Patent ID: 9258523
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: G06F,H04M,H04N

Claim Text:
1. A video conferencing apparatus comprising: a conferencing computing device base comprising one or more processors and operatively coupled to a communication interface and one or more internal data storages, wherein the base is configured to host at least one speaker or at least one microphone; a plurality of docking bays configured on the conferencing computing device base, wherein the plurality of docking bays are each configured to detachably receive one of one or more smart devices and the conferencing computing device base is configured to identify each of the one or more smart devices detachably coupled into one or more of the plurality of docking bays and transmit identity characteristics of the one or more smart devices to a media portability server, wherein the conferencing computing device base assists one or more smart devices obtain a list of the one or more smart devices registered in the conferencing computing device base and the conferencing computing device base filters one or more known smart devices registered in the conferencing computing device base based on address data obtained from an address book in each of the one or more smart devices, wherein a relationship identifier is designated by the conferencing computing device base for ach connection with one of the one or more smart devices and is selected from one of a master-master relationship, a master-slave relationship, or a stand-alone relationship and wherein the base has an independent communication channel with each of the one or more smart devices; and a control device configured to control use of one or more of the speaker, said the microphone, and camera of the smart device based on video conference activity received from one of the smart devices.