System and method for multiplexing media information over a network using reduced communications resources and prior knowledge/experience of a called or calling party

• US 20040060067A1
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yi, Byung K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,882,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for managing communication in an integrated services network ensures that media information is displayed on at least one of two terminals during a call without using any transmission bandwidth. This is achieved by having at least one of the terminals pre-store the media information in a memory and then controlling the terminal to recall and display this information when certain events occur during the call. The media information may include animated information, images, and short-time video scripts. This information and broader band media such as streaming video may be displayed on the same terminal. The display of media information may also be controlled based on the past knowledge and experience callers have about one another and/or their communications equipment.

Claims

1. A method of reducing bandwidth in a communication network, comprising:

sending a visual signal within a prescribed n-length transmission time having at least one of;

a) a first video stream having a prescribed x-length transmission time, wherein x is less than or equal to n,

b) a second video stream having a prescribed y-length transmission time, wherein y is less than x,

c) a still image, and

d) a virtual image;

receiving the video signal; and

displaying the received video signal during a prescribed m-length reception time in a prescribed display format, wherein the video signal is transmitted through a wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein combination during the n-length transmission time includes an idle state having none of a, b, c or d above within a remaining time period of the n-length transmission time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the idle state does not allocate required communication resources during transmission.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a virtual image is displayed at the receiver terminal during the idle state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescribed display format includes a third video stream having a prescribed z-length time period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third video stream is the same as the second video stream if the video signal includes the second video stream.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the third video stream is different from the second video stream even though the video signal includes the second video stream.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third video stream is a previously stored video stream.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received video signal is displayed by a mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video stream is a full bandwidth streaming video which is operating continuously.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second video stream is a short-time stream video.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the snapshot of a virtual image is an image of the calling party.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual image is an avatar.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the avatar is an animated avatar.

15. A method of dynamically multiplexing different types of visual information sent over a network, comprising:

establishing a call connection by a first mobile terminal of a calling party;

multiplexing a plurality of first video signals provided by the first mobile terminal during a call connection, wherein the first video signals include an idle state, a first video stream, a first still image, and a first graphical representation/depiction; and

transmitting the multiplexed first video signals.

16. The method of claim 15, the network transmits a signal indicative of the multiplex video signal to a second mobile terminal of the called party, and the second mobile terminal display a video image based on multiplexed second video signals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the multiplex second video signals comprises at least one of a second video stream, a second still image, and a second graphical representation/depiction.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second video streams are different.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second still images are different.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second graphical representation/depiction are different.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the second video stream includes an idle video state.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein in an idle video state, the receiver terminal displays the second graphical representation.

21. The method of 20, wherein the second graphical representation/depiction is stored in a memory of the second mobile terminal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second graphical representation/depiction is based on called party'"'"'s past experience with the calling party.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the second graphical representation/depiction is replaced by the first graphical representation/depiction of the calling party.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the second graphical representation/depiction elicit an image likeness and look and feel of the calling party to the called party.

27. A method of imprinting/eliciting an image/likeness/look and feel of the caller to a called party, comprising:

sending caller related information from a mobile terminal for visual display in a first prescribed format; and

displaying on a display of the called party the caller related information in a second prescribed display format, wherein the first prescribed display format is different from the second prescribed display format.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the display is a display of a mobile terminal.

29. A method for communicating information, comprising:

initiating a call between a first terminal and a second terminal;

multiplexing first media information and second media information in the first terminal; and

transmitting the multiplexed information with voice information from the first terminal to the second terminal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first media information and the second media information are selected from the group consisting of a video stream, a short-time video script, a still image, moving animation, and still animation.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said video stream includes real-time streaming video.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the first media information is a video stream and the second media information is still animation.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the multiplexed information is transmitted during a first call period, and wherein different multiplexed information is transmitted during a second call period.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

controlling output of the multiplexed media information on the second terminal, said controlling step including blocking output of one of the first media information and the second media information.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

controlling output of the multiplexed media information on the second terminal, said controlling step including setting a service option of the second terminal which controls types of media information to be output on the second terminal.

36. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

controlling output of the multiplexed media information on the second terminal, said controlling step including replacing the first media information with third media information stored in a memory of the second terminal.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first media information and the third media information include different avatars.

38. A method for managing communications over a network, comprising:

receiving a call in a first terminal;

identifying a second terminal from which the call was placed; and

retrieving media information from a memory of the first terminal based on the identity of the second terminal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the network includes a wireless network.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the network includes a wide area network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the wide area network is the Internet.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal is a mobile terminal.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal is equipped for communications over a wide area network.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the wide area network is the Internet.

45. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

storing information indicative of a telephone number of the second terminal in association with said media information.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the identifying step includes:

extracting information identifying the telephone number of the second terminal from said call; and

retrieving said media information from memory based on the extracted telephone number information.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the media information includes video information.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the media information includes image information.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein the media information includes an avatar.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the avatar resembles a characteristic of a caller using the second terminal.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein said memory stores a plurality of avatars.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving a control signal from the first terminal which selects one of the avatars stored in said memory, wherein said retrieved media information includes the selected avatar.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein each of the stored avatars exhibit a different emotion of the caller using the second terminal.

54. A method for managing communications over a network, comprising:

receiving a call in a first terminal;

identifying a second terminal from which the call was placed; and

outputting media information on the first terminal based on the identity of the second terminal.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said outputting step includes:

retrieving the media information from a memory of the second terminal, said memory storing the media information in association with information identifying the second terminal.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

receiving first media information from the first terminal;

blocking output of the first media information; and

outputting second media information stored in a memory of the second terminal in place of the first media information.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the media information includes a avatar.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the first media information is a first avatar and the second media information is a second avatar.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the second avatar is selected or generated based on past knowledge of a user of the second terminal.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the second avatar includes a characteristic which reflects a relationship or opinion a user of the second terminal has concerning a user of the first terminal.

61. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

selecting a service option to control type of media information to be output on the first terminal.

62. The method of claim 54, wherein the selecting step includes:

selecting a service option which displays low-bandwidth media information and blocks display of high-bandwidth media information on the first terminal.