Control Unit for Multipoint Multimedia/Audio System

Abstract

The present invention is a system and a method for providing a control unit for a multipoint multimedia/audio conference that enables one or more participants to take part in more than one conference simultaneously. The control unit can operate in audio and/or video sections of an MCU and/or Management and Control System (MCS). The MCS, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, controls the participation of at least one participant in more than one conference simultaneously by using a Cross-Conference Database (CCDB). The MCU performs connection changes affecting which participants are associated with one or more conferences based on the information that is stored in the CCDB.

1 . A method for controlling multiple simultaneous conferences of a plurality of participants, the method comprising:
 storing information in a cross conference database, the information comprising connection parameters and connection statuses for the plurality of participants, wherein a first subset of the plurality of participants participates in a first conference, a second subset of the plurality of participants participates in a second conference, and a third subset of the plurality of participants participates in the first conference and the second conference; and   using at least a portion of the information to provide a first audio output signal to the first conference, the first audio output signal comprising audio received from the first subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the first audio output signal contains no audio received from the second subset of participants.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 using at least a portion of the information to provide a second audio output signal to the second conference, the second audio output signal comprising audio received from the second subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the second audio output signal contains no audio received from the first subset of participants. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first audio output signal comprises a translation of at least a portion of a previously provided second audio output signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the translation originates from the third subset of participants. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the third subset of participants has a first connection status with the first conference and a second connection status with the second conference, wherein the first connection status is different than the second connection status. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first connection status is listen only. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second connection status is normal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second connection status is speak only. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first subset participates in the first conference with a normal connection status, the second subset participates in the second conference with a normal connection status, and the third subset does not participate with a normal connection status in either the first or second conference. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first conference comprises a video conference. 
     
     
         11 . A multipoint control unit comprising:
 a management and control system, within a multipoint control unit (MCU), configured to:
 enable participation of a plurality of participants in two or more conferences simultaneously, wherein the management and control system comprises a cross conference database comprising connection parameters and connection statuses for each participant, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of participants participates in a first conference, a second subset of the plurality of participants participates in a second conference, and a third subset of the plurality of participants participates in the first conference and the second conference; and 
 use at least a portion of the information from the cross conference database to configure the MCU to provide a first audio output signal to the first conference, the first audio output signal comprising audio received from the first subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the first audio output signal contains no audio received from the second subset of participants. 
   
     
     
         12 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 11  wherein the management and control system is further configured to use at least a portion of the information from the cross conference database to configure the MCU to provide a second audio output signal to the second conference, the second audio output signal comprising audio received from the second subset of participants and a portion of the third subset of participants wherein the second audio output signal contains no audio received from the first subset of participants. 
     
     
         13 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 11  wherein the first audio output signal comprises a translation of at least a portion of a previously provided second audio output signal. 
     
     
         14 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 13  wherein the translation originates from the third subset of participants. 
     
     
         15 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 11  wherein a portion of the third subset of participants has a first connection status with the first conference and a second connection status with the second conference, wherein the first connection status is different than the second connection status. 
     
     
         16 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 15  wherein the first connection status is listen only. 
     
     
         17 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 16  wherein the second connection status is normal. 
     
     
         18 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 16  wherein the second connection status is speak only. 
     
     
         19 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 11  wherein the first subset participates in the first conference with a normal connection status, the second subset participates in the second conference with a normal connection status, and the third subset does not participate with a normal connection status in either the first or second conference. 
     
     
         20 . The multipoint control unit of  claim 11  wherein the first conference comprises a video conference.