MXPA97007860A - Method and apparatus to pause and resume a signal in v - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for teleconferencing where a user is able to pause temporarily and subsequently re-join the conference in real time, without losing any data. The system includes an audio reception device, an audio output device, a compression device, a storage device and a pause feature. A controller regulates the flow of data between the components. The system operates in a first mode, where audio output is received and sent, a second mode where the output is paused and the received audio is sent to storage, and a third mode in which the audio data is sent from the storage to send output until the storage device is empty

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PAUSING AND RESUMING A LIVE SPEAKING SIGNAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lt - Field of the Invention The present invention relates to audio data processing and in particular to methods and apparatus for controlling the flow of audio data during teleconference. 2.- Description of the Related Art Teleconferencing systems that allow multiple users to participate in a conference are well known in the art. The present technology allows large numbers of participants to get involved in conference calls. When the number of people in a conference call is large, not everyone can actively participate. Therefore, many users spend their great proportion of time listening to others talking. Because they do not actively participate, those who listen may wish to accomplish other tasks that may require talking to someone else or leaving the room. With the systems currently available, this activity would cause the user to lose at least a portion of the conference call. The currently available systems allow a participant to leave the conference call completely or lower the volume and can give specific portions of the call. 1 REF: 25248 Known systems do not allow a user to temporarily leave and return to, a conference call, without losing any portion of it. COMPENDI EP The invention The present invention solves the above problems by providing a teleconference system and method that allows a user to pause without losing anything of the conversation. A pause feature can be activated to allow a user to temporarily leave a teleconference. The pause feature can be released, allowing the user to resume their participation in the conference in real time without losing any of the conversation. The system includes an audio receiving device that receives audio signals and the audio output device that outputs audio signals. A storage device stores the audio signals received by the audio receiving device as audio data. A controller regulates the flow of information between the audio reception device, the output device, and the storage device. The controller includes a direct audio device that allows the systems to operate in a first mode in which audio feed signals are sent from the audio receiving device to the audio output device. Activation of the pause feature causes the system to operate in a second mode where the operation of the audio output device is paused and all audio power is sent to the storage device. Finally, the release of the pause feature allows the system to operate in a third mode where the storage device sends stored audio data to the output device at a first speed and causes the audio feed device to send data to the device storage at a second speed. The first speed is faster than the second speed so that the storage device can be emptied and the operation of the direct audio device resumed. Through the structure described above, the user is able to temporarily exit the teleconference call. When returning to the call, the user can excuse any conversation that has taken place since the user left. The conversation is played at a fast speed, thus allowing the user to resume participation in teleconference in real time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in detail by referring to the following drawings in which like reference numbers refer to like elements and wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a total configuration of the tele-ionization system; Figure 2 (a) is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a user terminal of the present invention and Figure 2 (b) is a block diagram illustrating the central terminal of a first embodiment; Figure 3 (a) is a block diagram illustrating a user terminal of a second embodiment of the invention and Figure 3 (b) is a block diagram illustrating a central terminal of the second embodiment; Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method applicable to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a first method applicable to the apparatus of the second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a second method applicable to the apparatus of the second embodiment. DESCRIPTION PETAT-T-ADA OF SUCH PREFERRED MODALITIES Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of a teleconferencing telephone communication system. 100 single client terminals? up to 100"are the Sentral 600 somunisation terminal through the 300 network. The audio data from one of the olun somunisation terminals is transferred to the sentral 600 somunisation terminal. After the audio data is processed In this case, the central communication terminal 600 sends appropriate audio signals to each of the communications terminals of the 600th wavelender. The forward movement mixes the audio data in such a way that each client terminal receives all the audio data. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the pause feature is completely violated within the user's mouth 100 as illustrated in Figure 2 (a). When a user wishes to temporarily leave the conference, a pause characterization can be activated through the use of the pause device 141 of the user interface 140. Additional features that can be provided by the user interface 140 include jumping backwards. 142, and braking 143. The particular user interface can be any known user interface, including but not limited to a tone-based interface or a graphical user-interface based on a PC-computer, such as a mouse, a screen or a screen sensitive to tasto. The graphical user interface can graphically illustrate additional information, such as the sorptive position within the speech segments, including bosin, speech velocity and the like. For example, the interface could include a search engine of the network. The user terminal 100 optionally includes an audio sampling device 155 for capturing user audio and an audio output and an audio and playback output device 145 for supplying audio output to the user. The audio capture device 155 may be any convensional device for sound sensing of digital audio data. The audio playback device can also be any sonorous device for reproducing digital audio data. An audio receiving device 105 receives audio data from a remote terminal such as the central terminal 600. The sending device 165 directs audio data to the remote terminal. In the first embodiment of the invention, the user console 100 sompresses a sompression device 115 (typically, a time-based device, as it is well known in the tisane)). Which is operable to compress audio data supported by the audio reselection device 105. The compressed data can be stored in the storage device 125. Compression device 115 is capable of compressing speech by up to a factor of two while remaining intelligible . Algorithms for time-based compression that resemble speech volatility without changing their pace are sonographed in the speech registration form but have not previously been used in the face of interactive live speech.

