U.S. patent application number 16/903080 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-15 for real-time automatic meeting room reservation based on the number of actual participants.
This patent application is currently assigned to Crestron Electronics Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Crestron Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Adam Hanson, Daniel Jackson, Toine Leerentveld, Glen Marianko, Ara Seferian.
Application Number | 20200327462 16/903080 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004897100 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-15 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200327462 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marianko; Glen ; et
al. |
October 15, 2020 |
Real-time Automatic Meeting Room Reservation Based on the Number of
Actual Participants
Abstract
System and method for scheduling a meeting room includes
accepting information defining a meeting type, which is associated
with at least one preset resources. The method further includes
displaying at least one preset parameter based on the meeting type
including email address of attendees, receiving preset information
from the at least one displayed preset parameter, automatically
identifying and reserving a first room that is associated with a
maximum capacity number by communicating with a scheduling server
the availability of the at least one preset resources based on the
received preset information, notifying the organizer of the first
room, detecting a number of attendees physically presence in the
first room during an attendance time period by utilizing at least
one sensor, and sending at least one command to control at least
one of the associated preset resources in response to a start time
and end time.
Inventors: |
Marianko; Glen; (Teaneck,
NJ) ; Seferian; Ara; (River Vale, NJ) ;
Leerentveld; Toine; (Keyport, NL) ; Jackson;
Daniel; (Valhalla, NY) ; Hanson; Adam;
(Warwick, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Crestron Electronics Inc. |
Rockleigh |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Crestron Electronics Inc.
Rockleigh
NJ
|
Family ID: |
1000004897100 |
Appl. No.: |
16/903080 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15054192 |
Feb 26, 2016 |
10692020 |
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16903080 |
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13564516 |
Aug 1, 2012 |
9294723 |
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15054192 |
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13097276 |
Apr 29, 2011 |
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13564516 |
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62134104 |
Mar 17, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/15 20130101; G06Q
10/02 20130101; H04L 67/10 20130101; H04L 65/1069 20130101; H04L
65/4038 20130101; H04N 7/147 20130101; H04L 12/1818 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/02 20060101
G06Q010/02; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08; H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06; H04N 7/14 20060101 H04N007/14; H04L 12/18 20060101
H04L012/18; H04N 7/15 20060101 H04N007/15 |
Claims
1. A method for scheduling a meeting room, comprising: (a)
accepting information defining a meeting type, the meeting type
being associated with at least one preset resources including a
presentation capture device; (b) displaying at least one preset
parameter based on the meeting type, the at least one preset
parameter including at least one email address for each of a
plurality of attendees; (c) receiving preset information from the
at least one displayed preset parameter, the preset information
including a start time, an end time, and a number of attendees
invited by an organizer; (d) automatically identifying and
reserving a first room that is associated with a maximum capacity
number by communicating with a scheduling server the availability
of the at least one preset resources based on the received preset
information; (e) notifying the organizer of the first room; (f)
detecting a number of attendees physically presence in the first
room during an attendance time period by utilizing at least one
sensor, wherein the attendance time period is a configurable time
period; (g) sending at least one command to control at least one of
the associated preset resources in response to the start time and
end time, wherein the at least one preset parameter includes a
recording profile, the preset information includes a preconfigured
recording profile, the preconfigured recording profile includes at
least one AV workflow function, the at least one AV workflow
function includes an encoding profile, and the encoding profile
includes a video CODEC preset parameter, a resolution preset
parameter and a video bitrate preset parameter; and (h) if the
number of detected attendees physically present in the first room
exceeds or is less than the first room maximum capacity number by a
configurable tolerance number, identifying a second room in
real-time based on the preset information, wherein the second room
is associated with a maximum capacity number, and (i) if the second
room is available, notifying the organizer of the availability of
the second room and requesting an acceptance or rejection of the
second room, and receiving a response from the organizer as to the
acceptance or rejection of the second room, and (1) if the
organizer accepts the second room, reserving the second room and
canceling the first room, and notifying the organizer that the
second room has been reserved and that the first room has been
cancelled, and (2) if the organizer rejects the second room,
maintaining the reservation of the first room, and notifying the
organizer that the reservation of the first room has been
maintained; and (ii) if the second room is not available, notifying
the organizer that there are no other alternative rooms.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurable tolerance number
is set by the organizer.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configurable tolerance number
is five more or five less than the first room maximum capacity
number.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the second room in
real-time based on the preset information includes matching as
close as possible the second room maximum capacity number to the
detected invitees.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the maximum capacity
number of the first room and second room is a maximum number of
seats available in each room, respectively.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of attendees invited
by the organizer is the number of attendees accepting a meeting
invite.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the attendance time period is a
configurable time period that can begin prior to a start of a
meeting time and end after the start of the meeting time.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the configurable time period is
five minutes prior to the start time and five minutes after the
start time.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes
at least one of the following: thermal images, facial recognition,
optical sensor, global positioning system, and pressure sensor.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically identifying and
reserving a first room that is associated with a maximum capacity
number includes matching as close as possible the first room
maximum capacity number to the number of attendees invited by the
organizer.
11. A system to schedule a meeting room, comprising: (a) at least
one processor; (b) a memory; (c) at least one data storage device
operably associated with the memory and the at least one processor;
(d) at least one communication interface operably associated with
the at least one processor and memory, the at least one
communication interface being configured to enable communication
between an information handling system and one or more user
communication devices; and (e) at least one program of instructions
stored in the memory and being executable in the processor, the
program of instructions being operable to, (i) automatically
identify and reserve a first room that is associated with a maximum
capacity number by communicating with a scheduling server the
availability of the at least one preset resources based on the
received preset information; (ii) detect a number of attendees
physically present in the first room during an attendance time
period by utilizing at least one sensor, and (iii) if the number of
detected attendees physically present in the first room exceeds or
is less than the first room maximum capacity number by a
configurable tolerance number, identify a second room in real-time
based on the preset information, wherein the second room is
associated with a maximum capacity number, and wherein the
attendance time period is a configurable time period, and wherein
the configurable tolerance number is set by the organizer.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the program of
instructions is further operable to-- (i) accept information
defining a meeting type, the meeting type being associated with at
least one preset resources including a presentation capture device;
(ii) display at least one preset parameter based on the meeting
type, the at least one preset parameter including at least one
email address for each of a plurality of attendees; (iii) receive
preset information from the at least one displayed preset
parameter, the preset information including a start time, an end
time, and a number of attendees invited by an organizer; (iv)
notify the organizer of the first room; and (v) send at least one
command to control at least one of the associated preset resources
in response to the start time and end time, wherein the at least
one preset parameter includes a recording profile, the preset
information includes a preconfigured recording profile, the
preconfigured recording profile includes at least one AV workflow
function, the at least one AV workflow function includes an
encoding profile, and the encoding profile includes a video CODEC
preset parameter, a resolution preset parameter and a video bitrate
preset parameter.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one program of
instructions is further operable to (a) if the number of detected
attendees physically present in the first room exceeds or is less
than the first room maximum capacity number by a configurable
tolerance number, identify a second room in real-time based on the
preset information, wherein the second room is associated with a
maximum capacity number, and (i) if the second room is available,
notifying the organizer of the availability of the second room and
requesting an acceptance or rejection of the second room, and
receiving a response from the organizer as to the acceptance or
rejection of the second room, and (1) if the organizer accepts the
second room, reserving the second room and canceling the first
room, and notifying the organizer that the second room has been
reserved and that the first room has been cancelled, and (2) if the
organizer rejects the second room, maintaining the reservation of
the first room, and notifying the organizer that the reservation of
the first room has been maintained, and (2) if the second room is
not available, notifying the organizer that there are no other
alternative rooms.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the configurable tolerance
number is five more or five less than the first room maximum
capacity number.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein identifying the second room in
real-time based on the preset information includes matching as
close as possible the second room maximum capacity number to the
detected invitees.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the maximum capacity
number of the first room and second room is a maximum number of
seats available in each room, respectively.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the number of attendees invited
by the organizer is the number of attendees accepting a meeting
invite.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the configurable time period
can begin prior to a start of a meeting time and can end after the
start of a meeting time.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the configurable time is about
five minutes prior to the start time and about five minutes after
the start time.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor
includes at least one of the following: thermal images, facial
recognition, optical sensor, global positioning system, and
pressure sensor.
21. The system of claim 11, wherein automatically identifying and
reserving a first room that is associated with a maximum capacity
number includes matching as close as possible the first room
maximum capacity number to the number of attendees invited by the
organizer.
22. A method for scheduling a meeting room, comprising: (a)
accepting information defining a meeting type, the meeting type
being associated with at least one preset resources including a
presentation capture device; (b) displaying at least one preset
parameter based on the meeting type, the at least one preset
parameter including at least one email address for each attendee of
a plurality of attendees; (c) receiving preset information from the
at least one displayed preset parameter, the preset information
including a start time, an end time, and a number of attendees
invited by an organizer; (d) automatically identifying and
reserving a first room that is associated with a maximum capacity
number by communicating with a scheduling server the availability
of the at least one preset resources based on the received preset
information; (e) notifying the organizer of the first room; and (f)
detecting a number of attendees physically presence in the first
room during an attendance time period by utilizing at least one
sensor; and (g) if the number of detected attendees physically
present in the first room exceeds or is less than the first room
maximum capacity number by a configurable tolerance number,
identifying a second room in real-time based on the preset
information, the second room is associated with a maximum capacity
number, wherein the attendance time period is a configurable time
period, and the configurable tolerance number is set by the
organizer.
23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising: (h)
sending at least one command to control at least one of the
associated preset resources in response to the start time and end
time, wherein the at least one preset parameter includes a
recording profile, the preset information includes a preconfigured
recording profile, the preconfigured recording profile includes at
least one AV workflow function, the at least one AV workflow
function includes an encoding profile, and the encoding profile
includes a video CODEC preset parameter, a resolution preset
parameter and a video bitrate preset parameter.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: (i) if the second
room is available, notifying the organizer of the availability of
the second room and requesting an acceptance or rejection of the
second room; (j) receiving a response from the organizer as to the
acceptance or rejection of the second room; (i) if the organizer
accepts the second room, reserving the second room and canceling
the first room and notifying the organizer that the second room has
been reserved and the cancellation of the first room; and (ii) if
the organizer rejects the second room, maintaining the reservation
of the first room and notifying the organizer that the reservation
of the first room is maintained; and (k) if the second room is not
available, notifying the organizer that there are no other
alternative rooms.
25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the configurable
tolerance number is about five more or about five less than the
first room maximum capacity number.
26. The method according to claim 22, wherein identifying the
second room in real-time based on the preset information includes
matching as close as possible the second room maximum capacity
number to the detected invitees.
27. The method according to claim 22, wherein each of the maximum
capacity number of the first room and second room is a maximum
number of seats available in each room, respectively.
