US4475190A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling ports in a digital conference arrangement
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1982-05-27
•
Granted: 1984-10-02
•
Expires: 2002-05-27
Abstract
Abstract For use in multiport digital conference arrangements wherein the speech samples of selected speakers are included in an output sample for distribution to the conferees, the disclosed arrangement features a speech detector for each port and processor-controlled switching hardware. By evaluating the conferee's speech level, the current state of the port, and other factors, each conferee is dynamically assigned an adjusted priority by a conference processing program. The speech samples of only the highest priority conferees are summed to control noise level, singing caused by echo, and other types of distortion.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohamed A. Marouf
- 👤 Paul W. Vancil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/568; H04M3/569
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein information samples from selected ports are included in an output sample and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: detecting the state of each port in said first plurality of states; detecting the state of each port in said second plurality of states; assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port; and including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein information samples from selected ports are included in an output sample and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: detecting the state of each port in said first plurality of states; detecting the state of each port in said second plurality of states; assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port; and including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein information samples received from selected ports are included in an output sample and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: detecting the state of each port in said first plurality of states; ascertaining the period of time each port has been in the detected state of said first plurality; detecting the state of each port in said second plurality of states; assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port and the period of time the port has been in the detected state of said first plurality; and including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein information samples received from selected ports are included in an output sample and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: detecting the state of each port in said first plurality of states; ascertaining the period of time each port has been in the detected state of said first plurality; detecting the state of each port in said second plurality of states; assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port and the period of time the port has been in the detected state of said first plurality; and including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method set forth in claim 2 further including the step of ascertaining the period of time each port has been in the detected state of said second plurality and assigning the priority level to each port based on the period of time the port has been in the detected state of said second plurality.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein the second plurality of states comprises the levels of sound on the port as represented by the corresponding information sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method set forth in claim 2 or 4 wherein the first plurality of states comprises the current activity status of the port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of assigning the priority level includes ranking the priority level of the ports and wherein the step of including information samples includes information samples of only the highest priority levels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method set forth in claim 6 wherein the first plurality of states further comprises the busy/idle status of the port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method set forth in claim 7 wherein said period of time comprises the state-count of the port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein data samples representing audio information on selected ports are combined for distribution to the ports, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: establishing a first rank order of priority among the ports based on the energy level measured on each port as represented by the corresponding data sample, establishing a second rank order of priority among the ports based on the busy/idle status of each port, establishing a third rank order of priority among the ports based on the interval of time a port is idle, arranging the order of the ports per a predetermined algorithm, and combining the data samples of particular ports selected according to said last named order.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein data samples representing audio information on selected ports are combined for distribution to the ports, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: establishing a first rank order of priority among the ports based on the energy level measured on each port as represented by the corresponding data sample, establishing a second rank order of priority among the ports based on the busy/idle status of each port, establishing a third rank order of priority among the ports based on the interval of time a port is idle, arranging the order of the ports per a predetermined algorithm, and combining the data samples of particular ports selected according to said last named order.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein data samples representing audio information on selected ports are combined for distribution to the ports, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: establishing a first rank order of priority among the ports based on the energy level measured on each port as represented by the corresponding data sample, establishing a second rank order or priority among the ports based on the busy/idle status of each port, establishing a third rank order of priority among the ports based on the interval of time a port is busy, arranging the order of the ports in accordance with the first, second, and third ranks of priority, and combining the data samples of particular ports selected according to said order.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein data samples representing audio information on selected ports are combined for distribution to the ports, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: establishing a first rank order of priority among the ports based on the energy level measured on each port as represented by the corresponding data sample, establishing a second rank order or priority among the ports based on the busy/idle status of each port, establishing a third rank order of priority among the ports based on the interval of time a port is busy, arranging the order of the ports in accordance with the first, second, and third ranks of priority, and combining the data samples of particular ports selected according to said order.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein information samples from selected ports are included in an output sample for distribution to the ports and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, apparatus for selecting ports; comprising: means for detecting the state of each port in said first plurality; means for detecting the state of each port in said second plurality; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port; and means for including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement wherein information samples from selected ports are included in an output sample for distribution to the ports and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, apparatus for selecting ports; comprising: means for detecting the state of each port in said first plurality; means for detecting the state of each port in said second plurality; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port; and means for including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a multi-port digital conference arrangement wherein information samples from selected ports are included in an output sample for distribution to the ports and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, apparatus for selecting ports; comprising: means for detecting the state of each port in said first plurality; means for ascertaining the period of time each port has been in the detected state of said first plurality; means for detecting the state of port in said second plurality; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port and the period of time the port has been in the state of said first plurality; and means for including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a multi-port digital conference arrangement wherein information samples from selected ports are included in an output sample for distribution to the ports and wherein each port can assume a first and a second plurality of states, apparatus for selecting ports; comprising: means for detecting the state of each port in said first plurality; means for ascertaining the period of time each port has been in the detected state of said first plurality; means for detecting the state of port in said second plurality; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected states of the port and the period of time the port has been in the state of said first plurality; and means for including in said output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 or 12 in which said apparatus further comprises means for ascertaining the period of time each port remains in the detected state of said second plurality and said means for assigning a priority level assigns a priority level to each port based on the period of time the port remains in the detected state of said second plurality.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3699264A
Cited
US3937898A
Cited
US4022981A
Cited
US4076966A
Cited
US4175215A
Cited
US4257120A
Cited
US4342111A
Cited
US4389720A
Cited
US4423384A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-02 | 1988-04-02 | 1988-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-02 | 1992-04-02 | 1992-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-02 | 1996-04-02 | 1996-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |