Variable bandwidth communication systems and methods

• US 20010037508A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
• Inventors: Gaver, William, Pedersen, Elin, White, Sean Michael, Mainwaring, Scott, Hindus, Debby
• Application Number:
  US09/847,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037508A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1682 Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

A variable bandwidth communication system includes a first and a second communication station, coupled for continuous, bi-directional communication. The first communication station is capable of transmitting at a first and a second bandwidth, and is capable of receiving at a third and a fourth bandwidth. The second communication station is capable of receiving at the first and second bandwidth and is capable of transmitting at the third and fourth bandwidth. The transmitting bandwidth of each station is selectable by the user. The second bandwidth is greater than the first and the fourth bandwidth is greater than the third. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first and third bandwidth like the second and fourth bandwidth are about the same. The first communication system can display communication received at the fourth bandwidth at the first bandwidth, and the second communication system can display communications received at the second bandwidth at the third bandwidth.

Claims

1. A communication station for transmitting audio and video communications comprising:

a data processor;

a high bandwidth input device coupled to said data processor;

a transmission port coupled to said data processor;

a reception port coupled to said data processor;

a high bandwidth output display device coupled to said data processor;

a high/low data display bandwidth selector coupled to said data processor, wherein a data display bandwidth is user selectable;

a high/low transmission bandwidth selector coupled to said data processor, wherein a transmission bandwidth is user selectable; and

wherein said high bandwidth output display device displays a bandwidth selected by said high/low data display bandwidth selector.

2. A communication station as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said high bandwidth input device is a video camera.

3. A communication station as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said high bandwidth output device is a monitor.

4. A communication station as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said data processor is capable of transmitting a high bandwidth communication and a low bandwidth communication.

5. A communication station as recited in

claim 4

, wherein said high bandwidth is at least two orders of magnitude greater than said low bandwidth.

6. A communication station as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said data processor is capable of receiving a high bandwidth communication and a low bandwidth communication.

7. A communication station as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said high bandwidth communication is at least two orders of magnitude greater than said low bandwidth communication.

8. A communication station as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said data processor is capable of displaying communications received at said high bandwidth communication at said lower bandwidth communication.

9. A communication station as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said high bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting video communications.

10. A communication station as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said low bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting at least one of a representational video communication, a reduced resolution video communication, an audio communication and an abstract representational communication.

11. A communication station as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said high bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting audio communications.

12. A communication station as recited in

claim 6

, wherein said low bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting at least one of a degraded audio communication, a haptic communication and an abstract representational communication.

13. A communication station as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising a dynamic abstraction filter for converting a high bandwidth communications into a low bandwidth communications.

14. A communication station as recited in

claim 13

, wherein said high bandwidth communications are at least two orders of magnitude greater than said low bandwidth communications.