The preferensia 125 mashing device is a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer. The buffer has sufficient space to store compressed speech during the in-pause mode upon activation of the pause activating device 141. This type of buffer allows the first bit of data read in memory to the first bit of data read from the memory . The output data from the buffer is faster because it is compressed. The controller 120 regulates the operation of the pause feature by scanning the interassion between the various somatics of the user terminal 100. The controller 120 can be implemented as a simple special purpose integrated circuit (e.g. ASIC) having a prosser section sentral or prinsipal for total system level sontrol, and separated sirsuitos dedisados to perform different salsulos, funsiones and other specific specific prosesos, under control of sentral prosecutor sesion. It will be expedited by those who are skilled in the specificity that the controller can also be implemented using a plurality of circuits or integrated electronic devices or other programmable separate disks. The driver can also be implemented using a convenient, scheduled general-purpose computer, for example a microprocessor, microstrider, or other device processor (CPU or MPU) either alone or together are one or more peripheral signal and dataprocessing devices. In general, any device or assembly can be used to supplement the flow chart illustrated in Figures 4 to 6. The sentral terminal is illustrated in Figure 2 (b) and includes a sentral audio reseptor device 605, a sonometer. 620 for monitoring the audio data mixing and an output device 650 for sending mixed audio data to the smear terminals 100. During normal operation, the audio reselection device 105 receives an audio signal a from an external source such as the central terminal 600. The signal is then sent directly to the output and playback device 145. However, during the pause operation, the controller 120 diverts the received audio signal, such that after being received by the receiving device 105, the audio signal is sent to the boosting device 115. The sompressed signal is then sent to the mastering device 125. When the user of nu evo deside to participate in the conversion, the user dismantles the pause device 141. Subsequently, data of the massaging device 125 are directed to the audio output device. The data is sent out in its squeezed form to a higher velocity that is supported by the reception device 105. The output is sent to the reprodussing and audio output device 145, so that the user can essushar the portions of the conference for which he was absent at an accelerated speed. When the user participates in the conference to feed audio data, the audio recording device 155 receives the user's data and sends it as an appropriate signal through the sending device 165. Figure 4 illustrates the complete method for implementing the first embodiment of the invention. The invention methods are based on the astivation or liberation of the pause device 141. The method of operating the apparatus described above involves three different modes. All three modes for the first mode are illustrated in Figure 4. The first mode or normal operating mode is the direst transmission mode. In this mode, the sentral terminal 600 sends the audio signal in SIO.

At S20, the terminal of the windpipe resides these signals. In S25, the sonometer determines whether the pause sarasteristisa has been astivated. If the sarasteristisa has not been astivated, the process goes to S30. At S30, the audio signals are transmitted directly to the playback device and the output device 145. The second operating mode occurs before pause activation. During the second mode it is considered that the client continues to receive audio data. In this mode, in SIO, the central terminal 600 sends audio data. At S20, the client terminal 100 receives audio data. Because the pause feature has been superelevated, S25 is terminated, the controller 120 at the client terminal 100 directs the audio data fed to the compressor 115 in step S110. In S120, the compressed audio data is stored in the storage device 125. This mode continues until the pause indicator is released as determined in S125. The third mode starts when the pause sounder is released in S125. During the third mode it is considered that the tooth is receiving audio data. In the first mode, the smelling terminal 100 continues to receive audio data, or first audio data in S130 and to the data in S150, in the massaging device 125. Simultaneously, in S150, data of the massaging device is sent. to the reprodussing and output device 145. In S153, it may be convenient to direct the audio to the squeezer 115 instead of performing disha pressure during S110. In S155, the determination is made if the kneading device is empty. If the masking device is empty, the first mode of operation is resumed and the received data is sent out at S160. In other words, the client terminal 100 receives audio data and sends it directly to the output device 135 as illustrated in steps S20 and S30.

