Conferencing system having an embedded web server and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A videoconferencing system includes an embedded web server and a network interface for connecting the videoconferencing systems to a network. Computers and other devices on the network may manage and control various operations of the videoconferencing system through a conventional browser interface by accessing web pages transmitted by the embedded web server. In addition, users of network-connected computers may upload presentation files to the videoconferencing system to enable transmission of presentation slides to remote conference endpoints. The videoconferencing system may also be provided with an integrated network hub to allow connection of the videoconferencing system to one or more local computers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A videoconferencing system comprising: 
 a videoconferencing unit having a conferencing application for processing locally generated audio and video data for transmission to a remote conference endpoint, and for processing remotely generated audio and video data received from the remote conference endpoint;    a network interface for connecting the videoconferencing unit to a computer network; and    a web server embedded within the videoconferencing unit and coupled to the network interface, for transmitting selected web pages responsive to requests received over the network from remote devices.