Audio mixer and method

Abstract

A telecommunications system includes a first node having audio and video streams. The system includes a second node having only an audio stream. The system includes a mechanism for forming a call between the first node and the second node so the first node and the second node communicate their audio streams with each other. The forming mechanism is in communication with the first and second nodes. Preferably, a third node can communicate with the first and second nodes through the forming means. A method for forming a telecommunications call including the steps of calling from a first node having audio and video streams a second node having only an audio stream. There is the step of forming a call between the first node and the second node so the first node and the second node communicate their audio streams with each other.

1 . A method for forming a telecommunications call comprising the steps of: 
 calling from a first node having audio and video streams a second node having only an audio stream; and    forming a call between the first node and the second node so the first node and the second node communicate their audio streams with each other.    
   
   
       2 . A method as described in  claim 1  including the step of adding a third node having an audio stream and a video stream to the call to form a conference between the first, second and third nodes so the first and third nodes communicate their audio and video streams with each other, and the first, second and third nodes communicate their audio streams with each other.  
   
   
       3 . A method as described in  claim 2  wherein the step of adding a third node includes the step of communicating with a host node to host the conference.  
   
   
       4 . A method as described in  claim 3  wherein the forming step includes the step of terminating a first connection of the call between the first node and a mixer and creating a second connection of the call between the mixer and the second node in which data from the first connection is sent from the mixer to the second node.  
   
   
       5 . A telecommunications system comprising: 
 a first node having audio and video streams;    a second node having only an audio stream; and    means for forming a call between the first node and the second node so the first node and the second node communicate their audio streams with each other, the forming means in communication with the first and second nodes.    
   
   
       6 . A system as described in  claim 5  including a third node having an audio stream and a video stream, and wherein the forming means includes a mixer which connects a conference between the first, second and third nodes so the first, second and third nodes communicate their audio streams with each other.  
   
   
       7 . A system as described in  claim 6  including a host node and wherein the mixer communicates with the host node to host the conference.  
   
   
       8 . A system as described in  claim 7  wherein the mixer terminates a first connection of the call between the first node and the mixer and creates a second connection of the call between the mixer and the second node in which data from the first connection is sent from the mixer to the second node.  
   
   
       9 . A system as described in  claim 8  including a fourth node having only an audio stream, a first network in which the first, second and third nodes are disposed, and a second network different from the first network in which the fourth node is disposed, and the mixer bridges audio streams between the fourth node of the second network and the first, second and third nodes of the first network.  
   
   
       10 . A telecommunications system comprising: 
 a first network having a first media type in which audio streams are transmitted;    a second network having the first media type in which audio streams are transmitted;    a third network having a second media type different from the first media type in which audio streams are transmitted; and    a mixer which bridges audio streams between the first, second and third networks.    
   
   
       11 . A telecommunications system comprising: 
 a first network having a first media type in which signals are transmitted;    a second network having the first media type in which signals are transmitted;    a third network having a second media type different from the first media type in which signals are transmitted; and    a mixer which bridges signals between the first, second and third networks.    
   
   
       12 . A telecommunications system comprising: 
 a plurality of audio terminals which produce audio streams;    a plurality of audio and video terminals which produce audio and video streams;    a mixer which receives an audio stream from each audio stream and transmits the audio stream to the audio and video terminals; and    a network in which the audio terminals, the audio and video terminals and the mixer are in communication to communicate with each other.    
   
   
       13 . A method for creating a conference call between at least two nodes where at least a first node of the two nodes is a first audio/video terminal and at least a second node of the two nodes is a first audio terminal comprising the steps of: 
 calling the first audio terminal from the first audio/video terminal;    routing the audio streams from both terminals to a mixer;    adding at least a second audio/video terminal as a conference participant by routing its audio stream to the mixer and to the first audio/video terminal;    adding at least a second audio terminal as a conference participant by routing its audio stream to the mixer;    sending a mixed audio stream to each audio terminal by mixing audio streams from all the terminals except the audio stream of the terminal receiving the mixed audio stream.    
   
   
       14 . A telecommunications system comprising: 
 a first audio terminal having a first format in which audio streams are transmitted from the first audio terminal;    a second audio terminal having a second format in which audio streams are transmitted from the second audio terminal;    a third audio terminal having a third format in which audio streams are transmitted from the third audio terminal;    a mixer which translates respective audio streams from the first, second and third terminals into a respective format so they can be understood by the first, second and third terminals when they receive them; and    a network through which the first, second and third terminals communicate their respective audio streams with each other.