The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 16, 1998
Sanjay Agraharam, Marlboro, NJ (US);
Robert Edward Markowitz, Glen Rock, NJ (US);
Kenneth H. Rosen, Middletown, NJ (US);
Joel A. Winthrop, Little Silver, NJ (US);
AT&T Corp., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for conducting a video conference. The video conference apparatus is connected to at least one network. The video conference apparatus includes a MCU, an environment processor, a user database interface and an environment database interface. When users log onto the video conference apparatus, it is determined whether each user has designated an alternative environment from that normally detected by the camera device during the video conference. If the user has designated an alternative environment, the environment processor obtains the environment from the environment database and the video conference apparatus uses the designated environment during the video conference. However, if the user has not designated an alternative environment, the environment processor sends a request message providing a listing of possible environments which may be used during the video conference. Thus, the user may select a desired environment from the listing and use it during the video conference. If the user does not wish to select an alternative environment, a default environment corresponding to the environment normally detected through the camera device is used during the video conference.