Polycom

Abstract: A system, such as a video conferencing system, is provided which includes an image pickup device (14), an audio pickup device (12), and an audio source locator (10). The image pickup device (14) generates image signals representative of an image, while the audio pickup device (12) generates audio signals representative of sound from audio source, such as speaking person. The audio source locator (10) processes the image signals and audio signals to determine a direction of the audio source relative to a reference point. The system can further determine a location of the audio source relative to the reference point. The reference point can be a camera (14). The system can use the direction or location information to frame a proper camera shot which would include the audio source.

Abstract: A multimedia distribution device includes an embedded stream encoder and an embedded stream server for encoding and transmitting, through utilization of streaming technology, audio and video content originating from a videoconference site and received through a network interface, to network-connected terminals. In situations in which the videoconference includes the presentation of slides or other content, the device may include a file conversion engine for converting the presentation content received through a data interface into a standard graphic image format, for synchronous distribution with the audio and video content stream. The multimedia content may be viewed in a multiple-window interface, wherein the audio and video content is presented by a streaming media player, and the presentation content is displayed in a separate window. Additionally, the interface may include an interactive text entry interface, through which the viewer may submit comments or questions to the conference presenters. In an operating architecture that includes a separate remote streaming server and a separate network server, a method of distributing content to a large number of viewers includes continuously transmitting the current and successive presentation images to the network server for caching, whereby the viewer web browser can request and locally cache the images prior to arrival of the associated audio and video content.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: An acoustic signal processing method and system using a pair of spatially separated microphones (10, 11) to obtain the direction (80) or location of speech or other acoustic signals from a common sound source (2) are disclosed. The invention includes a method and apparatus for processing the acoustic signals by determining whether signals acquired during a particular time frame represent the onset (45) or beginning of a sequence of acoustic signals from the sound source, identifying acoustic received signals representative of the sequence of signals, and determining the direction (80) of the source based upon the acoustic received signals. The invention has applications to videoconferencing where it may be desirable to automatically adjust a video camera, such as by aiming the camera in the direction of a person who has begun to speak.