Ann Bass

US Patent:

44792115, Oct 23, 1984

Filed:

Oct 29, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/437693

Inventors:

Ann H. Bass - Lisle IL
Jeffery G. Blaschak - Downers Grove IL
Mohamed A. Marouf - Lisle IL
Paul W. Vancil - Lisle IL
David F. Winchell - Glen Ellyn IL

Assignee:

AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04M 356

US Classification:

370 62

Abstract:

For use in multiport digital conference arrangements wherein the speech samples of selected speakers are summed for distribution to the conferees, the disclosed arrangement features processor-controlled switching hardware responsive to a control signal from a conference control processor. Generated in response to a request from a port for priority treatment, this control signal designates particular conferees as having assigned priority treatment such as attendant and broadcast priority in the speaker selection process. In addition, the arrangement also includes a speech detector for each port. By evaluating the conferee's assigned priority treatment, the conferee's speech level, and other factors, each conferee is dynamically assigned an adjusted priority level by a conference processing program. The speech samples of only the highest priority level conferees are summed to control various types of distortion and to permit designated conferees to be always heard by the other conferees.