Mobile Endpoint Hub for Conference Call Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current conference call methods, such as using Polycom devices or dialing into a conference bridge, face issues like latency, lag, echo, and high costs, as well as inconvenience for users far from the speaker or without specialized equipment.
Innovation Solution
Enabling a mobile endpoint device, like a smartphone, to act as a hub for a conference call by connecting to a conference call and broadcasting a signal to other mobile devices via a personal area network (PAN) using protocols like Bluetooth, allowing multiple users to join and control their own conference call connections independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple users separately dial into a conference bridge, then conference call functionality is achieved, but latency and echo issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple user connections through a master mobile device that acts as a central hub. Instead of separate connections to a conference bridge, multiple slave devices connect through the master device via Bluetooth PAN, creating a unified communication path that reduces latency and eliminates echo issues associated with multiple independent dial-in connections.
2Ease of manufacture
If users gather around a speaker phone device, then conference call is possible without specialized equipment, but users far from the speaker cannot hear or be heard
Solution Approach 1:
The master mobile device serves multiple functions: it acts as a conference call participant, a Bluetooth PAN hub, and an audio distribution center. This multi-functionality allows users to participate in conference calls using standard mobile devices without specialized equipment, while the Bluetooth connectivity eliminates the need for physical proximity to a speaker phone.
3Reliability
If Polycom devices are used for conference calls, then audio quality is improved, but the equipment is quite expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses standard mobile devices to replicate the conference call hub functionality previously requiring expensive Polycom equipment. By leveraging the Bluetooth PAN capability of common smartphones and tablets, the system copies the professional conferencing experience using widely available consumer devices, significantly reducing equipment costs.
4Ease of operation
If a mobile device acts as hub for conference call, then cost and convenience are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master mobile device automatically manages the Bluetooth PAN connections and audio routing for multiple slave devices. The system self-configures the communication paths and handles the complexity of coordinating multiple simultaneous connections, presenting a simple user interface where participants just need to connect their devices without manually managing complex settings.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for enabling a mobile endpoint device to be a hub for a conference call are disclosed. For example, the method connects to the conference call, broadcasts a signal to at least one slave mobile endpoint devices to join the conference call over a personal area network, receives a pairing request from the at least one slave mobile endpoint device over the personal area network, accepts the pairing request and connects the at least one slave mobile endpoint device to the conference call via the master mobile endpoint device over the personal area network, wherein both the master mobile endpoint device and the at least one slave mobile endpoint device have two-way communications with the conference call and conference call controls.