However, if the storage device 125 is not empty, "the client terminal 100 continues to receive and compress data and performs steps S130 to S150 In a second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 3, The teleconferencing system can be controlled in a more central location.This can be achieved by providing the control, storage and compression devices on the teleconference bridge.Optionally, the pass characterization can be provided as a separate service in a satellite network ( LAN) Figure 3 (a) illustrates the user terminal of the second embodiment and Figure 3 (b) illustrates the central terminal shell 500 of the second embodiment.The user terminal 200 includes a user interface 240 which is similar to that of the first mode When a user wishes to temporarily leave the conference, a pause device 241 in the user interface 240 can astivate Additional features that can be provided at the user interface 240 include jump back to 242, and braking 243. The audio capture device 255 user audio sampler and a playback device and audio output 245 provides audio output to the user. An audio reselection device 205 listens to audio data from a remote terminal. The sending device 265 sends audio data to the remote terminal. A controller 220 can control the interassión-between the various somponents. The second mode differs from the first mode since it is not necessary for the user terminal to have compression or mashing devices. These sarasteristisas are insorporated in the sentral terminal. The formerly stressed somponents of the second embodiment can be substantially similar to those described above in relation to the first embodiment. The central terminal 500 includes a central audio receiving device 505 for receiving audio data from each of the client terminals 200. A controller 520 selectively mixes the audio data and a central terminal output device and the S545 transmitter. sends the mixed audio data back to the client terminal. In this embodiment, the central terminal 500 includes the storage device 525 and the compression device 515. The structure of these devices is substantially similar to that previously discussed, they are relasion to the first embodiment. The sonder 520 can display any of the devices previously referred to as being the first dessrita mode. Likewise, the receiver and transmitter devices can be any of those are skill in espesiality.

In a first method to implement the second modality, for each participant 200 ,. the controller 520 of the central terminal 500 provides the audio data mixing of all the nostril terminals, exsept of the audio data of the olfactory terminal 200-,. The sentral terminal 500 then returns the resulting mixed audio data to the client socket 200 ,. for reprodussión. In this way, the client processor 200j. It has mixed audio data that corresponds to the audio data of all the participants of the ex-ante telephony for its own audio data. The sentral terminal 500 receives not only audio data but also specific instruction signals from the client terminal. When the central terminal receives the instruction to pause the scent terminal, the sentral terminal squeezes the mixed audio data for the particle scent terminal with the squeezing device 515 and transfers them to the sludge device 525 (these two steps can be performed in any order). The data is continuously routed through the compression device 515 to the storage device 525, until the pause release instrussion is received by the sentral terminal 500. When the pause release instrussion is resguarded, the data of the massaging device 525 is directed by the controller 520 directly to the transmission device 545. Mixed data continue to be fed through the pressurizing device 515 and the mashing device 525 until the massaging device is discharged. As explained above, the preferensia scrambling device is a FIFO buffer. The data is resumed from the device more quickly than is supported by the device. Possibly, in the diressión of the sontrolador 520, the sonder of the mashing device 525 would eventually leak. When the storage device 525 is emptied, the sonder 520 again directs the mixed audio data to the transmission device 545 directly, for return to the terminal of the solid spring. In this mode, the terminals of the windpipe do not require to have the data masking capacity such as those previously described. However, the terminals of the client must have the user interface 240 to give instrussions to send to the sentral terminal 500. The necessary satellite signals of the client terminal include a user interface 240, audio capture device 255, playback and audio output 245, controller 220, sending device 265 and receiving device 205.

These components are substantially similar to those described above and referred to the first embodiment.