28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the number of
attendees invited by the organizer is the number of attendees
accepting a meeting invite.
29. The method according to claim 22, wherein the attendance time
period is a configurable time period that can begin prior to a
start of a meeting time and end after the start of the meeting
time.
30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the configurable time
period is about five minutes prior to the start time and about five
minutes after the start time.
31. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one
sensor includes at least one of the following: thermal images,
facial recognition, optical sensor, global positioning system, and
pressure sensor.
32. The method according to claim 24, wherein automatically
identifying and reserving a first room that is associated with a
maximum capacity number includes matching as close as possible the
first room maximum capacity number to the number of attendees
invited by the organizer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to managing and
scheduling conference or meeting room. More particularly, but not
by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to a method, system
and computer program for automatically determining a conference
room based on the number of actual participants that are present in
the conference room in real-time.
Background Art
[0002] Recent years have seen advancement in collaborative
approaches and tools for online and offline meetings. However,
despite these advancements, there are still challenges that need to
be met when it comes to scheduling a conference or meeting room to
accommodate the number of participants. What is needed is a system
that can save a user time in finding an appropriate meeting room
that can accommodate the number of participants that were invited
to the meeting and be able to offer alternative conference room in
real-time as to the actual number of participants that show up to
the meeting room. Further, such meeting room has the capacity and
equipment necessary for the meeting.
[0003] Conventional meeting management systems exist that can
automatically schedule meetings for attendees. But such meeting
management systems lack intelligence for scheduling meeting rooms
for an appropriate number of attendees or participants. Basically,
after a time and day are chosen for the meeting, traditional
meeting management systems require the organizer to choose from a
list of available meeting rooms. One drawback to this method is
that the organizer may not know the size of the meeting room nor
the resources available for that particular meeting room. The
organizer may choose a meeting room that comfortable accommodates
four participants, but in reality, the organizer may have ten
participants. Another drawback to this method is that the organizer
may not have sufficient information about the resources available
in the rooms, such as seating capacity or the audio/visual
capability of each room, for instance. This means that when
selecting from available rooms to schedule, the organizer must try
and remember what rooms have which resources. This can be an error
prone process, particularly for a large enterprise having multiple
buildings in multiple jobsites, with multiple conference rooms per
building. Even with a list of the conference rooms and their
resources, the organizer who is attempting to reserve a room
through a traditional room resource management system still must
input the room into the system manually.
[0004] Another drawback to this method is that the organizer is
limited to being able to select only from those rooms and resources
that are available at the time he or she he scheduling the meeting,
which may not be the best utilization of the room and or resources.
Current room resource management system allows for rooms to be
utilized inefficiently, such as for example, when a large group of
people is forced to attempt to fit into a smaller meeting room
because a room more adequate to the group's size is reserved by a
smaller group (e.g., 40 people crammed into a 20 person conference
room). Such mistakes in room reservations are typically made
unknowingly, and there is believed to be no remedy for this within
today's room resource management systems without manual
interaction.
[0005] Employees are increasing working from home and going on
frequent trips. However, people can still attend meetings remotely
by phoning into the meeting from wherever they are--home,
traveling, or even from their cubicles or offices. Current room
resource management systems, however, only know the total number of
attendees of a scheduled meeting and have no way of determining
which meeting rooms are optimum for which groups, such that a large
room may be booked for a small number of attendees who will be
actually physically present at the meeting. This may leave another
meeting with a large number of attendees with legitimate needs for
a large room deprived from an optimum conference room.
[0006] Accordingly, it is the object of the present disclosure to
automatically determine a meeting room based on the number of
invitees and actual number of participants physically attending the
meeting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the embodiments is to substantially solve
at least the problems and/or disadvantages discussed above, and to
provide at least one or more of the advantages described below.
[0008] It is therefore a general aspect of the embodiments to
provide systems, methods, and computer programs for automatically
determining a conference room based on the number of actual
participants that are present in the conference room in real-time
that will obviate or minimize problems of the type previously
described.
[0009] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter.
[0010] Further features and advantages of the aspects of the
embodiments, as well as the structure and operation of the various
embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the
accompanying drawings. It is noted that the aspects of the
embodiments are not limited to the specific embodiments described
herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative
purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons
skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained
herein.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0011] Principles of the disclosure provide a method, system and
computer program for automatically determining a conference room
based on the number of actual participants that are present in the
conference room in real-time. For example, in a first aspect of the
disclosure, a system to schedule a meeting room comprises (i) at
least one processor, (ii) a memory, (iii) at least one data storage
device operably associated with the memory and the at least one
processor, and (iv) at least one communication interface operably
associated with the at least one processor and memory. The at least
one communication interface is configured to enable communication
between the information handling system and one or more user
communication devices. The system further comprises at least one
program of instructions stored in the memory and executable in the
processor. The program of instructions is being operable to (i)
accept information defining a meeting type. The meeting type is
associated with at least one preset resources including a
presentation capture device. The program of instructions further
operable to display at least one preset parameter based on the
meeting type including email address of attendees and receive
preset information from the at least one displayed preset
parameter. The preset information includes a start time, an end
time, and a number of attendees invited by an organizer. The
program of instructions further operable to automatically identify
and reserve a first room that is associated with a maximum capacity
number by communicating with a scheduling server the availability
of the preset resources based on the received preset information,
notify the organizer of the first room, detect a number of
attendees physically presence in the first room during an
attendance time period by utilizing at least one sensor, and send
at least one command to control at least one of the associated
preset resources in response to the start time and the end time.
The at least one preset parameter includes a recording profile. The
preset information includes a preconfigured recording profile. The
preconfigured recording profile includes at least one AV workflow
function. The at least one AV workflow function includes an
encoding profile. The encoding profile includes a video CODEC
preset parameter, a resolution preset parameter and a video bitrate
preset parameter.
[0012] In a second aspect, a method for scheduling a meeting room
comprises accepting information defining a meeting type. The
meeting type is associated with at least one preset resources
including a presentation capture device. The method further
includes displaying at least one preset parameter based on the
meeting type including email address of attendees, and receiving
preset information from the at least one displayed preset
parameter. The preset information includes a start time, an end
time, and a number of attendees invited by an organizer. The method
further includes automatically identifying and reserving a first
room that is associated with a maximum capacity number by
communicating with a scheduling server the availability of the at
least one preset resources based on the received preset
information, notifying the organizer of the first room, detecting a
number of attendees physically presence in the first room during an
attendance time period by utilizing at least one sensor, and
sending at least one command to control at least one of the
associated preset resources in response to the start time and the
end time. The at least one preset parameter includes a recording
profile. The preset information includes a preconfigured recording
profile. The preconfigured recording profile includes at least one
AV workflow function. The at least one AV workflow function
includes an encoding profile. The encoding profile includes a video
CODEC preset parameter, a resolution preset parameter and a video
bitrate preset parameter.
[0013] The present disclosure seeks to overcome or at least
ameliorate one or more of several problems, including but not
limited to: the ability to calculate the number of attendees in a
conference room in real-time and find an alternative conference
room to accommodate the number of attendees, if required.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram depicting a system
for managing, scheduling, and initiating conference room and
conference room resources based on preset information in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a plurality of
software engines and data storage areas for managing, scheduling,
and initiating conference room and conference room resources based
on preset information in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the system content
page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates another schematic diagram of the system
content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 12 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 13 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 14 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 15 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 16 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 17 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 18 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 19 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 20 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 21 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 22 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 23 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 24 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 25 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 26 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 27 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 28 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0042] FIG. 29 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 30 illustrates yet another schematic diagram of the
system content page in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 31 illustrates a flowchart of a meeting management
method including automated equipment setup in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0045] FIG. 32 illustrates a flowchart of a meeting management
method including automated equipment setup in accordance with
another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0046] FIG. 33 depicts a presentation capture device in operation
during a multimedia presentation, according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram depicting a system for
managing, scheduling and initiating a conference room and/or
conference room resources based on preset information in accordance
with an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0048] FIG. 35 shows a screen displaying a set of parameters in
accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0049] FIG. 36 shows a screen displaying a set of parameters in
accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0050] FIG. 37 shows a text notification page in accordance with an
embodiment of the disclosure.
[0051] FIG. 38 shows a registration page showing links to
preconfigure preset parameters in accordance with an embodiment of
the disclosure.
