Patent ID: 6237025
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G06Q,H04L,H04M,H04N,H04Q

Abstract:
A teleconferencing system for conducting a teleconference among a plurality of participants comprising:(a) a plurality of video display devices each having associated(i) participant video capture capabilities, and(ii) participant audio(1) capture and(2) reproduction capabilities; and(b) at least one communication path(i) along which signals(1) representing participant audio and video(ii) can be transmitted,wherein the system maintains(a) at least one directory, including(i) a list of potential participants; and(b) at least one database, including(i) addresses of video display devices, and(ii) audio and video capabilities of each video display device, and(c) an association(i) between the information in the directory and the database; andwherein the system is configured to(a) display information from(i) at least the directory(ii) on at least one video display device; and(b) to initiate collaboration(i) upon a selecting participant selecting(1) one or more participantsi. from the displayed participant information and(ii) then establishing communication(1) with each selected participant(2) using information in the database(3) to define a teleconference.