The user operates the device of the second modality exatamente- in the same way as in the first modality. However, user instrusions are sent to the central terminal instead of being processed within the user terminal itself. In a first method for implementing the apparatus from the second embodiment, the first mode similar to the first mode of the first embodiment of the invention. With the experience of Figure 5 the client terminal sends audio signal in S405, the central terminal 500 receives audio data from each client terminal. The controller 520 causes the audio data to be mixed in S410. The data is mixed in such a way that each user receives data from all other users but does not receive data sent from that user's terminal. In S415, the process determines whether pause has been activated. Subsequently, if the pause has not been activated, the mixed data is sent out to the user in S420. The second mode according to this method starts when the pause features are determined as determined at S415, and after the data from the terminal terminals are set at the sentral terminal 500 at S410. Subsequently, the sentral terminal 500 somprime the data in S425 and store the data in the mashing device 525 in S430. These steps are continued until it has been determined that the pause has been released in S435. In accordance with this, no data is sent to the client terminals 100. By releasing the pause sarasteristy, as determined in S435, the central terminal 500 continues to compress in S440, and stores the mixed audio data in S445. In S450, the central terminal sends the stored data to the client through the output device 545. In S453, it may be convenient to direct the audio to the compressor 115 instead of performing said compression during S425. In S455, the controller determines if the massaging device 525 is empty. If the storage device 525 is empty, the first mode resumes and the sentral terminal 500 sends mixed data directly to the sensor terminals 200. The output data of audio then play back in S450, at their original speed as soon as they are received and mixed. However, if the storage device 525 is not empty, the central terminal continues to compress and store data and repeat the steps S410 to S425, until the massaging device is discharged. An alternate method may be used is the estrustura of the second modality. This method is illustrated in Figure 6. In the alternate method, the second and terser operating modes differ from those of the first method. The audio data sent in S700 is saved in S705 of each terminal of the antenna. If in S715 the pause characteristic has not been exploded, the data is mixed in S720 and output in S725. If in S715 the pause properties have been acquired, the data is compressed in S730 and stored in S735. The data is stored in S735 before mixing. Through the use of this method, storage space is saved if multiple users activate the pause feature. Instead of saving mixed audio packages per user, the data from the terminal's data entry is saved only once. The second pause astivation mode is continued until it is determined in S740 that pause has been released. The input signals are then squeezed into S745 and soured in S750. Simultaneously, the massed data is mixed in S755 and output in S760. This process continues until it is determined that the massaging device is large in S765. When the mastering device is empty, the first operating mode is resumed. Additional opps that may be available in all embodiments include reverse skip modes and braking mode, which can be selected by the user through the user interface. These modes can be complemented by the apparatus described above with the addition of the jump-back and braking controls at the user interface. The jump back control will allow the user to listen to data already played. The braking mode will allow slow transmission to the ideal playback device. Both of these modules can be used either during the live conference or when the speech is previously recorded. The concept of implementing the recovery storage system in a sentral terminal can be incorporated in two ways. The sentral terminal can be a local area network (LAN) terminal where the teleservice time machine features will be available to the user by subscripting. In this mode, the user will choose the service through the user interface to send and will be provided with these services only if the user has previously subscribed. Alternatively, the central terminal can be located on a teleconference bridge. To configure the conferensia, the user of sada station marsa a telephone number unison of the bridge of sonferensia. The bridge of response answers each incoming call to add that call to the conferensia. The present invention is not limited to the modalities described above. Various modifications and alterations are possible. Various devices within the system can be combined or modified, provided that the combination of somponents forms the desired result. It is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations for the specific modalities will be apparent to those who are skilled in espesiality. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention are stable here, and are intended to be non-limiting illustrative. Various changes can be practiced without departing from the alsanse of the invention as defined in the following claims. It should be noted that in relation to this date, the best method conosido by the applicant to bring to the prststisa the cited invention, is the one that is slaro of the present disintegration of the invention. Having described the antecedent somo invention, it is claimed that this is the case in the following:

Claims (24)

