Sorting speakers in a network-enabled conference

US7664246B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Anton Krantz · Kirkland, US
• Dalibor Kukoleca · Redmond, US
• Wei Zhong · Yokohama, JP
• Guo-Wei Shieh · Sammamish, US
• Zong Zong Yuan · Bellevue, US
• Tim Moore · Bellevue, US
• Danny Levin · Redmond, US
• Michael R. VanBuskirk · Plano, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 13, 2006
• Grant date: Feb 16, 2010
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M3/568
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems, methods, and/or techniques (“tools”) are described that sort speakers in a network-enabled conference. In some cases, this sorted list of speakers indicates which speaker is dominant. With this sorted list, a participant's communication device may provide context about the speakers. In some cases a participant's communication device has a display that presents real-time video of the speakers or other visual indicia, such as each or the most dominant speaker's name, picture, title, or location. These and other context about speakers may help participants better understand discussions in network-enabled conferences.