Xerox Corporation

Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

Intel Corporation

III Holdings 1, LLC

Allison Gyle Woodruff

Paul Masami Aoki

James Douglass Thornton

Margaret Helen Szymanski

Stuart Kent Card

Richard Carl Gossweiler, Iii

Daniel H Wilson

Jock Douglas Mackinlay

Rebecca Elizabeth Grinter

Ruth E Rosenholtz

Andrew Faulring

Jock Douglas MacKinlay

Robert John Moore

Ed H Chi

Nicolas B Ducheneaut

Lichan Hong

Victoria M E Bellotti

Richard R Burton

Richard Carl Gossweiler Iii

Chen Yu

Amy K Hurst

Rebecca E Grinter

Richard C Gossweiler Iii

A system and method for enhancing visual representation to individuals participating in a conversation is provided. Visual data for a plurality of individuals participating in one or more conversations is analyzed. Possible conversational configurations of the individuals are generated. Each possible conversational configuration includes one or more pair-wise probabilities of at least two of the individuals. A probability weight is assigned to each of the pair-wise probabilities having a likelihood that the individuals of that pair-wise probability are participating in a conversation. A probability of each possible conversational configuration is determined by combining the probability weights for the pair-wise probabilities of that possible conversational configuration. The possible conversational configuration with the highest probability is selected as a most probable configuration. The individuals participating in the conversations based on the pair-wise probabilities with the most probable configuration are determined. Visual representation is enhanced for each individual participating in the determined conversations.

Computer-implemented system and method for enhancing visual representation to individuals participating in a conversation

A method and apparatus for controlling data transmission via user-maintained modes is provided. A first audio data stream is recorded on a transmitting electronic apparatus. A second audio data stream is stored on the transmitting electronic apparatus. Transmission of one of the first and the second audio data streams is controlled via a first user-maintained mode when at least the other of the first and the second audio data streams is being transmitted to the electronic apparatus. The one of the first and the second audio data streams is transmitted to a receiving electronic apparatus and the other of the first and the second audio data streams is suspended.

System and method for coordinating data transmission via user-maintained modes

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus that includes two panels pivotally connected together. The panels can pivot from an open arrangement where the two panels lay side by side to a closed arrangement where the two panels lay one on top of another. The apparatus also includes a flexible display connected to the two panels and having a portion that is mechanically free from the two panels. The apparatus further includes a cavity to receive at least a portion of the free portion of the display when the panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement.

Folding electronic device with continuous display

A computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation is provided. Audio data for individuals participating in one or more conversations is analyzed. Possible conversational configurations of the individuals are generated based on the audio data, and each possible conversational configuration includes one or more subconfigurations of at least two of the individuals. A probability weight is assigned to each of the subconfigurations and includes a likelihood that the individuals of that subconfiguration are participating in one of the conversations. A probability of each possible conversational configuration is determined by combining the probability weights for the subconfigurations of that possible conversational configuration. The possible conversational configuration with the highest probability is selected as a most probable configuration. The individuals participating in the conversations are determined based on the most probable configuration. Audio for each individual participating in the determined conversations is enhanced.

Computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation

A system and method for automatically adjusting floor controls based on conversational characteristics is provided. Audio streams are received, which each originate from an audio source. Floor controls for a current configuration including at least a portion of the audio streams are maintained. Conversational characteristics shared by two or more of the audio sources are determined. Possible configurations for the audio streams are identified based on the conversational characteristics. An analysis of the current configuration and the possible configurations is performed. A change threshold comprising a minimum number of timeslices for at least one of the current configuration and one of the possible configurations is applied to the analysis. When the analysis satisfies the change threshold, the floor controls are automatically adjusted. The audio streams are mixed into one or more outputs based on the adjusted floor controls.

System and method for adjusting floor controls based on conversational characteristics of participants

A system and method for using a communication lease to open a communication channel is provided. An initiation terminal transmits a channel initiation request for access to a resource manager through a target terminal. Evaluation of a communication lease controlling access to the resource manager is awaited. Approval of the channel initiation request is received upon the successful evaluation of the communication lease. A communication channel is opened between the initiation terminal and the target terminal upon receipt of the approval.

System and method for using a communication lease to open a communication channel

A system and method for automatically adjusting floor controls for a conversation is provided. Audio streams are received, which each originate from an audio source. Floor controls for a current configuration including at least a portion of the audio streams are maintained. Conversational characteristics shared by two or more of the audio sources are determined. Possible configurations for the audio streams are identified based on the conversational characteristics. An analysis of the current configuration and the possible configurations is performed. A change threshold is applied to the analysis. When the analysis satisfies the change threshold, the floor controls are automatically adjusted. The audio streams are mixed into one or more outputs based on the adjusted floor controls.

System and method for automatically adjusting floor controls for a conversation

Communication is carried out using devices with user-maintained modes that enable synchronous content sharing and communication. Each user-maintained mode enables a lightweight interface for positioning content in a conversation by initiating and terminating data transmission through user produced feedback to create a shared conversational experience.

Method and apparatus for controlling data delivery with user-maintained modes

A system and method for providing multimedia content between a plurality of user terminals is presented. A first multimedia presentation on a first user terminal is selected by a first user. Data corresponding to the first multimedia presentation is transmitted to a second user terminal. Data is received corresponding to a second multimedia presentation from the second user terminal by the first user terminal. The first multimedia presentation or the second multimedia presentation is displayed on the first user terminal and the second user terminal based on, respectively, a first profile of the first user terminal and a second profile of the second user terminal.

System and method for providing multimedia content between a plurality of user terminals

One embodiment of the invention is a computer controlled method for use with a communication system. The method includes a step of receiving a plurality of communications, where each one of the plurality of communications is from one of a plurality of communication sources; includes a step of mixing (that is responsive to a plurality of floor controls) the plurality of communications for a plurality of outputs associated with plurality of communication sources; and includes a step of analyzing, for a plurality of users associated with the plurality of communication sources, one or more conversational characteristics of two or more of the plurality of users. The method also includes a step of automatically adjusting the plurality of floor controls responsive to the step of analyzing. Other embodiments include systems and devices that use the method as well as program products that cause a computer to execute the method.

System and method for providing communication channels that each comprise at least one property dynamically changeable during social interactions

The disclosed technology is a computer application that establishes communication between a conversation-finder module and a computer application environment. The conversation-finder module determines a conversational floor based on three or more floor determination inputs. The conversational floor associates at least two of the three or more floor determination inputs as being on the conversational floor. The conversation-finder module and the computer application environment can be responsive to each other and can adapt to each other. That is (either or both), the computer application environment can adapt to the conversational floor(s) determined by the conversation-finder module; and the conversation-finder module can determine the conversational floors responsive to a floor determination input and/or control input from the computer application environment.

Computer application environment and communication system employing automatic identification of human conversational behavior

Methods, apparatus, and products for automatically managing conversational floors in computer-mediated communications

A system is described for displaying images of a virtual three-dimensional book having one or more virtual pages. The system comprises a display system capable of executing a display program wherein images of the virtual three-dimensional book are produced on the display system. A degree of interest (DOI) function is provided for allocating available space on the display system. A page selection function may provide a user-selectable scale along a long axis of the virtual book for selecting virtual pages. Virtual chapter tabs may also be provided for navigating within the virtual book. The display system may also include a page flipping function with several different page flipping speeds and several different page flipping animations for moving between virtual pages in the virtual book. Moreover, a scroll bar function provided to facilitate page navigation wherein space on the scroll bar is allocated using a DOI function. Finally, a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for producing images of a virtual three-dimensional book is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Foster City, CA, United States of America

Allison Gyle Woodruff