[0052] FIG. 39 depicts a setup menu showing the distribution
channel parameters which may be preconfigured for a recording
profile in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0053] FIG. 40 illustrates a setup menu showing the post-processing
parameters which may be preconfigured for a recording profile in
accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0054] FIG. 41 depicts a setup menu showing the encoding parameters
which may be preconfigured as part of a recording profile in
accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0055] FIG. 42 illustrates a flowchart for scheduling a meeting
room in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0056] FIG. 43 illustrates a flowchart for scheduling a meeting
room in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the
present disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS FOR THE MAJOR ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWING
[0057] The following is a list of the major elements in the
drawings in numerical order. [0058] 1 list of room content page
[0059] 2 camera [0060] 4 VCR [0061] 5 local computer [0062] 6
DVD/DVR [0063] 10 cassette disk player [0064] 14 blinds/drapes
[0065] 16 projector [0066] 18 storage device [0067] 20 software
engine [0068] 28 mobile telephone [0069] 31 personal digital
assistant [0070] 33 computer system [0071] 34 video
display/conferencing system [0072] 36 touch panel [0073] 37 laptop
computer [0074] 38 Ethernet [0075] 40 AV system processor [0076] 42
control system processor [0077] 44 telephone/speaker phone [0078]
46 presentation engine [0079] 48 projector screen [0080] 50
television [0081] 52 resource availability verification engine
[0082] 54 notification engine [0083] 56 control engine [0084] 60
availability data storage [0085] 62 resource data storage area
[0086] 66 user registration engine [0087] 68 preset association
engine [0088] 70 availability data engine [0089] 71 lighting system
device [0090] 72 heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system
device [0091] 73 security devices [0092] 74 sensor [0093] 76
resource request and reservation engine [0094] 78 name of the event
[0095] 80 location of the event [0096] 82 time zone [0097] 84 start
date/time of the event [0098] 86 end date/time of the event [0099]
88 recurrence [0100] 90 description of the event [0101] 100 system
[0102] 101 conference room [0103] 102 conference room resources
[0104] 104 communication network [0105] 105 processor [0106] 107
scheduling server [0107] 110 memory devices [0108] 115 data storage
area [0109] 120 communication interface [0110] 125 user
communication device [0111] 127 computer/information handling
system [0112] 130 type of conference [0113] 135 preset resources
[0114] 140 preset parameter [0115] 145 preset information [0116]
150 start time of a meeting [0117] 155 end time of a meeting [0118]
165 scheduling server [0119] 170 user/conference initiator [0120]
175 command to control the preset resources [0121] 190 discussion
meeting [0122] 195 presentation meeting [0123] 200 audio call
meeting [0124] 205 video call meeting [0125] 210 audio and video
call meeting [0126] 215 shared document file [0127] 220 phone
number [0128] 225 passcode [0129] 235 date of a conference [0130]
240 welcome message [0131] 245 image [0132] 263 audio/visual
equipment [0133] 265 audio system device [0134] 290 touch panel
[0135] 385 step of displaying at least one preset parameter [0136]
390 step of accepting information defining the conference type
[0137] 395 step of receiving preset information [0138] 400 step of
automatically determining a room [0139] 405 step of sending at
least one command [0140] 410 step of powering on/off [0141] 415
step of controlling at least one conference room device [0142] 420
step of communicating the at least one preset parameter [0143] 425
step of receiving the preset information [0144] 430 step of
monitoring and controlling conference room device [0145] 435
profile content page [0146] 440 general preference page [0147] 445
email content page [0148] 450 plug-in content page [0149] 455
user's first name [0150] 460 user's last name [0151] 465 preferred
theme [0152] 470 work hours [0153] 475 days [0154] 480 shared
documentation file [0155] 485 language preference [0156] 490 time
zone [0157] 495 email format [0158] 500 email address [0159] 505
sender's name [0160] 510 plug-ins [0161] 515 refresh rate [0162]
520 audible alert settings [0163] 525 instant message color [0164]
530 instant messaging [0165] 535 short messaging service [0166] 540
multimedia messaging service [0167] 545 email [0168] 550 overview
content page [0169] 555 first sub-content page [0170] 556 second
sub-content page [0171] 557 third sub-content page [0172] 558
fourth sub-content page [0173] 559 fifth sub-content page [0174]
560 sixth sub-content page [0175] 561 seventh sub-content page
[0176] 562 eighth sub-content page [0177] 565 conference room name
[0178] 570 severity level [0179] 575 issue message [0180] 580 time
and date stamp [0181] 590 help request content page [0182] 595
severity level [0183] 600 time/date stamp of the help request
[0184] 610 name of the device [0185] 615 help message [0186] 625
user's login name [0187] 635 the status of the conference room
device [0188] 640 a serial number of the device [0189] 645 an asset
tag of the device [0190] 650 a make of the device [0191] 655 a
model of the device [0192] 660 last date of serviced for the
conference room device 102 [0193] 665 online status [0194] 670
graphical load [0195] 675 humidity level [0196] 680 volume level
[0197] 685 temperature [0198] 690 error alert [0199] 695 screen
status [0200] 700 light indicator [0201] 705 mute indicator [0202]
710 lift indicator [0203] 715 power indicator [0204] 720 help alert
indicator [0205] 725 system power indicator [0206] 730 error
message [0207] 735 free busy status indicator [0208] 737 calendar
content page [0209] 738 event for the day [0210] 739 time [0211]
741 pop-up window [0212] 742 search feature [0213] 745 meeting type
of meeting [0214] 750 event type of meeting [0215] 751 welcome
message [0216] 752 image source [0217] 753 meeting type [0218] 754
shared document [0219] 780 shared documentation [0220] 785 phone
number [0221] 790 passcode [0222] 791 video number [0223] 792 room
web content page [0224] 793 people web content page [0225] 794
recurrence web content page [0226] 795 name of the meeting [0227]
796 location of the meeting [0228] 797 time zone [0229] 798 start
time/date [0230] 799 description of the event [0231] 800 webcam
[0232] 801 actions web content page [0233] 802 list of actions
[0234] 803 offset [0235] 804 rooms web content page [0236] 806
recurrence web content page [0237] 815 title [0238] 820 URL link
[0239] 830 drop down menu [0240] 835 power on/off button [0241]
1000 presentation capture device [0242] 1001 lecturer [0243] 1002
computer [0244] 1003 High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
connection [0245] 1004 wireless microphone [0246] 1005 video camera
[0247] 1006 digital sink [0248] 1007 Universal Serial Bus (USB)
memory stick [0249] 1008 ethernet connection [0250] 1010 media
server [0251] 1020 capture tab [0252] 1030 recording profile [0253]
1032 capture size [0254] 1034 notification preference [0255] 1036
text notification [0256] 1050 profile template [0257] 1051 profile
title [0258] 1052 profile description [0259] 1053 post processing
parameters [0260] 1054 encoding parameters [0261] 1055 distribution
method [0262] 1056 publish data to [0263] 1057 data public URL
[0264] 1058 publish media to [0265] 1059 NetConnectionURL [0266]
1060 post-processing template [0267] 1061 post-processing title
[0268] 1062 post-processing description [0269] 1063 watermark type
[0270] 1064 watermark image URL [0271] 1065 watermark text [0272]
1066 watermark position [0273] 1067 intro URL [0274] 1068 exit URL
[0275] 1070 encoding template [0276] 1071 encoding title [0277]
1072 encoding description [0278] 1073 container format [0279] 1074
video CODEC [0280] 1075 video resolution [0281] 1076 video bitrate
[0282] 1077 audio CODEC [0283] 1078 number of audio channels [0284]
1079 sampling frequency [0285] 1080 audio bitrate [0286] 1085 Step
of accepting information defining a meeting type [0287] 1090 Step
of displaying at least one preset parameter [0288] 1095 Step of
receiving preset information [0289] 1100 Step of automatically
identifying and reserve a first room [0290] 1105 Step of notifying
a conference initiator [0291] 1110 Step of detecting a number of
attendees [0292] 1115 Step of sending at least one command to
control at least one of the associated preset resources [0293] 1120
Step of determining if the number of detected attendees exceeds or
less than the first room maximum capacity number [0294] 1125 Step
of identifying a second room in real-time [0295] 1130 Step of
determining if the second room is available [0296] 1133 Step of
accepting or rejecting the second room [0297] 1134 Step of
maintaining the reservation of the first room and notifying the
organizer that the reservation of the first room is maintained
[0298] 1135 Step of notifying the conference initiator that there
are no alternative rooms [0299] 1140 Step of notifying the
organizer of the second room and cancel the first room [0300] 1150
Method for scheduling a meeting room [0301] 1155 Another method for
scheduling a meeting room [0302] 1160 Maximum number of
attendees
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention
[0303] The present disclosure relates to the ability to manage,
schedule, and initiate a conference room and/or conference room
resources. More specifically, a user or conference organizer is
able to schedule a conference room based on the type of meeting,
which corresponds to a host of conference room resources (e.g.,
audio visual (AV) resources and environmental systems). The user
170 is able to schedule a room globally and monitor, control, and
report conference room resources. The present disclosure provides
an efficient point-and-click interface and a simple "at-a-glance"
view of the entire control system network. Delivering both
real-time personal computer (PC) and web-based clients, the present
disclosure allows facility managers, users, media directors and
information technology (IT) specialists to have real-time control
and cross-platform accessibility in addition to true remote control
and helpdesk functionality.
[0304] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a system 100
for managing, scheduling, and initiating a conference room 101
and/or conference room resources 102 based on preset information
145 (e.g., FIG. 3) in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present disclosure. It should be noted that the exemplary
embodiment of system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be varied in one
or more aspects without departing from the spirit and scope of the
teachings disclosed herein.
[0305] The system 100 includes computer or information handling
system 127. The computer or information handling system 127
includes one or more processors 105. One or more memory devices 110
are operably coupled with the one or more processors 105. In
general operation, processor 105 and memory 110 cooperate to
execute and store, respectively, one or more instructions of a
program of instructions as well as perform other operations. As
will be further explained below, the computer information handling
system 127 is configured to send at least one command 175 to
control preset resources 135 once a conference room 101 with the
preset resources 135 is reserved.
[0306] Computer or information handling system 127, as illustrated
in FIG. 1, also includes one or more storage devices 18 operably
coupled to processor 105. Storage device 18 includes one or more
software engines 20 operable to enable the maintenance, management,
scheduling, initiating, publication, presentation, provision and/or
other data manipulation capability of resource availability and
reservation information as well as perform other operations.
Depending upon implementation, various aspects of teachings of the
present disclosure may be implemented in a single software engine
20, in a plurality of software engines 20, in one or more hardwired
components or in a combination of hardwired and software
systems.
[0307] In addition to one or more software engines 20, storage
device 18 also includes one or more data storage areas 115. Data
storage area 115 is operably associated with the memory device 110
and processor 105. Data storage area 115 of storage device 18 may
be leveraged to maintain data concerning the availability of one or
more resources maintained for reservation, descriptive information
concerning the one or more resources maintained for reservation,
preset information 145, preset parameters 140, as well as other
information pertinent to the management, maintenance, scheduling,
initiating, publication, presentation and/or provision of resource
availability and reservation information. Data storage area 115, or
portions thereof, may also be utilized to store myriad other
data.
[0308] Depending upon implementation, data storage device 18 may be
implemented within a computer or information handling system 127,
in a storage area network operably coupled to a computer or
information handling system 127, and/or in other storage media,
including removable media, compatible with and accessible by
computer or information handling system 127. In one embodiment, the
one or more software engines 20 and data storage areas 115
cooperate in the maintenance, management, scheduling, initiating,
publication, presentation, provision and/or other manipulation of
resource availability and reservation information, according to
teachings of the present disclosure.
[0309] Computer or information handling system 127 also includes
one or more communication interfaces 120. Communication interface
120 is operable to communicatively couple computer or information
handling system 127 with one or more user communication devices 125
via one or more communication networks 104. Communication interface
120 is operably associated with the processor 105 and memory 110.
Communication network 104 may be a personal area network, local
area network, metropolitan area network, wide area network, an
alternate network configuration or some combination of network
types and/or topologies.
[0310] Communication interface 120 enables communications with a
plurality of user communication devices 125 via communication
network 104. User communication devices 125, which may be leveraged
in accordance with teachings of the present disclosure include,
without limitation, mobile telephone 28, personal digital assistant
31, computer system 33, video display/conferencing system 34, touch
panel 36, laptop computer 37 as well as other communication enabled
devices.
[0311] Communication network 104 may include one or more gateway
devices (not expressly shown). User communication devices 28, 31,
33, 34, 36, 37 communicate with the gateway devices of
communication network 104 just as computer or information handling
system 127 communicates with the gateway devices. In this manner,
user communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37 may be in
selective communication with computer information handling system
127 via the gateway devices and communication network 104.
[0312] The gateways of communication network 104 preferably provide
user communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37 and computer or
information handling system 127 with an entrance to communication
network 104 and may include software and/or hardware components to
manage traffic entering and exiting communication network 104 and
conversion between the communication protocols used by user
communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, computer or
information handling system 127 and communication network 104. In
certain embodiments, the gateways of communication network 104 may
function as a proxy server and a firewall server for user
communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37 as well as computer or
information handling system 127. Further, the gateways may be
associated with a router (not expressly shown) operable to direct a
given packet of data that arrives at a gateway and a switch (not
expressly shown) operable to provide a communication path into and
out of each gateway.
