Cisco Technology, Inc.

Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc.

Steven L Christenson

Shmuel Shaffer

Marcelo Oliveira

Amit Prakash Barave

Labhesh Patel

Beejan Beheshti

Tyson A Singer

Michael Anthony Ramalho

Larry Raymond Metzger

James C Frauenthal

Shamim Sharifuddin Pirzada

Michael P O'Brien

Gary Skrabutenas

Eric Cozzi

Michelle Michael

Katrina Chiang

Jay Casuba

Jennifer Hood

Uwe Steinmueller

Mary C Medoff

Tina Suo

Mark Skrzynski

Douglas J Hall

Saad Malik

Maximilian Spring

Andrew J Francke

Deon J Chatterton

Tejbans Singh Chadha

Leonard Brzezinski

Chanh N Vuong

Byron G Stevens

Neil Anthony Savigear Evans

Amit P Barave

Kelly Muñiz De Francke

Mitul Sen

Shreya G Reddy

Rajesh Basawa

Lebhesh Patel

Tejbans Chadha

A system and methodology to facilitate communication between non-compatible communication devices by utilization of a dynamic media proxy is provided. Information associated with an endpoint, such as, media capabilities, identity and system resource information is collected. Media proxy'ing is performed as part of capability negotiation. A dynamic media proxy is employed based on an analysis of the collected information. An analysis component can identify an endpoint that does not adhere to specific rules of transmission and can dynamically connect such an endpoint to a VTG (virtual talk group) via a proxy to prevent the endpoint from transmitting media into an active VTG that already has multiple talkers streaming media. Additionally, the location where media processing can occur can be dynamically determined based on the available system resources.

Interoperability and communications system dynamic media proxy based on capability negotiation

In an example embodiment, an example method is provided for echo mitigation in a conference call. In this method, a test audio signal is transmitted to a conference endpoint and as a result, an echo associated with the transmittal of the test audio signal is received. One or more parameters of the echo are then identified and an echo mitigation process is selected from multiple echo mitigation processes based on the identified parameters. The selected echo mitigation process is then applied.

Echo mitigation in a conference call

In one embodiment, a method and apparatus of multiplexing and demultiplexing radio channels includes receiving data through at least one multicast media channel available for use in an Internet Protocol Interoperability and Communications System (IPICS) comprising multiple communication endpoints linkable to a Land Mobile Radio (LMR) in the IPICS; channel mapping the at least one multicast media channel to multiple media channels of the LMR; receiving an audio signal through the at least one multicast media channel; controlling access to the LMR by applying communication access control policies based on the received data upon reception of the audio signal; and operatively linking the LMR to a specified endpoint through the at least one multicast media channel based on the communication access control policies.

Multiplexing and demultiplexing radio channels

A method and apparatus to identify channels in a communications network are described. The method may comprise receiving communications on a plurality of communication channels including at least a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The method identifies when a channel change occurs from the first communication channel to the second communication channel. An audio identifier associated with the second communication channel is then included in an audio stream communicated via the second communication channel.

Identifying channels in a communication network

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes monitoring media streams associated with channels in a communication environment. The method also includes receiving an alert in one of the media streams and elevating a priority associated with the media stream receiving the alert. Elevating the priority can include increasing the volume of the media stream receiving the alert, changing a spatial direction for rendering the media stream receiving the alert, rendering the media stream receiving the alert to a priority spatial direction, identifying a primary channel and rendering the alert message to the primary channel, turning a volume down on media streams not receiving the alert, or a combination thereof.

System and method for providing channel configurations in a communications environment

In one embodiment, a method can include: receiving rules in an interoperability server, the rules being related to access control for an endpoint coupled to a variable source content stream via a multicast network; and sending to the endpoint using in-band controls of the variable source content stream via the multicast network: a description of content streams available for selection by the endpoint; a procedure for selecting an available content stream; and permission for accessing the selected content stream, the permission being based on the rules.

Managing status and access for a variable source content stream

A method for providing an indication of a communication includes facilitating communications between a plurality of endpoints within each of a plurality of virtual talk groups. The method also includes monitoring the communications between the plurality of endpoints within each of the plurality of virtual talk groups. The method further includes, upon detecting a first communication within a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups, activating a first indicator. The first indicator indicates the detection of the first communication. The method also includes, upon the occurrence of a first deactivating event, deactivating the first indicator.

Method and system for providing an indication of a communication

In one embodiment, an apparatus can include: a status detector configured to determine a status associated with an input stream; a parameter controller configured to adjust a parameter in response to a change in the status; and a rendering controller configured to receive the input stream, and to provide a rendered stream in response to the input stream and the parameter.

Communication system with state dependent parameters

A method is provided that accesses a priority and a multimedia stream to be transmitted. The priority then is embedded within the multimedia stream. The multimedia stream thereafter is transmitted. Another method is provided that receives the multimedia stream that includes the priority. Here, another priority is accessed and both priorities are compared. The control of multimedia stream transmissions to other communication devices is based on this comparison.

Priority-based multimedia stream transmissions

In one embodiment, techniques for processing voice collisions are provided. A voice collision of two or more voice streams associated with two or more speakers is determined. The voice collision of the two or more voice streams is dynamically disambiguated. The two or more voice streams are then rendered such that the voice collision is disambiguated. The voice collision may be disambiguated using spatial relocation, buffering, etc.

System for disambiguating voice collisions

In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet associated with a conference that has a first participant associated therewith. The first participant is identified as a principal participant. The method also includes determining if the first packet is associated with the first participant, and providing an audible indication that the first packet is associated with the first participant if it is determined that the first packet is associated with the first participant.

System for providing audio highlighting of conference participant playout

A method of allocating, revoking and transferring resources from a pool of conference resources provided by a conference system comprises assigning a guaranteed status to at least some participants to a conference to be hosted by the system. At least some of the resources may be reserved for the guaranteed status participants, to enable the guaranteed status participants to participate in the conference. When another participant to the conference is received, the other participant may be assigned a provisional status. Unused resources in the pool of resources may be allocated as provisional resources to the provisional status participant and the participant is admitted to participate in the conference utilizing the provisional resources. The provisional resources may be reserved for, but are at the time not used by a guaranteed status participant. Borrowed resources may be reclaimed and transferred to the guaranteed status participant.

Method and system for allocating, revoking and transferring resources in a conference system

A method for managing conference resources includes hosting a conference between a plurality of participants using a first amount of resources. The plurality of participants use a plurality of endpoints to communicate on the conference. The method includes reserving a sufficient amount of the first amount of resources to allow a first participant of the plurality of participants to rejoin the conference when the first participant disconnects from the conference. The method also includes reclaiming the sufficient amount of resources upon one of the following: receiving an indication that the first participant will not rejoin the conference or expiration of a predetermined amount of time after the first participant disconnects from the conference.

Method and system for managing conference resources

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara City, CA, United States of America

Steven L Christenson