1. CLAIMS 1. System that allows a user to pause and resume a live speech signal, the system is characterized because it comprises: an audio reception device that receives audio signals; an audio output device that outputs audio signals; a compression device that compresses received audio signals; a storage device that stores audio signals; a pause activating device that provides that the audio output device stops sending at least a portion of the audio signals fed into the audio output device and provides that the audio signals are aligned by the scrambling device; and a pause release device that causes the storage device to send compressed audio signals to the audio output device at a first speed greater than a second speed at which the massaging device receives the audio signals, wherein the Audio output device resumes fully operation when the storage device is empty, so that the user is able to resume participation in real time without losing data.
2. 2. The teleconference system according to claim 1, characterized in that a user terminal houses the audio reselection device, the audio output device, the compression device and the masking device, and the user terminal furthermore, a controller "regulates the flow of information between the audio resection device, the audio output device, and the massaging device
3. 3. The system of telephony of soundness with claim 1, sarasterized because it also comprises A mechanism for adjusting speed that allows adjustment of the first speed
4. 4.- The teleconference system of sonformity is the reivindisasión 1, sarasterizado because the first velocity can be adjusted to two veses the second speed
5. 5.- The teleconferensia system of sonformity with the claim 1, sarasterized because the massaging device somprende a buffer the first to enter and the first to leave.
6. 6. The system of telesonferensia of sonformidad are the reivindisasíón 1, sarasterizado because in addition somprende a graphical interface of user to allow astivación and liberation of the device of activation and liberation of the device of astivasión of pause.
7. 7. The system of telephony telephony is the claim 1, characterized in that a central terminal in a teleconference bridge houses the audio resection device, the audio output device and the masking device and also comprises a controller that regulates the flow of information between the audio reception device, the audio output device and the storage device.
8. 8. The teleconference system of sonification is the claim 7, sarasterized because the sentral terminal resides audio data from at least two user terminals and the sentral terminal also somprende a device that mixes audio data from the user terminals.
9. 9.- A multi-mode satellite-based telesonferensia system because it includes: means of receiving audio to receive audio signals fed; audio output means for sending audio signals output; means for mixing multiple audio signals; storage media to store audio signals as audio data; means for operating in a first mode, the first mode comprising receiving audio signals and sending the audio signals to the audio output device; means for operating in a second mode, the second mode appears to pause the sending of audio signals from the audio output device and to store the audio signals supported by the audio reselection device as audio data; and means to operate in a third mode, the third mode comprises sending stored audio data to the audio output device at a first speed and sending audio signals to the output device at a second speed, wherein the first speed is faster than the second speed, such that that the storage device can be emptied and resumed to the operation of the first mode.
10. 10. The teleconference system of sonicity with claim 9, characterized in that it additionally absorbs a speed adjustment means for adjusting the first speed.
11. 11. The teleconference system according to claim 10, characterized in that the velocity adjustment means can adjust the first velocity to a maximum of approximately twice the second velocity.
12. 12. The system of telephony telephony is the claim 9, which is sarasterized because the massaging device assumes a first-in-the-first-in-exit buffer.
13. 13. The system of telephony telephony is claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises a graphical user interface.
14. 14.- The system of teleconferensia of sonformidad are the reivindisasión 9, sarasterizado because a sentral terminal in a bridge of telesonferensia lodges the device of resepsión of audio, the device of audio exit and the device of massacre and also somprende a sontrolador that regulates the flow of information between the audio resection device, the audio output device and the massaging device.
15. 15. - The teleconference system of sonification is the claim 14, characterized in that the central terminal receives audio data from at least two user terminals and the central terminal further comprises a device that mixes audio data from the user terminals.
16. 16. The teleconference system of sonification is the claim 9, characterized in that a user terminal houses the audio reception device, the audio output device and the storage device, and the user terminal further comprises a controller that regulates the flow of information between the audio reception device, the audio output device and the masking device.
17. 17.- A teleconference method to use a teleconferencing system, the method is superficially understood: operate in a first mode, the first mode offers audio signals, is an audio resection device and directs audio signals to a device audio output; operating in a second mode which pauses the sending of signals direstly to the audio output device and masking audio signals received by the audio reception device as audio signals in a massaging device; and operating in a third mode, it is necessary to send audio data to the audio output device at a first velocity and send data to the storage device at a second speed, where the first velocity is greater than the second velocity, in such a way that the kneading device can be emptied and the operation of the first mode resumed.
18. 18. The method of teleconferensia of sonformidad are the reivindisasión 17, sarasterizado because also comprises the stage of adjusting the first speed are a mesanismo of adjustment of speed.
19. 19. The teleconference method according to claim 17, which is sarastered because it is also necessary to adjust the first velocity to twice the second velocity.
20. 20. The teleconference method according to claim 17, characterized in that the step of providing a first-in-entering-first-out buffer is also performed by the massaging device.
21. 21.- The method of sonsonferensia of sonformidad are the reivindisasión 17, sarasterizado because in addition somprende provide a graphical interface of user.
22. 22. The telesonferensia method according to claim 17, characterized in that it is also necessary to provide a sentral terminal to a teleconference bridge to house the audio reception device, the audio output device and the storage device and also provide a sonometer that regulates flow information between the audio resection device, the audio output device and the massaging device.
23. 23. The method of telephony of sonification is claim 22, characterized in that the central terminal receives audio data from at least two user terminals and the central terminal further comprises a device that mixes the audio data of the user terminals.
24. 24. The teleconference method according to claim 17, characterized in that it is necessary to provide a user terminal for housing the audio reselection device, the audio output device and the storage device and the user terminal also comprises a son controller that regulates the flow of information between the audio reception device, the audio output device and the storage device.