[0313] In one embodiment, communication network 104 may be a public
switched telephone network (PSTN). In alternate embodiments,
communication network 104 may include a cable telephony network, an
IP (Internet Protocol) telephony network, a wireless network, a
hybrid Cable/PSTN network, a hybrid IP/PSTN network, a hybrid
wireless/PSTN network or any other suitable communication network
or combination of communication networks. In addition, other
network embodiments can be deployed with many variations in the
number and type of devices, communication networks, the
communication protocols, system topologies, and myriad other
details without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure.
[0314] In one embodiment, user communication devices 28, 31, 33,
34, 36, 37 may include a variety of forms of equipment connected to
communication network 104 and accessible to a user 170. User
communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37 may be, employ or
include telephones (wireline or wireless), dial-up modems, cable
modems, DSL (digital subscriber line) modems, phone sets, fax
equipment, answering machines, set-top boxes, televisions, POS
(point-of-sale) equipment, PBX (private branch exchange) systems,
personal computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants
(PDAs), SDRs, other nascent technologies, or any other appropriate
type or combination of communication equipment available to a user
170. User communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37 may be
equipped for connectivity to communication network via a PSTN,
DSLs, cable network, wireless network, or other communication
channel.
[0315] The AV control system processor 40 is connected to various
conference room devices 102 via a wire line or wireless connection.
The conference room devices 102 include various types of
audio/visual equipment 263. For example, audio/visual equipment 263
includes, but is not limited to, cameras 2, VCR 4, audio system
device 265, DVD/DVR 6, telephone 44, projector 16 and projector
screen 48, CD player 10, touch panel 290, one or more local
computers 5, cable television box (not shown), and television 50
such as plasma, liquid crystal display, light-emitting diode flat
panel, and cathode ray tube television.
[0316] The AV control system processor 40 may be a Crestron
2-Series Control system available from Crestron Electronics, Inc.
of Rockleigh, N.J. The Crestron 2-Series Control system provides a
complete integrated AV or automation solution. Every audio, video,
and environmental element of the conference room 101 becomes
integrated and accessible through the AV system processor 40.
[0317] Control system processor 42 is used control various devices,
for example, security devices 73 (e.g., door locks), lighting
system devices 71, blinds/drapes 14, Heating, Ventilating, and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) system devices 72, and sensors 74 such as
motion sensor.
[0318] The AV control system processor 40 and/or control system
processor 42 may include an Ethernet 38 for communication purposes
via the network 104.
[0319] The information handling system 127 communicates with a
scheduling server 107 to upload and/or download one or more aspects
of availability data associated with a resource to be maintained
for reservation. For example, a user 170 may upload or download
information concerning one or more resources from or to one or more
applications maintained by the user 170 on a local computer,
personal digital assistant, or other information handling system as
well from a user 170 maintained network site such as a web-based
calendaring application or another content site. Examples of
applications or utilities from which information may be uploaded or
to which information may be downloaded another, without limitation,
Microsoft Outlook.RTM., Yahoo! Calendar.RTM., Lotus Notes.RTM., as
well as other calendaring applications.
[0320] Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a collection of
software engines 20 and data storage areas 115 is shown according
to teachings of the present disclosure. As mentioned above, the
number of software engines 20 and data storage areas 22 may be
varied and, as such, the specific arrangement discussed herein is
presented primarily for descriptive purposes.
[0321] As illustrated in FIG. 2, data storage area 115 of data
storage device 18 may include one or more resource availability
data storage areas 60. Resource availability data storage area 60
includes data pertaining to times, dates or other information
concerning when a resource may be reserved. In one embodiment,
resource availability data storage area 60 may cooperate with other
data maintained in one or more data storage areas 115 as well as
one or more software engines 20. Data storage area 115 also
includes one or more resource data storage areas 62.
[0322] Resource data storage area 62 is operable to maintain data
concerning one or more aspects of information regarding a resource
maintained for reservation. In addition, data storage area 62 also
includes, for example, various preset parameters 140, preset
information 145, preset resources 135, and conference type 130. In
general, preset resources 135 are conference room devices 102 such
as video projector 16, CD player 10, touch panel 290, audio 265,
camera 7, DVD/DVR player 6, VCR 4, lighting system device 71, touch
panel 290, blinds/shades 14, HVAC system 72, security system 73,
sensor system 74, and local computer 5 (FIG. 1). In general, preset
parameters 140 (e.g., FIG. 3) are information related to the
meeting or conference. For example, preset parameters 140 could
include start and end time 150, 155 of the conference, meeting and
event types 745, 750, discussion 190, presentation 195, audio call
200, video call 205, audio and video call 210, shared documentation
780, phone number 785, passcode 790, and video number 791 (FIGS.
13, 15 and 19). These preset parameters 140 will be further
explained below. In general, preset information 145 is information
from the preset parameters 140 received from the user 170. For
example, preset information 145 is the actual time (i.e., 8:30 AM)
in response to the preset parameter 140 of the meeting start time
150. It should be understood that preset parameters 140, preset
information 145, preset resources 135, and conference type 130 may
include other data/information that is programmable depending upon
the various aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure. For
example, images, descriptive information, as well as other
information regarding a resource maintained for reservation may be
stored in resource data storage area 62. Further, resource data
storage area 62 includes information defining relationships between
resources, such as relationship details among preset resources 135
(e.g., FIG. 1), preset information 145 (e.g., FIG. 3), and preset
parameter 140 (e.g., FIG. 3). Additional information may be
maintained in resource data storage area 62 without departing from
the spirit and scope of teachings of the present disclosure.
[0323] Teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented or
effected using a variety of components and/or techniques. In an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more
software engines 20 may be leveraged in the maintenance,
management, scheduling, initiating, publication, presentation
and/or provision of preset resources availability and reservation
system. As such, according to teachings of the present disclosure,
one or more software engines 20 preferably associated with computer
or information handling system 127 cooperate to achieve and effect
teachings discussed herein.
[0324] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure may include user registration engine 66. User
registration engine 66 requires or requests a variety of data from
a user during a registration process. For example, requests for
data may include the user's name and password for registration
purposes. In addition to performing such conventional user
registration tasks as requiring or requesting a user to create a
user name and/or password, an embodiment of user registration
engine 66 employed by computer or information handling system 127
(FIG. 1) preferably requires or requests a registering resource
provider to submit availability data as to one or more resources
the resource provider desires to maintain for reservation. In
addition, user registration engine 66 may also request or require
that a resource provider submit information describing the one or
more resources to be maintained for reservation. Further, user
registration engine 66 may request or require that a resource
provider set desired access rights for resource requesters seeking
to view the resources maintained for reservation by the resource
provider.
[0325] Various other data may be gathered from a registering user
170 by a user registration engine 66 incorporating teachings of the
present disclosure. It should be noted that user registration
engine 66 may leverage one or more additional software engines 20
in the performance of the exemplary operations discussed above and
that in operations discussed, with respect to certain
circumstances, user registration engine 66 may be supplanted by
alternative software engine 20 functionality.
[0326] In addition to user registration engine 66, an example
embodiment of a system, method and software incorporating teachings
of the present disclosure also includes preset association engine
68. Preset association engine 68 provides preset parameters 140 to
be displayed and defines the association between the preset
resources 135 and the preset information 145 obtained by the user
from the preset parameters 140. For example, the information
handling system 127 displays a preset parameter 140 such as asking
for a conference type 130 and providing options such as a meeting
or an event type of conference. The user 170 seeking to make one or
more resources available for reservation may select, for example, a
meeting type 745. The preset association engine 68 associates the
meeting type (preset information 145) with a list of more preset
parameters 140 and/or resources (e.g., conference room devices
102). Once the user 170 chooses the type of conference 130, another
preset parameter 140 is requested for the user 170 to enter
additional preset information 145. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 15,
for example, if the user 170 chooses a meeting type 745, another
preset parameter 140 is prompted to request the user 170 to enter a
type of meeting type 745 such as discussion 190, presentation 195,
audio call 200, video call 205, or audio and video call 210. If the
user 170 chooses audio and video call 210, another preset parameter
140 of upload shared document 215 is requested of the user 170. The
preset association engine 68 may then associate the audio and video
call 210 with preset resources 135 (e.g., conference room devices
102). Referring to FIG. 1, in this example, the preset resources
135 are telephone 44, video projector 16, camera 2, and computer 5.
It should be understood that the preset resources 135 may be
altered depending upon the various aspects of the teachings of the
present disclosure.
[0327] Referring back to FIG. 2, the preset association engine 68
operates with an availability data engine 70 as well as other
software engines 20, to determine a conference room 101 that has
the required preset resources 135 for the audio and video call 210
and reserve such conference room 101. Each conference room (such as
conference room 101) is associated with a maximum number of
attendees 1160 (FIG. 9) that can fit in the conference room. The
availability data engine 70 also includes a synchronization
function that enable users to maintain coherency between a portable
or local calendaring utility or application and a publicly
accessible resource availability and reservation system.
Synchronization capabilities also include functionality operable to
resolve conflicts between a user's 170 calendaring utility and
availability scheduling maintained by the resource availability and
reservation system.
[0328] The software engine 20 also includes a presentation engine
46. In general, the presentation engine 46 may be leveraged in
association with one or more included software engines 20 and data
available in data storage area 115 to enable visual layout and
presentation structure of a management resource reservation,
real-time diagnostic and control content pages. For example,
presentation engine 46 may enable general content site presentation
of one or more resources maintained for 1) reservation, 2) preset
parameter 140, 3) real-time diagnostic, control, and monitor of
conference room devices 102, 4) one or more search features or
viewer customization presentation features, 5) user communication
device formatting, as well as other aspects of delivering resource
availability and reservation information to a viewer or registered
user 170 via a content site. FIG. 3 through FIG. 30, discussed
below, include embodiments of content pages whose presentation and
layout may be effected using one or more content presentation
engines such as presentation engine 46.
[0329] Software that produces the content pages of FIG. 3 through
FIG. 30 in conjunction with the information handling system 147 may
be RoomView available from Crestron Electronics, Inc. of Rockleigh,
N.J. RoomView is a powerful AV asset management software tool that
enables the user 170 to keep track of all rooms 101 in the
facility. While connected to each room 101, RoomView displays
system and projector power status, lamp life, alerts and other
vital statistics as will be further discussed below. This
graphic-rich interface empowers AV managers to intelligently manage
and support every room 101. Without RoomView, support staffs must
roam hallways to check room status, manually view and record
projector lamp life, provide in-person help to users 170, and turn
off systems one by one at the end of each day. From the main screen
of FIGS. 3-30, a user 170 can instantly see the status and vital
statistics of every room 101. For example, at a glance, the user
170 is able to determine projector lamp life and room occupancy. It
should be understood that the applications of FIGS. 3-30 are
completely customizable. The software application allows the user
170 to view and control any system attribute such as power, volume,
source, lights, and room temperature.
