Importance

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Abstract

There is provided herein a modular video conferencing system. The system may include, for example, a main unit, a camera unit, and a docking station, each adapted to be removably attached to at least one of the others. The main unit may house a processor, memory, mass storage, and other hardware and software consistent with a video conferencing system. The main unit may include a camera adapter that electrically and mechanically connects the main unit to the camera unit. The camera unit may be directed to change pan, tilt, focus, zoom, and so forth through control signals transmitted from the main unit to the camera unit through the camera adapter. The camera unit may include a plurality of microphones that provide audio signals to the main unit through the camera adapter, and these audio signals may be used by the main unit to determine a location of an audio source relative to the camera unit so that the camera unit may be directed at the audio source. The main unit may include a docking station adapter that electrically and mechanically connects the main unit to the docking station. The docking station may include one or more network ports that connect the modular video conferencing system to a telecommunications or data network. The docking station may include suitable circuitry for coupling the main unit to the one or more network ports in a communicating relationship.

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First Claim