US 12,348,899 B2
Ad hoc client audio device support for virtual conferences
Qiang Gao, Charlotte, NC (US); Zhaofeng Jia, Saratoga, CA (US); Qiyong Liu, Singapore (SG); Xinyu Yao, Hefei (CN); Shaoming Ye, Hefei (CN); and Xiangming Zhu, Hefei (CN)
Assigned to Zoom Communications, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/983,568.
Prior Publication US 2024/0155073 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 7/15 (2006.01); G06F 21/31 (2013.01); H04N 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 7/15 (2013.01) [G06F 21/31 (2013.01); H04N 7/147 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
transmitting, via a Bluetooth communication channel by a virtual conference device connected to a virtual conference hosted by a virtual conference provider, a first signal, the first signal including connection information to enable a network connection between a remote client device and the virtual conference device;
receiving, via the Bluetooth communication channel by the virtual conference device connected to the virtual conference hosted by the virtual conference provider, a first request for the connection information from the remote client device;
receiving, by the virtual conference device via a second communication channel, a request to connect from the remote client device;
connecting to the remote client device using the second communication channel;
receiving, via the connection to the remote client device, an audio stream from the remote client device, the audio stream captured by a microphone of the remote client device; and
providing the audio stream to the virtual conference.
 
5. A system comprising:
a communications interface;
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
one or more processors communicatively coupled to the communications interface and the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the one or more processors configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
transmit, via a Bluetooth communication channel while connected to a virtual conference hosted by a virtual conference provider, a first signal, the first signal including connection information to enable a network connection with a remote client device;
receive, via the Bluetooth communication channel, a request for the connection information from the remote client device;
receive, via a second communication channel, a request to connect from the remote client device;
connect to the remote client device using the second communication channel;
receive, via the connection to the remote client device, an audio stream from the remote client device, the audio stream captured by a microphone of the remote client device; and
provide the audio stream to the virtual conference.
 
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:
transmit, via a Bluetooth communication channel by a virtual conference device connected to a virtual conference hosted by a virtual conference provider, a first signal to a remote client device, the first signal including connection information to enable a network connection between the remote client device and the virtual conference device;
receive, via the Bluetooth communication channel by the virtual conference device, a request for the connection information from the remote client device;
receive, via a second communication channel, a request to connect from the remote client device;
connect to the remote client device using the second communication channel;
receive, via the connection to the remote client device, an audio stream from the remote client device, the audio stream captured by a microphone of the remote client device; and
provide the audio stream to the virtual conference.