Method and Systems for Providing Conferencing Services

Abstract

An approach is provided for supporting multi-media conferencing. Textual information (e.g., text associated with a presentation) is received for display during a conference session to multiple participants. For a particular participant, configuration information corresponding to the participant specifies language assistance for the textual information. Language assistance involves augmenting the textual information according to the configuration information for comprehension of the textual information by the particular participant. In one embodiment, the augmented textual information includes language translation of the textual information. Additionally, the augmented textual information can encompass definitions of terms, including acronyms. The augmented textual information is forwarded for display to the participant during the conference session.

1 . An apparatus for annotating a conference session transmitted over a network, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more processing devices configured to:
 process media of activity that occurs during the conference session, the conference session having an associated timeline; 
 receive an annotation associated with a point of the conference session from a user input; 
 obtain time stamp information for the point of the conference session associated with the timeline thereof; 
 associate the time stamp information with the annotation, such that subsequent playback of the media will cause the annotation to be presented in accordance with the time stamp information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the annotation is received after the conference session has concluded. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the annotation is received from a participant of the conference session, and the one or more processing devices are further configured to receive a list of recipients of the annotation. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the list of recipients is limited to the participant such that the annotation is a private annotation. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the annotation is received from a presenter of the conference session; and the one or more processing devices are configured to receive instructions to present the annotation to all participants of the conference session. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are further configured to generate a new media file including the media and the annotation. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a database, and wherein the one or more processing devices are further configured to record the media onto the database. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processing devices configured to record the media comprises the one or more processing devices configured to record video, audio, and textual information during the conference session. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processing devices configured to record the media further comprises the one or more processing devices configured to record data items received from participants of the conference sessions. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processing devices are further configured to:
 access the media and the annotation on the database; and   play the media and present the annotation at the point of the timeline identified in the time stamp information thereof.   
     
     
         11 . A method for annotating a conference session transmitted over a network, the method comprising:
 processing media of activity that occurs during the conference session with one or more processing devices, the conference session having an associated timeline;   receiving an annotation associated with a point of the conference session from a user input;   obtaining time stamp information for the point of the conference session associated with the timeline thereof; and   associating the time stamp information with the annotation with the one or more processing devices, such that subsequent playback of the media will cause the annotation to be presented in accordance with the time stamp information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the annotation comprises receiving an annotation from a participant of the conference session; and further comprising receiving a list of recipients of the annotation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the list of recipients is limited to the participant such that the annotation is a private annotation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the annotation comprises receiving the annotation from a presenter of the conference session; and further comprising receiving instructions to present the annotation to all participants of the conference session. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising generating a new media file including the media and the annotation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising recording the media onto a database. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein recording the media comprises recording video, audio, and textual information during the conference session. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein recording the media further comprises recording data items received from participants of the conference sessions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 accessing the media and the annotation on the database; and   playing the media and presenting the annotation at the point of the timeline identified in the time stamp information thereof.   
     
     
         20 . A method for providing an interactive conference session over a network, the method comprising:
 recording video, audio, and textual information presented during a conference session with one or more processing devices onto a database;   recording data items received from participants of the conference session with the one or more processing devices onto the database;   recording annotations received from the participants of the conference session with the one or more processing devices onto the database;   providing playback functionality for the conference session including the video, audio, textual information, data items, and available annotations therefor.