[0330] The system 100 is able to analyze data collected over time
and view the result in real-time. The system 100 logs every change
and the time at which it occurred. Determining room usage or most
common sources is easy with the built-in reporting tool. The system
100 also provides more effective technical support. From any room,
users 170 can call for help from a touch panel 290, keypad, or
other user interface. Help messages popup alerting technicians that
aid is needed. The help messages quickly provide assistance or
notify users 170 that help is on the way with a simple chat window
that is displayed on the touch panel 290.
[0331] In addition, the system 100 enables AV managers to take
complete control of any room, right from the help desk. A window
within the software displays a room's virtual touch panel 290.
Instead of having to run across campus, the system 100 provides
help within seconds remotely from anywhere on or off site with
increase response time and customer satisfaction with less
staff.
[0332] Sometimes the most difficult problems to troubleshoot are
the ones that cannot be seen.
[0333] The system 100 is able to monitor hundreds of rooms 101, for
example, if a projector 16 is overheating or a DVD player 6 is
randomly shutting off. Problems like these sometimes require hours
of time in the room. The system 100 also can send alerts via email,
IM, SMS, and other notification protocols. Such alerts can be that
knowing when a room is occupied and powered on or if a touch panel
290 was disconnected. The system 100 can monitor conference devices
102 such as time to replace projector lamps when they've reached
critical levels. IT specialist can get emails when users 170
request help, saving the back-and-forth trips to and from the help
desk. Built-in network connectivity provides instant status and
remote technical support, so the class or meeting is never
interrupted.
[0334] The software engine 20 also includes a resource request and
reservation management engine 76. In one embodiment, the resource
request and reservation management engine 76 is employed to monitor
and ensure compliance with reservation criteria established by the
providers of the resources available for reservation. Further,
resource request and reservation management engine 76 may be
employed to monitor and ensure compliance with one or more
reservation linking requirements requested by a provider of one or
more resources available for reservation. In addition, resource
request and reservation management engine 76 may, such as through
cooperation with notification engine 54, be operable to notify a
resource provider of a resource reservation request, to notify a
resource requester as to the status of a reservation request for a
selected resource, generate one or more meeting requests or
reminders indicative of the resource reservation, as well as
perform other tasks.
[0335] Resource availability verification engine 52 may also be
included in an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one aspect,
resource availability verification engine 52 may be used to perform
one or more checks on resources maintained for reservation to
ensure that postings regarding such resources accurately reflect
substantially current or up-to-date availability. In another
aspect, resource availability verification engine 52 may, upon
receipt of a resource reservation request, verify that a selected
resource remains available and has not been reserved in the interim
period between a posting of the selected resource's reservation
availability and the time when a user 170 makes or initiates a
reservation request process. Other operations and benefits may flow
from a resource availability verification engine incorporating
teachings of the present disclosure.
[0336] In addition to or in lieu of one or more software engines 20
discussed above, notification engine 54 may also be included in an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Notification engine
54, according to teachings of the present disclosure, may be
employed to provide real-time status information of resources in
each conference room 101 including the preset resources 135 such as
environmental resources and conference room devices 102. The
notification engine 54 may notify a resource requester or other
people such as IT specialist as to the status of the submitted
reservation requests and/or acknowledged reservations.
[0337] Notification engine 54 may also be leveraged to deliver
messages sent between various people such as a user 170 from one
conference room 101 to an IT specialist. For example, notification
engine 54 in cooperation with other engines 20 and information
handling system 127 may provide instant messaging service 530,
short messaging service 535, multimedia messaging service 540, or
email 545. It may be appreciated that other situations exist in
which a notification would be preferred or required. As such, a
variety of other notifications may be performed by notification
engine 54 included in an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the
teachings discussed herein.
[0338] The software engines 20 also include a control engine 56. In
general, the control engine 56 may be leveraged in association with
one or more included software engines 20 and data available in data
storage area 115 to send at least one command 175 to control the
associated preset resources 135 once the conference room 101 with
the preset resources 135 is reserved. Referring to FIG. 1, for
example, the control engine 56 sends a command 175 to control the
associated preset resources 135 in response to the start 150 and
end time 155 of the conference. The at least one command 175
includes a command to power on/off the video projector 16, CD
player 10, touch panel 290, audio 265, camera 2, DVD/DVR player 6,
and VCR 4. The at least one command 175 may also include a command
to display and power on/off or dim the lighting system device 71,
control the touch panel 290, raise/lower the blinds/shades 14,
power on/off or adjust the temperature of the HVAC system 72,
enable/disable the security system 73, power on/off or move the
sensor system 74, and power on/off local computer 5. Depending upon
implementation, other control commands 175 are contemplated by the
present disclosure.
[0339] A number of software engines 20 are discussed in reference
to FIG. 2. Such discussion is exemplary and not intended to be an
exhaustive listing of potentially useful capabilities. For example,
other engines may provide software and firmware updates, database
wide searching, pop-up, voice, and phone calls. One or more of the
software engines discussed above may be combined or divided and
additional software engines 20 may be included in an implementation
of the present disclosure. Further, the discussion of FIG. 3
through FIG. 30 may suggest a variety of additional software
engines 20 contemplated by the present disclosure.
[0340] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a profile content
page 435 for a system 100 for management of conference room preset.
The profile content page 435 includes at least three sub-content
pages 440, 445, 450. The first sub-content page 440 of the profile
content page 435 includes preset parameters 140 about the user 170
such as the user's first and last name 455, 460, preferred theme
465, work hours 470 and days 475, shared document file 480,
language preference 485, and time zone 490. When the user 170
selects a particular preset parameter 140, there may be one or more
options for the user 170 to further select. For example, when a
user 170 selects the language preference 485, there may present
further selections such as English, Chinese, French, or Spanish.
The user's selection, for example, English, is the preset
information 145. Moreover, user 170 selection of a particular
preset parameter 140 may leverage one or more aspects of the preset
association engine 68, availability data engine 70, presentation
engine 46, and/or one or more other software engines 20 as well as
one or more aspects of availability data storage 60, resource data
storage 62 and/or other data.
[0341] FIG. 4 is one embodiment of the second sub-content page 445.
The second sub-content page 445 may be a profile content page 435
that includes preset parameters 140 such as a selection of email
format 495, email address 500, and sender's name 505.
[0342] FIG. 5 is one embodiment of the third sub-content page 450
of the profile content page 435. The third sub-content page 450
includes preset parameter 140 for plug-ins 510. A plug-in is a
special kind of software component that adds specific capacities to
a larger software application. A plug-in typically cannot be
executed alone, but instead relies on the larger software
application. If the plug-in is supported by the software
application, it enables customizing the functionality of an
application. For example, plug-ins may be include refresh rate 515,
audible alert settings 520, instant message color 525, instant
messaging 530, short messaging service (not shown), multimedia
messaging service (not shown), email (not shown), software and
firmware updates (not shown), database wide searching (not shown),
pop-up (not shown), voice (not shown), and phone call (not shown).
Other plug-ins 510 are contemplated and customizable by the present
disclosure depending on the implementation.
[0343] Referring to FIGS. 6-7, a schematic diagram depicting an
overview content page 550 for an embodiment of a system for
management of conference room preset. The overview content page 550
includes a drop-down menu 830 of at least one power on/off button
835 associated with at least one conference room device 102. For
example, the drop-down menu 830 includes several actions including
"Apply Action", "Display Power Off", "Display Power On", "System
Power Off", and "System Power On". The actions can be applied to
one or more conference room 101. The system 100 can power up and
power down on schedule, eliminating the need for personal visits to
each space. The user 170 is able to save money and energy by
ensuring that projectors are not left on after hours. For example,
all projectors 16 throughout the facility can be turned off at the
end of the day, saving energy and preserving lamps.
[0344] The overview content page 550 also includes at least eight
sub-content pages 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562. The first
sub-content page 555 may be the "My RoomView" web content page of
the overview content page 550, which includes preset parameters 140
such as a status of the conference room 101. The status of the
conference room 101 includes the conference room name 565 and
associated with each conference room name 565, a severity level
570, an issue message 575, and a time and date stamp 580 of the
issued message. The issue message 575, for example, may be a
message to indicate that the room is hot and/or the humidity is low
or high. The first sub-content page 555 also includes a help
request content page 590. The help request content page 590
includes a severity level 595, time and date stamp 600 of the
request for help, the at least one conference room name 565, a help
message 615, an organizer's name 170, and a user's login name
625.
[0345] FIG. 8 is the second sub-content page 556 of the overview
content page 550. The second sub-content page 555 may be an
"Assets" web content page that includes preset parameters 140 of
the conference room devices 102. The "Assets" web content page
keeps track of equipment with the asset manager. Knowing when the
devices 102 require maintenance, where they're located, and when it
is time for replacement are important to prevent device failures.
Email alerts can inform the appropriate parties of service contract
expiration and full product depreciation. The "Assets" web content
page includes, for example, for each conference room device 102, a
name of the device 610, the status of the conference room device
635, a serial number 640, an asset tag 645, a make 650, a model
655, and a last date of service 660. This information, in
particular the status of the conference room device 102, assists
the user 170 and/or IT specialist to intelligently mange and
support every conference room device 102 in every conference room
101 in real-time.
[0346] FIGS. 9-11 illustrate the third sub-content page 557 of the
overview content page 550. The third sub-content page 557 is a
status page that includes preset parameters 140 for each conference
room 101. Each conference room 101 is filtered by the type of room
or campus location. For example, if the user 170 selects "InfoComm
2010 University" in the room content page 1 of the overview content
page 550 (See FIG. 6), the third sub-content page 557 lists all the
conference room 101 as shown in FIG. 9. However, if the user 170
selects "Campus Rooms" in the room content page 1 of the overview
content page 550 (See FIG. 6), the third sub-content page 557 lists
only the conference rooms 101 that are "Campus Rooms" (in this
example "Auditorium" and "Meeting Room)".
[0347] Continuing to FIGS. 9-11, the preset parameters 140 for each
conference room 101 include the name of the conference room 565, an
online status 665, at least one graph showing the load (graphical
load) 670, humidity level 675, volume level 680, temperature 685,
error alert 690, screen status 695, at least one light indicator
700, mute indicator 705, lift indicator 710, display power
indicator 715, help alert indicator 720, system power indicator
725, error message 730, and free busy status indicator 735.
[0348] FIG. 12 illustrates the fourth sub-content page 558 of the
overview content page 550. The fourth sub-content page 558 may be a
"schedule" content web page. The fourth sub-content page 558
includes a calendar 737 for the user 170 to schedule a conference.
