Cisco Technology, Inc.

Michael G Rexroad

Neil Joshi

Brian James Baldino

According to one aspect, a method includes determining when a first device and a second device are in proximity to each other, wherein the first device includes a first microphone and the second device includes a second microphone. The method also includes pairing the first device and the second device, and creating a mobile mapping of the physical relationship between the first device and the second device. Pairing the first device and the second device forms a microphone array that includes the first microphone and the second microphone. An aggregate stream is created using a first stream obtained from the first microphone and a second stream obtained from the second microphone. Creating the aggregate stream includes using the model mapping to determine when to use the first stream and when to use the second stream. Finally, the method also includes transmitting the aggregate stream.

Utilizing mobile devices in physical proximity to create an ad-hoc microphone array

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving data associated with a local endpoint that is configured to participate in a video conference. The local endpoint can be configured to detect a signal generated by a local end user device and to relay the signal to a local manager element. The method also includes transmitting the signal over a network to a remote manager element at a remote location. In more specific embodiments, the method includes receiving an additional signal from the remote manager element, and determining a selected local endpoint to receive the additional signal from the remote manager element.

System and method for extending communications between participants in a conferencing environment

Particular embodiments generally relate to providing different censoring levels for audio-video streams. In one embodiment, an audio-video stream is received. Metadata including censoring information for the audio-video stream is also received. The audio-video stream and metadata may be sent by a source in separate streams. A first level of censoring associated with a first receiver is determined along with a second level of censoring for a second receiver. A first audio-video stream is generated for the first receiver with a first censor level and a second audio-video stream is generated for the second receiver with a second censor level. For example, the first audio-video stream may include censoring of faces and the second audio-video stream may be an audio-video stream without censoring or may censor some other part of the audio-video. The first audio-video stream and the second audio-video stream are then sent to the first and second receivers, respectively.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Michael G Rexroad