摘要 |
A method and apparatus for controlling the transmission of real-time media signals over a data network based on a triggering event associated with a participating teleconference station. This triggering event may be the presence or absence of motion, the presence or absence of sound, or any of a variety of other events that preferably indicate the presence or absence of a person at the station. When no person is present at the station and/or when an appropriate triggering event occurs, remote teleconference participants will not transmit media signals over the network to the station, thereby conserving valuable network bandwidth and simulating a physically common meeting between people. In turn, when a person is present at the station and/or when another appropriate triggering event occurs, remote teleconference participants may start transmitting media signals over the network to the station. Additionally, a station may control its own transmission of media signals to remote stations in response to local triggering events, thus further conserving network resources.
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