US4479211A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for controlling ports in a digital conference arrangement
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1982-10-29
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Granted: 1984-10-23
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Expires: 2002-10-29
Abstract
Abstract For use in multiport digital conference arrangements wherein the speech samples of selected speakers are summed for distribution to the conferees, the disclosed arrangement features processor-controlled switching hardware responsive to a control signal from a conference control processor. Generated in response to a request from a port for priority treatment, this control signal designates particular conferees as having assigned priority treatment such as attendant and broadcast priority in the speaker selection process. In addition, the arrangement also includes a speech detector for each port. By evaluating the conferee's assigned priority treatment, the conferee's speech level, and other factors, each conferee is dynamically assigned an adjusted priority level by a conference processing program. The speech samples of only the highest priority level conferees are summed to control various types of distortion and to permit designated conferees to be always heard by the other conferees.
Inventors
- 👤 Ann H. Bass
- 👤 Jeffery G. Blaschak
- 👤 Mohamed A. Marouf
- 👤 Paul W. Vancil
- 👤 David F. Winchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/561; H04M3/568
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of 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; generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; assigning a port a state in said second plurality of states in response to said control signal; assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected and assigned states of the port; and including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of 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; generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; assigning a port a state in said second plurality of states in response to said control signal; assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected and assigned states of the port; and including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of a first, a second, and a third 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; generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; assigning a port a state in said third plurality of states in response to said control signal; assigning a priority level to each port based on the assigned and at least one of the detected states of the port; and including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of a first, a second, and a third 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; generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; assigning a port a state in said third plurality of states in response to said control signal; assigning a priority level to each port based on the assigned and at least one of the detected states of the port; and including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein said method further comprises the step of sorting the ports according to priority level and wherein said inclusion step comprises including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having the highest priority levels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein said method further includes the step of measuring the time interval each port has been in the detected state of at least one of said first and second pluralities and assigning the priority level to each port based on said measured time interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method set forth in claim 4 wherein said third plurality of states comprises an attendant and a normal priority status.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method set forth in claim 5 wherein said third plurality of states further comprises a broadcast and a listen-only priority status.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 6 wherein said first plurality of states comprises the present activity and the busy/idle status of the port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method set forth in claim 7 wherein said second plurality of states comprises the levels of sound on a port as represented by the corresponding information sample.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to combine information samples from selected ports for distribution to the ports, each sample representing one of a plurality of signal levels, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: establishing a first rank order of priority among the ports based on the signal level on each port as represented by a corresponding information sample, establishing a second rank order of priority among the ports based on the present activity status of each port, establishing a third rank order of priority among the ports based on the interval of time a port has remained in that present activity status, generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; establishing a fourth rank of priority among the ports in response to said control signal, arranging an overall order of the ports per a predetermined algorithm using at least two of said first through fourth rank orders, and combining the information samples of particular ports selected according to said overall order.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to combine information samples from selected ports for distribution to the ports, each sample representing one of a plurality of signal levels, a method for selecting ports; comprising the steps of: establishing a first rank order of priority among the ports based on the signal level on each port as represented by a corresponding information sample, establishing a second rank order of priority among the ports based on the present activity status of each port, establishing a third rank order of priority among the ports based on the interval of time a port has remained in that present activity status, generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; establishing a fourth rank of priority among the ports in response to said control signal, arranging an overall order of the ports per a predetermined algorithm using at least two of said first through fourth rank orders, and combining the information samples of particular ports selected according to said overall order.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of 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 of states; means for generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; means responsive to said control signal for assigning a port a state in said second plurality of states; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected and assigned states of the port; and means for including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of 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 of states; means for generating a control signal in response to particular information samples; means responsive to said control signal for assigning a port a state in said second plurality of states; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the detected and assigned states of the port; and means for including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of a first, a second, and a third plurality of states, apparatus for selecting ports; comprising: means for detecting the state of each port in said first plurality of states; means for detecting the state of each port in said second plurality of states; means for generating a control signal in response to particular information signals; means responsive to said control signal for assigning a port a state in said third plurality of states; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the assigned and at least one of the detected states of the port; and means for including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a multiport digital conference arrangement adapted to include in an output sample information samples from selected ports and wherein each port is adapted to assume a state in each one of a first, a second, and a third plurality of states, apparatus for selecting ports; comprising: means for detecting the state of each port in said first plurality of states; means for detecting the state of each port in said second plurality of states; means for generating a control signal in response to particular information signals; means responsive to said control signal for assigning a port a state in said third plurality of states; means for assigning a priority level to each port based on the assigned and at least one of the detected states of the port; and means for including in an output sample the information samples of only the ports having predetermined priority levels.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-23 | 1988-04-23 | 1988-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-23 | 1992-04-23 | 1992-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-23 | 1996-04-23 | 1996-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |