Videoconference system

• US 20020109770A1
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Terada, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• 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 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

This videoconference system includes plural user'"'"'s user PCs, a digital camera that is connected to each user PC through a cradle and can take a moving image, a server for a videoconference, and the Internet that connects these user PCs and the server for a videoconference. Each user PC has a program for videoconference for performing a videoconference, and when detecting that the digital camera is mounted on the cradle and is connected to the user PC duplex-communicably, the user PC makes a videoconference possible by automatically booting the above-described program for videoconference, and making moving images, taken with digital cameras of both users who are mutually communication, displayed on display devices of both user PCs.

Claims

1. A videoconference system, comprising:

computers of users, the computers enabling communication with each other via a communication network; and

electronic cameras of the users, the electronic cameras enabling a moving image to be taken, the electronic cameras being respectively connected to the computers duplex-communicably, wherein;

the videoconference system makes a videoconference possible by making a moving image, taken by the electronic camera of each user, displayed on a display device of a computer of a communication partner;

the computer has a program for videoconference which performs the videoconference; and

the program for videoconference is automatically booted when it is detected that the electronic camera is connected duplex-communicably.

2. The videoconference system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic camera has a photography/playback mode, and a communication mode where either of a videoconference mode where the electronic camera is made to operate as the electronic camera for the computer, and a mass storage class mode where the electronic camera is made to operate as a card reader is set;

the electronic camera automatically sets itself in the communication mode when detecting that the electronic camera is connected to the computer duplex-communicably; and

the computer automatically boots the program for videoconference when the communicate mode that is set is the videoconference mode.

3. The videoconference system according to claim 1, wherein:

the computer further has a program for image display; and

the computer automatically boots the program for videoconference and the program for image display when the computer detects that the electronic camera is connected duplex-communicably.

4. The videoconference system according to claim 3, wherein the program for image display makes the computer execute:

a function of making a display device of the computer simultaneously display a list of images recorded in a recording medium in the electronic camera or recorded in a recording medium in the computer, and a menu button for commanding the computer to connect with a server performing various kinds of services; and

a function of making the server that is selected by the menu button transmit an image selected from the list of images.

5. The videoconference system according to claim 4, wherein the program for videoconference makes the computer execute, when an image is selected from the list of images during communication and image transmission is commanded, a function of making the selected image transmitted to a communication partner.

6. The videoconference system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cradle on which the electronic camera is detachably mounted; and

a communication cable which connects the cradle with the computer,

wherein the cradle connects the electronic camera with the communication cable when the electronic camera is mounted.

7. The videoconference system according to claim 6, wherein:

the electronic camera has a photography/playback mode, and a communication mode where either of a videoconference mode where the electronic camera is made to operate as the electronic camera for the computer, and a mass storage class mode where the electronic camera is made to operate as a card reader is set;

the electronic camera automatically sets itself in the communication mode when detecting that the electronic camera is connected to the computer duplex-communicably; and

the computer automatically boots the program for videoconference when the communicate mode that is set is the videoconference mode.

8. The videoconference system according to claim 6, wherein:

the computer further has a program for image display; and

the computer automatically boots the program for videoconference and the program for image display when the computer detects that the electronic camera is connected duplex-communicably.

9. The videoconference system according to claim 8, wherein the program for image display makes the computer execute:

a function of making a display device of the computer simultaneously display a list of images recorded in a recording medium in the electronic camera or recorded in a recording medium in the computer, and a menu button for commanding the computer to connect with a server performing various kinds of services; and

a function of making the server that is selected by the menu button transmit an image selected from the list of images.

10. The videoconference system according to claim 9, wherein the program for videoconference makes the computer execute, when an image is selected from the list of images during communication and image transmission is commanded, a function of making the selected image transmitted to a communication partner.

11. A videoconference system, comprising:

computers of users, the computers enabling communication with each other via a communication network; and

electronic cameras of the users, the electronic cameras enabling a moving image to be taken, the electronic cameras being respectively connected to the computers duplex-communicably, wherein;

the videoconference system makes a videoconference possible by making a moving image, taken by the electronic camera of each user, displayed on a display device of a computer of a communication partner;

the computer has a program for videoconference which performs the videoconference; and

the computer makes the program for videoconference operate only when it is detected that the electronic camera is connected duplex-communicably and is a predetermined model.

12. The videoconference system according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined model of electronic camera is one of an electronic camera that has a function of treating the program for videoconference, and an electronic camera that has a function of treating the program for videoconference and is produced by a predetermined manufacturer.

14. The videoconference system according to claim 13, wherein the other program is a program for image display simultaneously booted at the time of the program for videoconference being booted.

