An enhanced telephony (ET) computer user interface that seamlessly integrates features of a personal computer (PC) and a telephone into a coherent user interface. The user is provided with a rich variety of functionality that leverages the fact that the PC has considerably more processing power and greater access to variety of data than the ordinary telephone. This processing power and data access is used to the user's advantage as the telephone's capabilities and functionality are greatly expanded. In general, the ET user interface includes a plurality of environments for the user to choose. These environments include a My Contacts environment, a communication preferences environment, and a Call History environment. Each of these environments contains certain available processes and features for controlling and managing telephones.

Enhanced telephony computer user interface allowing user interaction and control of a telephone using a personal computer

A system and method for effectuating messaging between a first unit and a target unit by using a communication framework and one or more transport modules is provided. The system may include at least one application program operable to originate to and terminate electronic messages from a target unit. The transport modules provided for exchanging with the target unit the electronic messages that are originated to and terminated from the at least one application program. The at least one transport module is adapted to provide connectivity to the target unit via at least one of a plurality of networks. The communication framework adapted to select one or more of the transport modules based on dynamic-delivery policies, and in turn, to pass between the selected transport modules and the application program the electronic messages originated to and terminated from the target unit.

Wireless communication framework

Methods and systems are provided for sharing images and chat text over a network A determination is made as to whether a first user of a first terminal has changed focus from a first image to a second image during a chat session conducted with a second user of a second terminal At least partly in response to determining that the first user of the first terminal has changed focus from the first image to the second image, \a second image identifier is automatically sent to the second terminal Chat text is transmitted from the first terminal to the second terminal The second terminal accesses the second image using the second imageidentifier, and displays the chat text in association with the second image

Networked chat and media sharing systems and methods

A video communication system and method for operating a video communication system are provided. The video communication system (290) has a video communication device (300), having an image display device (110) and at least one image capture device (110, 120), wherein the at least one image capture device acquires video images of a local environment and an individual therein, according to defined video capture settings, an audio system having an audio emission device (321)and an audio capture device (323); and a computer (310) operable to interact with a contextual interface (450), a privacy interface (400), an image processor (320), and a communication controller (355) to enable a communication event including at least one video scene in which outgoing video images are sent to a remote site (364). Wherein the contextual interface includes scene analysis algorithms for identifying potential scene transitions and capture management algorithms for providing changes in video capture settings appropriate to any identified scene transitions; and wherein the privacy interface provides privacy settings to control the capture, transmission, display, or recording of video image content from the local environment.

A residential video communication system

A network media delivery system includes client devices and a host device. Each client device has a network interface, an engine for processing media data, and a media interface. The host device, which can be a computer, establishes network communication links with the client devices, which can be networked media stations, and sends media data to the client devices. The media data can be sent wirelessly as packets of media data transmitted at intervals to each client device. In one embodiment, the host device controls processing of media data such that processed media is delivered in a synchronized manner at each of the client devices. In another embodiment, the host device controls processing of media data such that processed media is delivered in a synchronized manner at the host device and at least one client device.

System and method for synchronizing media presentation at multiple recipients

A two-way visual communication device and methods for operating such a device are disclosed. An embodiment of the disclosed invention may comprise a visual display device and one or more pinhole imaging devices positioned within the active display area of the visual display. An image processor may be used to analyze the displayed image, and to select the output signal from one of the pinhole imaging devices. The image processor may also modify the displayed image in order to optimize the degree of eye contact as perceived by the far-end party.

Integral eye-path alignment on telephony and computer video devices using a pinhole image sensing device

Systems and methods that enable high quality audio teleconferencing are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a signal processor receives signals from a spatially dispersed set of directional microphones, processing the microphone signals and the far-end received audio into a signal for transmission to a far-end party. The processing may comprise the use of one or more algorithms that reduce conference room noise and may selectively increase participant audio levels by processing the microphone signals using beamforming techniques. An embodiment of the present invention may also comprise one or more omni-directional microphones that may be used in cooperation with the directional microphones to adjust for background noise, acoustic echo, and the existence of side conversations.

High quality audio conferencing with adaptive beamforming

Aspects of the present invention may be found in a system and method to effectively schedule and configure video and audio conferences. In one embodiment, the system comprises a server and one or more audio/video conferencing devices interconnected through a public or private data network. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface (GUI) provides for an intuitive means to graphically view and configure one or more conferences, participants, and conference call configuration settings.

Audio/Video Conferencing System

A system and a method for wireless playing media files utilizing a central server, in which a database of media files is stored, is described. The system includes a base-station connected to the server, a set of media clients that can be placed in different locations within the service area of the base-stations. The media clients can wirelessly connect to the server via the base-station to access the media files database and download media files, decode and play the media files. The media clients can be connected to devices capable of outputting the media files decoded and played by the media clients. The media clients can be also incorporated into mobile devices and cars, such that a user can download media files from the server and be able to display them at a location remote from the server and the service area of the base-station.

Wireless media player

Methods for using communication network statistics in the operation of a real-time communication system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may provide improved playback of real-time media streams by incorporating into the algorithms used for playback of the media stream network statistics typically calculated by some transport protocols. An additional aspect of the present invention may include machine-readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the foregoing.

Darwin Rambo

Papers

Integral eye-path alignment on telephony and computer video devices using a pinhole image sensing device

High quality audio conferencing with adaptive beamforming

Audio/Video Conferencing System

Wireless media player

Using RTCP statistics for media system control