) and decide on the video and voice data which will be distributed to the terminals (4,5,6) by working together. The video of the active terminal and all voices coming from terminals entitled to speak or to make bidirectional conversation in accordance with their participation levels are sent to all terminals (4,5,6). If there are terminals which cannot fulfills KO§-1 conditioning step, voice and video data are sent to these terminals by being converted. The video which the active speaker will see can be video sources such as his/her video, video of the terminal. which s/he has selected, or blank screen/static picture/advertisement/clock.

The active speaker makes selection according to the following criteria:

— the members who are entitled to change the active speaker according to the control level can change the active speaker or designate themselves as active speaker by means of an external channel, telephone keypad or the inputs such as voice recognition system in communication with the conference control.

— voice levels/powers of the members entitled to speak in the conference are observed continuously. If there is an increase in the voice level/power coming from a terminal having such right which is in silence, and if there is not any active speaker at that moment, or if there is an active speaker, but the priority level of the terminal in which voice level/power change occurs is equal to or higher than the priority level of the active speaker, then the terminal in which there is an increase in voice level/power is assigned as active speaker.

The switcher (3) assigns voice and video channels sent to the terminals (4,5,6) in accordance with the active speaker. The switcher (3) observes continuously the voice and video channels of the terminals (4,5,6) which are entitled to be an active speaker, and saves the information on their latest status. The switcher (3) requests update from the new active speaker, or uses the information which it has saved when the active speaker changes. Thereby, there is not an interruption or deterioration in the voice or video stream when the active speaker changes, and full refresh and key frame are enabled to be realized.

Moreover, alternatively, the members which are entitled to change the active speaker can designate themselves as active speaker by means of the methods identified by the conference control unit (2). The methods identified by the conference control unit (2) may be realized by entering the password through an external channel, phone keypad or uttering the same via the voice recognition system.

Within the framework of this basic concept, it is possible to develop a wide variety of applications of the inventive conference control system (1) and it cannot be limited to the examples provided above to explain the invention. The present invention is essentially according to the claims.

Claims

1. A conference control system (1) comprising

— at least one switcher (3) which enables transmission of the video and voice information coming from the terminals (4,5,6) to the other terminals (4,5,6) under the control of said system (1), and characterized by

— a conference control unit (2) which allows the host of a conference to be able to select the environment values set.

2. A conference control system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a conference control unit (2) which enables the host of a conference to select members, to control and to select priority levels of members, to select start date of the conference and the participation password and the environment values set.

3. A conference control system (1) according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized by a conference control unit (2) which enables notification of the start date and time, address and password of the conference to the terminals (4,5,6) by means of the methods such as SMS, e-mail or voice/video call.

4. A conference control system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a conference control unit (2) which enables the active speakers to be selected in accordance with the voice level/power coming from the terminals (4,5,6) and to the priority levels.

5. A conference control system (1) characterized in that in selection of the active speaker:

— the members who are entitled to change the active speaker according to the control level can change the active speaker or designate themselves as active speaker by means of an external channel, telephone keypad or the inputs such as voice recognition system in communication with the conference control,

-voice levels/powers of the members entitled to speak in the conference are observed continuously and if there is an increase in the voice level/power coming from a terminal which is in silence, and if there is not any active speaker at that moment, or if there is an active speaker, but the priority level of the terminal in which voice level/power change occurs is equal to or higher than the priority level of the active speaker, then the terminal (4,5,6) in which there is an increase in voice level/power is assigned as active speaker.

6. A conference control system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a conference control unit (2) which enables the members to assign themselves as active speaker or to change the active speaker in the assignment of the active speaker.

7. A conference control system (1) according to Claim 6, characterized by a conference control unit (2) which enables the user to change the active speaker or to assign himself/herself as the active speaker by entering the password through an external channel, phone keypad or uttering the same via the voice recognition system.