Portable videoconferencing system

• US 20040041902A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Washington, Richard G.
• Application Number:
  US10/412,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• 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 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

A portable videoconferencing system includes a camera, a monitor, speakers, a microphone or microphone array and processing means within a single housing. The portable videoconferencing system may additionally be provided with a docking means coupled to a network. The portable videoconferencing system optionally connects by wireless means to the network.

Claims

1. A portable videoconferencing system comprising;

a housing;

a microphone within the housing for capturing sounds;

a video camera within the housing for capturing images;

a speaker within the housing for broadcasting sounds;

a video display within the housing for displaying images; and

,

a processing unit within the housing coupled to the microphone, the video camera, the speaker and the video display for processing incoming and outgoing audio/video signals.

2. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 wherein the microphone comprises an array of acoustic sensors.

3. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 wherein the video camera is motor-driven under control of the processing unit for panning and tilting.

4. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 wherein the video display is a liquid crystal display.

5. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 wherein the video display is a polymer light-emitting diode display.

6. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 wherein the video display is a plasma screen.

7. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 further comprising a handle mounted to the housing for carrying the videoconferencing system.

8. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 further comprising a handle recessed within the housing for carrying the videoconferencing system.

9. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 further comprising a battery for supplying power.

10. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 9 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

11. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 further comprising a communications module within the housing and connected to the processing unit for wireless communication.

12. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 further comprising a memory unit connected to the processing unit and storing instructions for causing the processing unit to process audio/video signals.

13. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 further comprising a keypad on the housing for controlling the videoconferencing system.

14. The portable videoconferencing system of claim 1 further comprising an infrared sensor on the housing and a remote control device for controlling the videoconferencing system by sending infrared signals to the infrared sensor.

15. A videoconferencing system, comprising

a first housing;

a microphone within the first housing for capturing sounds;

a video camera within the first housing for capturing images;

a speaker within the first housing for broadcasting sounds;

a video display within the first housing for displaying images;

a connector in the first housing for connecting with a base unit;

a processing unit within the first housing coupled to the microphone, the video camera, the speaker, the connector and the video display for processing incoming and outgoing audio/video signals; and

,

a base unit for supporting the first housing and comprising a second housing and a second connector that connects to the first connector when the first housing is supported by the base unit and which conducts incoming and outgoing audio/video signals to the processing unit within the first housing.

16. A videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 wherein the base unit additionally supplies power through the second connector to the first connector.

17. A videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 wherein the base unit additionally comprises an H.320 link for videoconferencing over ISDN telecommunication lines.

18. A videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 wherein the base unit additionally comprises I/O ports for connecting the processing unit to peripheral devices.

19. A videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first connector and second connector are such that the force due to gravity of the first housing upon the base unit when the first housing is supported by the base unit is sufficient to connect the first connector and the second connector.

20. A processor-based, portable videoconferencing system comprising:

a general-purpose notebook computer having a video display, a speaker, a microphone, a video camera and a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to perform protocol conversions for the transmission of audio/video signals over a network.