The calendar 737 can be viewed by the day, week, or month. Events
for a specific day are indicated textually as generally indicated
by the reference numeral 738 (as shown on Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2011)
and time as generally indicated by the reference numeral 739 (as
shown on 12 AM-4 AM). The calendar 737 may also include a search
feature 742 to locate an event.
[0349] In operation, the user 170 may click on the calendar 737 to
create a conference. Referring to FIG. 13, a pop-up window 741 with
preset parameters 140 are displayed. In one embodiment, the pop-up
window 741 includes the preset parameter 140 asking for "What will
this meeting be?" The user 170 picks either meeting 745 or event
750 type of conference and the user's choice is the preset
information 145. If the user 170 chooses the event 750 type of
conference, another set of preset parameters 140 are displayed on a
screen of the user 170 communications devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36,
37 as shown in FIG. 14. The preset parameter 140s solicit the name
of the event 78, location of the event 80, time zone 82, start/date
of the event 84, end date/time of the event 86, whether the event
is a recurrence event 88, and a description of the event 90. Again,
the user's responses to the preset parameters 140 are preset
information 145 that are used to associate with resources. The
associated resources are preset resources 135 that are reserved for
the event 750 conference type. The resources are conference room
resources such as conference room devices 102 or other type of
resources that are programmable depending upon the various aspects
of the teachings of the present disclosure. In this example, the
resource may be a conference room 101 for the event 750 type
conference.
[0350] If the user 170 selects the meeting 745 type of conference
as shown in FIG. 13, another set of preset parameters 140 are
displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 15. The preset parameters
140 are associated with the conference type 130. The preset
parameters 140 include the type of meeting 753 such as discussion
190, presentation 195, audio call 200, video call 205, and audio
and video call 210. The preset parameters 140 may also include a
"welcome message" 751 and "image source" 752 for sharing and/or
displaying. For each meeting type 753, there is another set of
preset parameters 140. For example, if the user 170 selects a
"presentation" meeting type 195, the preset parameter 140 includes
shared document 754 as shown in FIG. 16. This shared document 754
is available for the presentation. The information handling system
127 will then determine a room 101 that includes preset resources
135 such as a computer 5, lighting system 71, and projector 16 to
display the presentation. The preset information 145 obtained from
the preset parameter 140 is associated with a need for a computer
5, lighting system 71, and projector 16 for the presentation type
of meeting 195. The information handling system 127 automatically
sends at least one command 175 to turn on the lights in the
determined conference room 101 and power on the computer 5 and
projector 16 to display the shared document 754. In this example,
the user 170 will save setup time because the user 170 will not
have to turn on the lights or setup the computer 5 and projector 16
to display the shared file 754 since this will be done
automatically. Moreover, the shared file 754 is shared with the
conference participants and therefore saves the user 170 the time
and effort of emailing every participant the file 754.
[0351] In another embodiment, the user 170 selects the "Audio Call"
type of conference, another set of preset parameters 140 are
displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 17. The displayed preset
parameters 140 include the shared document 754, phone number 785,
and passcode 790 for access into the audio call 200. Based on the
present information 145 that is received from the user 170 in
response to the preset parameter 140, the information handling
system 127 associates the preset parameter 140 with the required
conference room resources. In this particular example, the
conference room resources are a computer 5, speaker phone 44,
lighting system 71, projector 16 and projector screen 48. The
information handling system 127 will further determine an available
conference room 101 and reserve such conference room 101 with the
preset resources 135 (e.g., computer 5, speaker phone 44, lighting
system 71, projector 16 and projector screen 48). At the start time
150 of the conference, the information handling system 127 sends at
least one command 175 to power on the lighting system 71 and
projector 16, lowers the projector screen 48, display the shared
file 754 onto the projector screen 48, and dial into the audio call
using the phone number 785 and passcode 790. The user 170 comes to
the conference room 101 without having to setup the audio call.
[0352] In another embodiment, the user 170 selects the "Video Call"
type of conference 205, another set of preset parameters 140 are
displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 18. The displayed preset
parameters 140 include the shared document 754 and video number
791. Based on the present information 145 that is received from the
user 170 in response to the preset parameter 140, the information
handling system 127 associates the preset parameter 140 with the
required conference room resources. In this particular example, the
conference room resources are computers 5, webcams 800, HD cameras
2, headsets (not shown), projector screen 48, lighting system 71,
and conference room microphones (not shown). The information
handling system 127 will further determine an available conference
room 101 and reserve such conference room 101 with the preset
resources 135 (e.g., computers 5, webcams 800, HD cameras 2,
headsets (not shown), projector screen 48, lighting system 71, and
conference room microphones (not shown)). At the start time 150 of
the conference, the information handling system 127 sends at least
one command 175 to power on the various preset resources 135,
adjust the lighting system 71, dial the video number 791, and lower
the projector screen 48. The user 170 comes to the conference room
101 without having to setup the video call. The video connection is
established for the video call.
[0353] In another embodiment, the user 170 selects the "Video and
Audio Call" 210 type of conference, another set of preset
parameters 140 are displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 19. The
displayed preset parameters 140 include the shared document 754,
phone number 785, passcode 790, and video number 791. Based on the
present information 145 that is receive from the user 170 in
response to the preset parameters 140, the information handling
system 127 associates the preset parameter 140 with the required
conference room resources. In this particular example, the
conference room resources are computers 5, speaker phones 44,
lighting system 71, projector 16 and projector screen 48, webcams
800, HD cameras 2, headsets (not shown), and conference room
microphones (not shown). The information handling system 127 will
further determine an available conference room 101 and reserve such
conference room 101 with the preset resources 135. At the start
time 150 of the conference, the information handling system 127
sends at least one command 175 to power on the various preset
resources 135, adjust the lighting system 71, dial the video number
791, and lower the projector screen 48. The user 170 arrives in the
conference room 101 without having to setup the video call.
[0354] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram depicting a "Rooms" web
content page 792.
[0355] The user 170 selects the "Rooms" tab and the information
handling system 127 displays the list of rooms 101 on a screen. The
user 170 can add additional rooms for the system to monitor.
[0356] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram depicting a "People" web
content page 793. The "People" web content page lists people and
their roles for a particular conference room 101.
[0357] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram depicting a "Recurrence" web
content page 794 for the reoccurrence of a meeting. The user 170
selects the "Recurrence" tab and chooses how often and when a
conference reoccurs.
[0358] Referring back to FIG. 13, if the user 170 selects an
"Event" 750 type of conference, other preset parameters 140 are
display as illustrated in FIG. 23. Referring to FIG. 23, the preset
parameters 140 include the name of the meeting 795, the location
796, time zone 797, start time/date 798 and a description 799 of
the event 750 type. The event 750 type is an occurrence of an
action at a particular time. For example, when the user 170 selects
the "Actions" tab 801, a list of actions 802 is available as shown
in FIG. 24. The actions allow administrators to quickly and
effectively send important messages to every room 101. A simple
click broadcasts fire, safety, weather notifications and more to
hundreds of rooms 101 instantly. Broadcast messages are displayed
over the material shown on the screen--from sources like computers,
DVDs and more--clearly alerting everyone in the room 101. The user
170 selects an action 802 from the list and the information
handling system 127 executes the selected action at a particular
time. For example, the user 170 selects and drags "Broadcast Fire
Emergency" to the "Meeting Start" time folder. The information
handling system 127 transmits the message to, for example, a
computer monitor in the room 101. Broadcast messaging ensures a
safe environment. Instructors can send an urgent memo to the main
office, and administrators can alert presenters in every room with
just one click. The "Action" tab 801 further includes an offset
803, which is a time that is offset from the starting time 150 of
the meeting. For example, if the user 170 scheduled the meeting to
start at 2:30 P.M. and the offset time is 30 minutes, then the
message will be broadcast at 3:00 P.M. The user 170 may select and
drag more than one action. The list of actions can include other
types of actions beyond the ones that are listed.
[0359] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram depicting a "Rooms" web
content page 804. The "Rooms" web content page 804 illustrates the
various rooms 101 that are categorized by the type of rooms. For
example, the "Classrooms" includes the "Classroom 1" and "Classroom
2".
[0360] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram depicting a "Recurrence" web
content page 806. The user 170 is able to enable the recurrence of
the meeting by replying to the various preset parameters 140 such
as the number of recurrence and the day of the week of the
recurrence, and the range of the recurrence.
[0361] FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of the fifth sub-content page
559. The fifth sub-content page 559 may depict a WebCam content
page. The user 170 is able to view the images from a webcam 800
that is placed in each of the conference room 101.
[0362] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram depicting the sixth
sub-content page 560. The sixth sub-content page 560 may be an
"eControl" web content page. The information handling system 127
sends at least one command to control the preset resources 135 such
as the conference room devices 102.
[0363] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram depicting the seventh
sub-content page 561.
[0364] The seventh sub-content page 561 may be an "Instant
Messaging" web content page. The user 170 is able to communicate
with managers, users, media directors, IT specialists, and others
via instant Messaging 530. It is contemplated that other
communication protocols such as SMS, MMS, and email, also could be
used.
[0365] FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram depicting the eighth
sub-content page 562. The eighth sub-content page 562 may be an
"Additional New Tab" web content page. The user 170 can add
additional tabs. For example, the preset parameters 140 displayed
on the computer screen may be the title of a tab or the web address
of the web page.
[0366] FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a meeting management method
including automated equipment setup in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. In step 385, the
information handling system 127 displays at least one preset
parameter 140 associated with a conference type 130 on a screen of
the user communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37. For example,
the preset parameter 140 could be a selection of the type of
conference 130 such as discussion 190, presentation 195, audio call
200, video call 205, and audio and video call 210. The user's
selection, for example audio call 200, could then be preset
information 145. The conference type 130 (e.g., audio call 200) is
associated with preset resources 135 such as a computer 5, speaker
phone 44, lighting system 71, projector 16 and projector screen 48.
In step 390, the information handling system 127 accepts
information defining the conference type 130 in response to the
displayed preset resources 135.
[0367] In step 395, the information handling system 127 receives
the preset information 145 from the at least one displayed preset
parameter 140. The preset information 145 includes a start time 150
and an end time 155 of the conference. In step 400, the information
handling system 127 determines a room 101 by communicating with a
scheduling server 165 the availability of the preset resources 135
based on the received preset information 145. In step 405, the
information handling system 127 sends or transmits at least one
command 175 to control the associated preset resources 135 in
response to the start time and end time 150, 155. For example, the
information handling system 127 sends/transmits a command 175 to
power on the lighting system and projector, lower the projector
screen 48, display the shared file 754 onto the projector screen
48, and dial into the audio call using the phone number 785 and
passcode 790. The user 170 arrives in the conference room 101
without having to setup the audio call since the information
handling system 127 automatically setups the preset resources
135.
