User interface allowing a participant to rejoin a previously left videoconference

摘要

System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. These user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions.

主权项

1. A method for reconnecting to a previous videoconference, comprising:
a videoconferencing unit initiating a videoconference, wherein the videoconference comprises at least one other videoconferencing unit; the videoconferencing unit leaving the videoconference while the videoconference is in progress, wherein after leaving the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit is no longer connected to the videoconference; at a first time, after leaving the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit determining that the videoconference is still available; the videoconferencing unit displaying a user interface, wherein the user interface includes a first icon selectable by the user to reconnect to the videoconference in response to the videoconferencing unit leaving the videoconference and in response to determining that the videoconference is still available, wherein the first icon is different than a second icon used for dialing, wherein, in response to user input selecting the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit is configured to reconnect to the videoconference; at a second time, after displaying the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference, the videoconferencing unit determining that the videoconference is no longer available; and in response to determining that the videoconference is no longer available, the videoconferencing unit removing the first icon to reconnect to the videoconference from the user interface.