A method for identifying and managing users within a group during a teleconference. The method includes a computer processor determining that a group of users are sharing a first client device to communicate, via a teleconference with one or more other users. The method further includes identifying a first user, of the group of user that are sharing the first client device, that is speaking during a first portion of the teleconference. The method further includes determining an action corresponding to the first user, where an action affects managing content of the teleconference at a client device. The method further includes initiating the determined action corresponding to the first user.

A conversation analysis device includes an utterance data acquisition unit that acquires utterance data representing a voice of each speaker and an utterance of the speaker, a speech state analysis unit that analyzes a speech state of each speaker on the basis of the voice, and a degree-of-contribution calculation unit that calculates a degree of contribution to the conversation of each speaker on the basis of the speech state.

An example method for managing a conference call includes detecting multiple concurrent audio signals. The multiple concurrent audio signals include a first audio signal from a first participant on a conference call and a second audio signal from a second participant on the conference call. The example method also includes comparing a first cumulative time period in which the first participant has spoken to a second cumulative time period in which the second participant has spoken on the conference call. The example method further includes selecting, based on the comparison, one of the first participant and the second participant as a lower ranked participant. The example method also includes providing an indication to the lower ranked participant to yield speaking in favor of another participant on the conference call.

To filter unwanted sounds from a conference call, a first voice signal is captured by a first device during a conference call and converted into corresponding text, which is then analyzed to determine that a first portion of the text was spoken by a first user and a second portion of the text was spoken by a second user. If the first user is relevant to the conference call while the second user is not, the first voice signal is prevented from being transmitted into the conference call, the first portion of text is converted into a second voice signal using a voice profile of the first user to synthesize the voice of the first user, and the second voice signal is then transmitted into the conference call. The second portion of text is not converted into a voice signal, as the second user is determined not to be relevant.

Implementations disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for conference screening. According to one implementation, a method includes connecting a participant to a multi-mode conference in a listen-only mode and receiving a request of active participation in the multi-mode conference from the participant. In response to receipt of the request for active participation, the participant is bridged into a private screening subconference, and information relating to the participant's requested active participation to the multi-mode conference is received via the private screening subconference responsive to a prompt. In response to the receipt of the information via the private screening subconference, the participant is placed in a queue to await authorization for active participation in the multi-mode conference, the queue including at least one other participant previously screened in another private screening sub-conference. The method further includes detecting selection of the participant from the queue, and establishing a connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference based on detection of the selection.

Conference systems are used for example in discussions and usually comprise a plurality of delegate units with microphones, whereby in a discussion each discussion participant uses his own delegate unit. Usually the delegate units have a switch or the like, that allows the participant in front of the delegate unit to request, that his microphone is activated, so that the speech of the participant is input in the conference system and amplified by the conference system. A conference system comprising (1) a plurality of delegate units (2), each delegate unit (2) having a microphone (5) for receiving an audio signal from a surrounding, a central service module (3) handling a plurality of contribution channels, whereby the audio output of the contribution channels contribute to an amplified audio output of the conference system (1) is proposed, whereby each delegate unit (2) is adapted to send a request for a contribution channel commit to the central service module (3), whereby the central service module (2) is adapted to grant the request and to allocate a contribution channel to the requesting delegate unit (2), thus setting the requesting delegate unit i in an active state A, whereby the delegate unit (2) is adapted to trigger the request by voice activation, whereby the request is triggered in case at least a first trigger condition is fulfilled defining that the audio signal level of one of the delegate units (2) as a possible requesting delegate unit i is higher than an individual test value for each other delegate unit (2) in the active state A, whereby the individual test value is an estimated audio signal level of the possible requesting unit i resulting from an audio or speech signal provided to the other active delegate units (2).

Methods and apparatus for accurately determining whether a mobile electronic device associated with a user is at a meeting location comprise: initiating a scan for a first beacon signal emanating from a first beacon located at the meeting location; detecting the first beacon signal; confirming that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of the first beacon based on the first beacon signal; and responsive to confirming that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of the first beacon activating a trigger system enabling further resolution of the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the meeting location, wherein the trigger system is located at an entry to the meeting location, and activating a confirmation system to confirm that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location.

Methods for operating a meeting coordinator to initiate a teleconference meeting using an automated teleconferencing system, having corresponding meeting coordinators and computer-readable media, comprise: generating a roster of meeting participants comprising meeting invitees; accessing calendaring information concerning the teleconference meeting, the calendaring information including a time of the meeting; a meeting location; identities of the meeting invitees; and contact information for the meeting invitees; and transmitting at least some of the calendaring information to the teleconferencing system to enable the system to connect remotely-located meeting invitees.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for improving audio conferencing services. One aspect relates to processing audio content of a conference. A first audio signal is received from a first conference participant, and a start and an end of a first utterance by the first conference participant are detected from the first audio signal. A second audio signal is received from a second conference participant, and a start and an end of a second utterance by the second conference participant is detected from the second audio signal. The second conference participant is provided with at least a portion of the first utterance, wherein at least one of start time, start point, and duration is determined based at least in part on the start, end, or both, of the second utterance.

To filter unwanted sounds from a conference call, a first voice signal is captured by a first device during a conference call and converted into corresponding text, which is then analyzed to determine that a first portion of the text was spoken by a first user and a second portion of the text was spoken by a second user. If the first user is relevant to the conference call while the second user is not, the first voice signal is prevented from being transmitted into the conference call, the first portion of text is converted into a second voice signal using a voice profile of the first user to synthesize the voice of the first user, and the second voice signal is then transmitted into the conference call. The second portion of text is not converted into a voice signal, as the second user is determined not to be relevant.