[0368] FIG. 32 includes additional steps that may be arranged in
any manner to support operation in various configurations. More
specifically, in step 420 communication takes place for the at
least one preset parameter 140 between the information handling
system 127 and one or more user communication devices 125. In step
425, preset information 145 is received between the information
handling system 127 and the one or more user communication devices
125. The one or more user communication devices 125 include a
personal computer 33, laptop computer 37, personal digital
assistant 31, and cell phone 28. In step 430, the information
handling system 127 monitors and controls at least one conference
room device 102 in real-time. This is particularly useful for IT
specialists to ensure that the conference room devices 102 are
functioning properly and in case of a failure to allow the IT
specialist to diagnose and fix the problem early on.
[0369] In step 410, the information handling system 127 powers
on/off at least one of video projector 16, CD player 10, touch
panel 290, audio system device 265, camera 2, DVD/DVR player 6, and
VCR4. In step 415, the information handling system 127 controls at
least one of light system device 71, touch panel 290, blinds/shades
14, HVAC 72, security 73, sensor 74, and local computer 5.
[0370] It should be noted that all of the content pages may be
modified without departing from the teachings of the present
disclosure.
[0371] In embodiments of the disclosure, a conference room resource
of a conference room is a presentation capture device 1000 for
recording conference activity, such as a presentation, a lecture, a
board meeting, etc. The presentation capture device 1000 may be a
Capture HD High-Definition Capture Recorder available from Crestron
Electronics, Inc. of Rockleigh, N.J.
[0372] FIG. 33 is an illustration of a presentation capture device
1000 in operation during a multimedia presentation, according to an
embodiment of the disclosure. The presentation capture device 1000
is configured for simultaneously recording content video, content
audio, presenter video and presenter audio from a presentation.
[0373] Content video and content audio refer to audio visual (AV)
media used by the presenter during the presentation and may be
received as a digital signal or an analog signal. For example,
content video may be a power point slideshow received from a
computer. Content audio may be audio accompanying the PowerPoint
slideshow.
[0374] Presenter video and presenter audio refer to AV media of the
presenter or audience during the presentation. For example,
presenter audio may be the audio of a professor's lecture received
from the presentation capture device 1000 from a wireless
microphone. Presenter video may be video of the presenter recorded
during the lecture. In another example, presenter audio may also
include questions asked by students in the audience of the lecture
and presenter video may include a video of the student asking the
question.
[0375] The presentation capture device 1000 as shown in FIG. 33 is
receiving content video and content audio from a digital content
source, such as a computer 1002, via a high-definition multimedia
interface (HDMI) connection 1003. Additionally, the presentation
capture device 1000 is receiving audio from and video of the
lecturer 1001 via a wireless microphone 1004 and a video camera
1005, respectively.
[0376] The presentation capture device 1000 is configured to
simultaneously record the content video, content audio, presenter
audio and presenter video to a compressed audio-visual format. The
presentation capture device 1000 mixes the content audio and
presenter audio and combines the presenter video and content video,
such as by positioning the presenter video as a picture-by-picture
(PBP) window or a picture in picture (PIP) window.
[0377] The presentation capture device 1000 combines the audio and
video as a compressed AV stream and outputs the compressed AV
stream for capture (stored locally and uploaded to a server for
archiving and on demand playback) or live streaming (transmitted as
an AV stream over Ethernet). For example, the presentation capture
device 1000 may output the compressed AV stream for storage on a
USB memory stick 1007 which the lecturer may take with him
Alternatively, the presentation capture device 1000 may transmit
the compressed AV stream on a network for remote storage.
Additionally, the presentation capture device 1000 may output the
compressed AV stream to a media server 1010 for live streaming over
a network.
[0378] Additionally, the presentation capture device 1000 processes
and distributes a combination of content audio, content video,
presenter audio and presenter video to a digital sink 1006 for
display during the lecture. For example, the presentation capture
device 1000 may transmit content audio and content video to a
television with embedded speakers. The presentation capture device
1000 may also transmit combined video of the content video and
presenter video as well as combined audio of the content audio and
presenter audio to a digital sink 1006. Advantageously, the
presentation capture device 1000 is configured to detect the source
type of incoming content audio and content video and automatically
distribute the appropriate sources to a digital sink without
requiring user interaction with the device, such as selecting a
source.
[0379] FIG. 34 shows a schematic diagram depicting the system 100
for managing, scheduling and initiating a conference room 101
and/or conference room resources 102 based on preset information
145 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the
disclosure. The presentation capture device 1000 is connected to
the AV control system processor 40 via a wire line or wireless
connection. As discussed previously, the AV control system
processor provides a complete integrated AV or automation solution.
Every audio, video, and environmental element of the conference
room 101, including the presentation capture device 1000, becomes
integrated and accessible through the AV system processor 40. In
another embodiment of the disclosure, the presentation capture
device 1000 communicates directly with the information handling
system via the communication network 104. A media server 1010
communicates with the information handling system 127 and the
presentation capture device 1000, either directly or via the AV
control system processor 40 over the communication network 104.
[0380] By employing the information handling system, users can
schedule recording sessions on the presentation capture device 1000
and view the status of the presentation capture device 1000. The
presentation capture device 1000 may receive preset information
from the information handling system which includes preset
recording settings and metadata information concerning the AV file
to be created. The presentation capture device 1000 records the
scheduled presentation and uploads the recorded AV file and
associated metadata file to the media server 1010. The media server
1010 transcodes the AV file and transforms the metadata file into
various formats depending on desired distribution channels. The
media server 1010 then uploads the AV file and metadata file to
those desired distribution channels via the communication network
104. The media server 1010 also informs the information handling
system as to the status of the AV file and metadata file enabling
monitoring by the user.
[0381] The information handling system is configured for reporting
the status of presentation capture devices 1000 located in
monitored rooms to the user; associating presentation capture
devices 1000 to room schedules; providing an interface for the user
to configure presentation capture device 1000 settings for
scheduled meetings; uploading the room schedule (including
recording settings and metadata) to presentation capture devices
1000; and monitoring and logging items that are processed by the
media server 1010.
[0382] Presentation capture device 1000 is configured for reporting
to the AV control system processor the name of the presentation
capture device 1000, the room in which the presentation capture
device 1000 is located, whether the presentation capture device
1000 is currently capturing content or not, the name of the next
presentation to be recorded, the start time and date of the next
presentation to be recorded and various messages which require user
intervention.
[0383] In operation, the user 170 may click on the calendar 737 to
create a conference. Referring to FIG. 35 and back to FIG. 13, a
pop-up window 741 with preset parameters 140 are displayed. In one
embodiment, the pop-up window 741 includes the preset parameter 140
asking for "What will this meeting be?" The user 170 picks either
meeting 745 or event 750 type of conference and the user's choice
is the preset information 145. In this embodiment, if the user 170
chooses the meeting 745 type of conference a set of preset
parameters 140 are displayed on a screen of the user 170
communication devices 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37 as shown in FIG. 35.
Compared to the set of preset parameters shown in FIG. 14, there
are five (5) tabs associated with a set of preset parameters, with
the additional tab of preset parameters being the Capture tab
1020.
[0384] When the user selects the conference type as shown in FIG.
35, another set of preset parameters are displayed on the screen as
shown in FIG. 36. The preset parameters are associated with the
conference type 130, specifically whether the conference type will
be recorded with a presentation capture device 1000. The preset
parameters include the recording profile 1030, the capture size
1032, and the notification preference 1034.
[0385] Refer to FIG. 37, in one embodiment, if the conference room
does not currently include a capture device, instead of displaying
preset parameters, the information handling system will display a
text notification 1036 directing the user to a website providing
marketing and sales information for presentation capture devices
1000.
[0386] The recording profile preset is selected from a dropdown
list of selections which may include default and custom profiles.
The profile itself comprises a number of preconfigured parameters
including distribution channel parameters, notification setting
parameters and profile variable parameters. The preconfigured
parameters are set from a series of setup menus during a
registration process.
[0387] FIG. 38 is a registration page showing links to preconfigure
preset parameters. The registration page includes links to setup
menus enabling a user to: add/edit a recording profile, add/edit a
distribution channel, add/edit post-processing parameters, and
add/edit encoding parameters.
[0388] FIG. 39 is a setup menu showing the distribution channel
parameters which may be preconfigured for a recording profile. The
user first selects a template 1050, such as an iTunes University
template, from a dropdown menu. Next the user configures
Distribution Channel Details parameters by filling in the text
field. The Distribution Channel Details parameters provide nominal
information for the recording profile such as a title 1051 and a
description 1052. Next the user preconfigures AV workflow functions
comprising post-processing parameters 1053, one or more encoding
parameters 1054a-e and distribution function parameters. The user
selects post-processing parameters 1053 from a list of
preconfigured post-processing profiles and one or more encoding
parameters 1054a-e from a list of preconfigured encoding profiles.
As will be described below, the post-processing profiles and
encoding profiles are preconfigured, as well, from setup menus.
Finally the user preconfigures the distribution function parameters
by selecting a distribution method 1055 from a drop down menu of
distribution methods and filling in text fields 1056, 1057, 1058,
1059 to preconfigure a server to publish data and media to internal
and public uniform resource locator (URL) addresses.
[0389] These text fields are used by the information handling
system to determine where to upload the files after processing. For
example, if the user selects RSS distribution from the drop-down
menu, the Data and Media public URL fields populate fields in an
XML metadata file for a flash player to access these files.
[0390] FIG. 40 is a setup menu showing the post-processing
parameters which may be preconfigured for a recording profile. The
user first selects a template 1060 from a dropdown menu. Next the
user configures Post Processing Details parameters by filling in
the text field for a Title 1061 and a Description 1062. Next the
user configures preset parameters for a watermark by selecting a
type of watermark 1063 from a dropdown menu, inputting an image URL
1064, inputting text 1065 and selecting a position 1066 for the
watermark. Finally, the user inputs an intro URL 1067 and an exit
URL for bookending 1068.
[0391] FIG. 41 is a setup menu showing the encoding parameters
which may be preconfigured as part of a recording profile. The user
first selects a template 1070 from a drop-down menu. Next the user
supplies nominal information for the encoding profile by populating
title 1071 and description fields 1072. Next the user selects a
container format 1073 from a drop-down list of selections. Next the
user selects video setting preset parameters by selecting a video
CODEC 1074, a resolution 1075 and a video bitrate 1076 from
dropdown menus. Similarly, the user selects audio setting preset
parameters by selecting an audio CODEC 1077, a number of channels
1078, a sampling frequency 1079, and an audio bitrate 1080.