15. The videoconference system according to claim 14, wherein the program for image display makes the computer execute:

a function of making a display device of the computer simultaneously display a list of images recorded in a recording medium in the electronic camera or recorded in a recording medium in the computer, and a menu button for commanding the computer to connect with a server performing various kinds of services; and

a function of making the server that is selected by the menu button transmit an image selected from the list of images.

16. The videoconference system according to claim 15, wherein the program for videoconference makes the computer execute, when an image is selected from the list of images during communication and image transmission is commanded, a function of making the selected image transmitted to a communication partner.

20. The address book display method according to claim 19, wherein the display of communication availability is display by using a pattern or a character.

21. The address book display method according to claim 19, further comprising a step of acquiring the partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the partner of communication through a communication network from other communication equipment.

22. The address book display method according to claim 21, wherein the display of communication availability is display by using a pattern or a character.

13. A videoconference system, comprising:

computers of users, the computers enabling communication with each other via a communication network; and

electronic cameras of the users, the electronic cameras enabling a moving image to be taken, the electronic cameras being respectively connected to the computers duplex-communicably, wherein;

the videoconference system makes a videoconference possible by making a moving image, taken by the electronic camera of each user, displayed on a display device of a computer of a communication partner;

the computer has a program for videoconference which performs the videoconference; and

the program for videoconference makes the computer perform a function of using personal information of the user at the time of user registration by another program.

17. A method of generating an address book for recording an image transmitted from another user'"'"'s communication equipment during a videoconference held while mutually transmitting and receiving images, which are being taken, between a user'"'"'s own communication equipment and the other user'"'"'s communication equipment, by associating the image with registration information such as an address of the other user, comprising:

a step of receiving and displaying an image from the other user'"'"'s communication equipment;

a step of the user inputting a command of recording the image that is displayed;

a step of recording an image received on the basis of the command of recording the image by associating the image with address information showing a communication place of the other user under communication; and

a step of displaying the address showing the communication place of the other user, by associating the address with the recorded image.

18. An image transmitting method for transmitting an image, which a user specifies in a videoconference, to another user'"'"'s communication equipment, comprising:

a step of the other user'"'"'s communication equipment and the user'"'"'s own communication equipment performing voice or image communication;

a step of displaying at least one image as at least one image menu on a display device of the user'"'"'s own communication equipment;

a step of selecting an image, transmission of which the user expects, from the image menu during the communication;

a step of the user commanding transmission of the image which the user select during the communication; and

a step of transmitting the image, which the user selects, to the other user'"'"'s communication equipment during the communication on the basis of the command of communication that the user inputs.

19. An address book display method for displaying information about a user, who is a partner in a videoconference and has been registered beforehand, in a list when the videoconference that is held while transmitting and receiving images, which are being taken, between user'"'"'s own communication equipment and another user'"'"'s communication equipment is started, comprising:

a step of displaying partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the communication partner on a display device of the user'"'"'s own communication equipment;

a step of acquiring information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference from other communication equipment; and

a step of displaying the information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference, which is obtained, by associating the information with the information about the partner.

23. A communication partner setup method for displaying information about a user, who is a partner in a videoconference and has been registered beforehand, in a list and setting a communication partner when the videoconference that is held while transmitting and receiving images, which are being taken, between user'"'"'s own communication equipment and another user'"'"'s communication equipment is started, comprising:

a step of displaying partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the partner of communication on a display device of the user'"'"'s own communication equipment;

a step of acquiring information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference from other communication equipment and selecting a partner who cannot presently perform the videoconference on the basis of the communication availability that is obtained;

a step of displaying the information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference, which is obtained, by associating the information with the information about the partner; and

a step of giving the user a notice of rejecting user'"'"'s selection if the user selects the partner, with whom the user cannot presently hold the videoconference, as a partner in the videoconference.

24. A communication partner setup method for displaying information about a user, who is a partner in a videoconference and has been registered beforehand, in a list and setting a communication partner when the videoconference that is held while transmitting and receiving images, which are being taken, between user'"'"'s own communication equipment and another user'"'"'s communication equipment is started, comprising:

a step of displaying partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the partner of communication on a display device of the user'"'"'s own communication equipment;

a step of acquiring information about communication availability of a partner in the videoconference from other communication equipment and selecting a partner who can presently perform the videoconference on the basis of the communication availability that is obtained;

a step of displaying the information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference, which is obtained, by associating the information with the information about the partner; and

a step of permitting selection and starting the videoconference with an address of a user who is the partner whom the user selects only when the user selects the partner with whom the user can hold the videoconference.