Conference System Location Awareness and Automatic Provisioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The deployment and configuration of online conferencing equipment, especially mobile systems, are complex and require IT specialists, limiting flexibility and increasing costs due to the need for manual adaptation to different rooms.

Innovation Solution

A conference system with location awareness and automatic provisioning, using methods like RFID, GPS, or indoor positioning to detect room properties and configure video, audio, and network connections autonomously, eliminating the need for manual IT intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration of conference equipment is used, then system reliability is improved through expert setup, but device complexity and time consumption increase due to requiring IT specialists

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration reliabilityVSAvoiddeployment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The conference system automatically detects room properties through sensors and cameras, retrieves appropriate configuration parameters from a database using room identifiers, and configures itself without human intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for IT specialists while maintaining reliable configurations through pre-stored expert-defined parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Configuration parameters for different room types are pre-stored in a database before deployment. When the system enters a room, it quickly retrieves the pre-prepared configuration data matching the detected room properties, avoiding time-consuming manual setup while ensuring reliable configurations based on expert-defined parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration of conference equipment is used, then configuration accuracy is improved through expert knowledge, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex setup procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidsetup ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs the entire configuration process by detecting room properties and self-configuring based on retrieved parameters, making operation as easy as simply entering the room while maintaining configuration accuracy through expert-defined parameter sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A database acts as an intermediary between the conference system and configuration parameters. The system queries the database using room identifiers to obtain pre-configured parameter sets, eliminating the need for operators to manually configure complex settings while ensuring accurate configurations through centrally managed parameter data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile conference equipment is deployed to different rooms, then adaptability is improved through flexibility, but device complexity increases due to need for room-specific configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroom adaptabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conference system uses a universal configuration approach where a single system can adapt to multiple room types by retrieving appropriate parameter sets from a database. The system detects room properties and automatically configures itself for different room types without requiring manual intervention or complex room-specific hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adapts to different rooms by changing its operational parameters based on detected room properties. By querying the database with room identifiers and retrieving appropriate parameter sets, the system dynamically adjusts configuration parameters such as audio levels, video settings, and network configurations to match each specific room environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If automatic provisioning is implemented, then ease of operation is improved through simplified setup, but loss of information may increase due to automated detection and configuration processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprovisioning easeVSAvoidconfiguration information accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors and cameras to detect room properties and feeds this information back to the configuration process. By continuously monitoring room characteristics and comparing detected properties with database records, the system can verify accurate room identification and configuration selection, minimizing information loss through automated detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9053456B2Techniques for conference system location awareness and provisioning
Publication Date: 2015.06.09 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US9053456B2 patent drawing
  • US9053456B2 patent drawing
  • US9053456B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Techniques for conference system location awareness and provisioning are described. An apparatus may comprise a room detection component operative to determine a room identifier of a room which a conference system is in, a database component operative to determine one or more room properties of the detected room by querying a database of room properties using the room identifier, and a conference configuration component operative to configure one or more conference elements using the room properties. Other embodiments are described and claimed.