Patent ID: 7346654
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for conducting a virtual audio-visual conference between two or more users comprising: two or more client stations each acting as a signal source and destination for each respective said user, having a user interface for audio-visual input and output including audio signal reception and generation means for receiving and generating audio signals, one or more servers; and a network coupling said client stations and said servers; wherein each said user is represented as a corresponding movable visual symbol displayed on said user interfaces of all coupled said client stations, and said audio signal of all said users is generated at each said client station with an attenuation according to the spatial position of respective said symbols on said user interfaces and according to the direction in which each movable visual symbol of each signal source is oriented on the user interface, wherein said attenuation of said audio signal according to spatial position is determined according to the formula: where (X