[0392] In another embodiment, the present disclosure introduces a
novel mechanism for automatically determining a meeting room based
on at least a number of people invited to a meeting and a number of
actual invitees physically attending the meeting. According to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 42 is a method for
scheduling a meeting room. Method 1150 begins with step 1085, where
system 100 accepts information defining a meeting type 753 such as
discussion 190, presentation 195, audio call 200, video call 205,
and audio and video call 210. The meeting type 753 is associated
with preset resources 135. In general, preset resources 135 are
conference room devices 102 such as video projector 16, CD player
10, touch panel 290, audio 265, camera 7, DVD/DVR player 6, VCR 4,
lighting system device 71, touch panel 290, blinds/shades 14, HVAC
system 72, security system 73, sensor system 74, local computer 5
(FIG. 1), and presentation capture device 1000.
[0393] In step 1090, system 100 displays preset parameter 140 based
on the meeting type 753. In general, preset parameters 140 (e.g.,
FIG. 3) are information related to the meeting or conference. For
example, preset parameters 140 include start and end times 150, 155
of the conference, meeting and event types 745, 750, discussion
190, presentation 195, audio call 200, video call 205, audio and
video call 210, shared documentation 780, phone number 785,
passcode 790, and video number 791. The preset parameters 140 also
include email address 500 of attendees (see FIG. 21) invited to a
meeting by the organizer. In other embodiments, the email address
500 can be part of a built-in scheduler such as Microsoft.RTM.
Exchange, Microsoft Office 365.RTM., IBM Notes.RTM., CollegeNET
25Live (R25), Google Calendar, and other providers via a RESTful
API service.
[0394] In step 1095, system 100 receives preset information 145
from the displayed preset parameter 140. The organizer inputs a
start time 150, an end time 155, and a number of attendees invited
by the organizer. Alternatively, system 100 can automatically
calculate the number of attendees invited by the organizer based on
the email address 500 of the invitees.
[0395] In step 1100, system 100 automatically identifies and
reserves a room (e.g., room 101) that is associated with a maximum
capacity number 1160 that attendees can fit into the room by
communicating with a scheduling server 107 the availability of the
at least one preset resources 135 based on the received preset
information 145. In step 1105, system 100 notifies the organizer of
the first room. In other embodiments, system 100 may also notify
the attendees of the first room, for example, via email.
[0396] In step 1110, system 100 detects a number of attendees
physically presence in the first room during a configurable time
period. For example, the organizer can set the configurable time
period to be five minutes before the start time of the meeting 150
and five minutes after the start time of the meeting 155. System
100 utilizes sensor to detect the number of attendees such as
thermal images, facial recognition, optical sensor, global
positioning system, and pressure sensor. It should be understood
that system 100 may use other types of sensors.
[0397] In step 1115, system 100 sends at least one command to
control the associated preset resources 135 in response to the
start time and end time 150, 155. The preset parameter 140 includes
a recording profile 1030. The preset information 145 includes a
preconfigured recording profile 130, which includes at least one AV
workflow function. The at least one AV workflow function includes
an encoding profile, and the encoding profile includes a video
CODEC preset parameter, a resolution preset parameter and a video
bitrate preset parameter.
[0398] FIG. 43 illustrates method 1155 in accordance with another
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 43 is similar to FIG. 42
except for the following additional steps. After system 100 detects
a number of attendees, in step 1120, the system 100 determines if
the number of detected attendees physically presence in the first
room is greater than or less than the first room maximum capacity
number 1160. For example, if the first room 101 had a maximum
capacity of twenty attendees, the configurable tolerance number is
five and the system 100 detects fourteen attendees physically
presence in room 101, then system 100 identifies another room
("second room"), which is associated with its own maximum capacity
number, in real-time so that the first room 101 could be used by
another organizer that needs a bigger room. The system 100
identifies the second room in real-time based on the preset
information 145 in step 1125. The goal is to reserve a room that is
appropriate for the size of attendees actually showing up to the
meeting. In some embodiments, system 100 would match as close as
possible the second room maximum capacity number to the detected
number of attendees. There may be cases where there isn't an ideal
second room that satisfies the requirements of step 1120 but is
closer to the requirement of step 1120 than the first room.
[0399] Similarly, system 100 would identify a second room that is
available if twenty-six attendees show up to the meeting in
real-time. In this case, the first room 101 would not be able to
hold twenty-six people because, for example, there isn't sufficient
number of seats available.
[0400] Continuing with the example, in step 1130, system 100
determines if the second room is actually available. If there isn't
another room available, system 100 would notify the organizer that
there is no other rooms available in step 1135. The system 100
would then continue to send a command to control the associated
preset resources 135 in step 1115 for room 101. As such, the
reservation of the first room 101 is maintained. However, if the
second room is available with a maximum capacity number of
twenty-five in step 1130, system 100 notifies the organizer that
the second room is available and requests the organizer to accept
or reject the room in step 1133. The organizer may want to reject
the second room for various reasons such as it would require too
much effort to relocate the attendees. In that case, system 100
would maintain the reservation of the first room and notifies the
organizer the reservation of the first room is maintained in step
1134. If the organizer does accept the second room, system 100
reserves the second room and cancels the first room in step 1140.
Further, system 100 notifies the organizer that the second room has
been reserved and the first room has been canceled in step 1140.
The system 100 would then send a command to control the associated
preset resources 135 in step 1115.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0401] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present disclosure
is methods, systems, and software for managing, scheduling, and
initiating conference rooms and/or conference room resources based
on a type of conference.
LIST OF ACRONYMS USED IN THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
INVENTION
[0402] The following is a list of the acronyms used in the
specification in alphabetical order. [0403] AV Audio Visual [0404]
CD Compact Disc [0405] DVD Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile
Disc [0406] DVR Digital Video Recorder [0407] HDMI high definition
multimedia interface [0408] HVAC Heating, Ventilating, and Air
Conditioning [0409] IT Information Technology [0410] PC Personal
Computer [0411] RSS really simple syndication [0412] URL uniform
resource locator [0413] USB universal serial bus [0414] VCR
Videocassette Recorder
ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
[0415] Although illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure
have been described herein with reference to the accompanying
drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited
to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and
modifications may be made therein by one skilled in the art without
departing from the scope of the appended claims.
[0416] For example, any of the flow diagrams described herein may
be modified or arranged in any manner to support operation in
various configurations. The flow diagrams may include more or fewer
blocks, combined or separated blocks, alternative flow
arrangements, or the like. The flow diagrams may also be
implemented in the form of hardware, firmware, or software. If
implemented in software, the software may be written in any
suitable code in accordance with the example embodiments herein or
other embodiments. The software may be stored in any form of
computer readable medium and loaded and executed by a general
purpose or application specific processor suitable to perform the
example embodiments described herein or other embodiments.
[0417] It is to be understood that both the general and detailed
descriptions above are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the disclosure. It should be understood that the
disclosure can be implemented in a DVI or HDMI capable set-top box.
While the disclosure has been disclosed for use with HDCP, it can
be used with any other security protocol that satisfies the
following two attributes. The first attribute is that the security
protocol is tied to the video content being transmitted; that is,
if the video attributes change, the security protocol must be
renegotiated. The second attribute is that the security protocol
offers a way to determine or detect whether the remote device is
capable of supporting the security protocol.
[0418] At least a portion of the input card (e.g., 308, 408, 508,
608, 708) of the present disclosure may be implemented in an
integrated circuit. In forming integrated circuits, a plurality of
identical die is typically fabricated in a repeated pattern on a
surface of a semiconductor wafer. Each die includes a device
described herein, and may include other structures and/or circuits.
The individual die are cut or diced from the wafer, then packaged
as an integrated circuit. One skilled in the art would know how to
dice wafers and package die to produce integrated circuits.
Integrated circuits so manufactured are considered part of this
disclosure.
[0419] In this description, various functions and operations may be
described as being performed by or caused by software code to
simplify description. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize what is meant by such expressions is that the functions
result from execution of the code by a processor, such as a
microprocessor. Alternatively, or in combination, the functions and
operations can be implemented using special purpose circuitry, with
or without software instructions, such as using
Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or
Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Embodiments can be
implemented using hardwired circuitry without software
instructions, or in combination with software instructions. Thus,
the techniques are limited neither to any specific combination of
hardware circuitry and software, nor to any particular source for
the instructions executed by the data processing system.
[0420] While some embodiments can be implemented in fully
functioning computers and computer systems, various embodiments are
capable of being distributed as a computing product in a variety of
forms and are capable of being applied regardless of the particular
type of machine or computer-readable media used to actually effect
the distribution.
[0421] At least some aspects disclosed can be embodied, at least in
part, in software. That is, the techniques may be carried out in a
computer system or other data processing system in response to its
processor, such as a microprocessor, executing sequences of
instructions contained in a memory, such as ROM, volatile RAM,
non-volatile memory, cache or a remote storage device.
[0422] Routines executed to implement the embodiments may be
implemented as part of an operating system, middleware, service
delivery platform, SDK (Software Development Kit) component, web
services, or other specific application, component, program,
object, module or sequence of instructions referred to as "computer
programs." Invocation interfaces to these routines can be exposed
to a software development community as an API (Application
Programming Interface). The computer programs typically comprise
one or more instructions set at various times in various memory and
storage devices in a computer, and that, when read and executed by
one or more processors in a computer, cause the computer to perform
operations necessary to execute elements involving the various
aspects.
[0423] A machine readable medium can be used to store software and
data which when executed by a data processing system causes the
system to perform various methods. The executable software and data
may be stored in various places including for example ROM, volatile
RAM, non-volatile memory and/or cache. Portions of this software
and/or data may be stored in any one of these storage devices.
Further, the data and instructions can be obtained from centralized
servers or peer to peer networks. Different portions of the data
and instructions can be obtained from different centralized servers
and/or peer to peer networks at different times and in different
communication sessions or in a same communication session. The data
and instructions can be obtained in their entirety prior to the
execution of the applications. Alternatively, portions of the data
and instructions can be obtained dynamically, just in time, when
needed for execution. Thus, it is not required that the data and
instructions be on a machine readable medium in entirety at a
particular instance of time.
[0424] Examples of computer-readable media include but are not
limited to recordable and non-recordable type media such as
volatile and non-volatile memory devices, read only memory (ROM),
random access memory (RAM), flash memory devices, floppy and other
removable disks, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media
(e.g., Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile
Disks (DVDs), etc.), among others. The instructions may be embodied
in digital and analog communication links for electrical, optical,
acoustical or other forms of propagated signals, such as carrier
waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.
[0425] In general, a machine readable medium includes any mechanism
that provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form
accessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, network device, personal
digital assistant, manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one
or more processors, etc.).
[0426] In various embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in
combination with software instructions to implement the techniques.
Thus, the techniques are neither limited to any specific
combination of hardware circuitry and software nor to any
particular source for the instructions executed by the data
processing system.
[0427] Although some of the drawings illustrate a number of
operations in a particular order, operations which are not order
dependent may be reordered and other operations may be combined or
broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are
specifically mentioned, others will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art and so do not present an exhaustive list
of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages
could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any
combination thereof.
* * * * *