Graphical user interface apparatus and connection method in two-way communication system

• US 20050273494A1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Uchide, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• 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 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827

Abstract

A GUI (graphical user interface) apparatus for connecting with a spot of the party being connected for use with a two-way communication system such as a video conference system in which a shot image is transmitted through a network to the spot of the party being connected, an image received from the spot of the party being connected through the network being displayed including a display processing device for arranging a plurality of display frames “P1” to “P6” to display still pictures representing specific nominated connection destinations on a screen of display device, a plurality of operation devices arranged on the display frames “P1” to “P6” in a one-to-one relation and a connection processing device for connecting with the nominated parties being connected represented by the still picture displayed on the display frame through the network each time the operation device located at the position corresponding to any of the display frames “P1” to “P6” on which the still picture is displayed is operated.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface apparatus for connecting with a spot of the party being connected for use with a two-way communication system in which a shot image is transmitted through a network to said spot of the party being connected, an image received from said spot of the party being connected through said network being displayed, comprising:

display processing mechanism for arranging a plurality of display frames to display still pictures representing specific nominated parties being connected on a screen of display means;

a plurality of operation unit arranged on said display frames in a one-to-one relation; and

connection processing unit for connecting with said nominated parties being connected represented by said still picture displayed on said display frame through said network each time said operation means located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame on which said still picture is displayed is operated.

2. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a twp-way communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

capture means for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected; and

memory means for storing a still picture captured by said capture means and wherein said display processing means displays the still picture stored in said memory means after it was captured by said capture means during connection each time said operation means located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame is operated during said graphical user interface apparatus is being connected to any party being connected or immediately after said connection was ended.

3. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a twp-way communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

capture means for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected;

memory means for storing a still picture captured by said capture means; and

selection picture display processing means for displaying a selection picture to select any one of said display frames when an address book in which the parties being connected in the past are registered is displayed and wherein said display processing means displays a still picture, stored in said memory means after it was captured by said capture means, on said selected display frame when said apparatus is connected to the party being selected based on the fact that any party being connected is selected from said address book when the selection picture is displayed by said selection picture display processing means and that the display frame is selected by said selection picture.

4. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a two-way communication system according to claim 1, wherein said display processing means further includes:

tabs provided on said screen to display said plurality of still pictures on said display frames; and

operation means for switching said tabs.

9. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a twp-way communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

capture mechanism for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected; and

memory mechanism for storing a still picture captured by said capture mechanism and wherein said display processing mechanism displays the still picture stored in said memory mechanism after it was captured by said capture mechanism during connection each time said operation mechanism located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame is operated during said graphical user interface apparatus is being connected to any party being connected or immediately after said connection was ended.

10. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a twp-way communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

capture mechanism for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected;

memory mechanism for storing a still picture captured by said capture mechanism; and

selection picture display processing mechanism for displaying a selection picture to select any one of said display frames when an address book in which the parties being connected in the past are registered is displayed and wherein said display processing mechanism displays a still picture, stored in said memory mechanism after it was captured by said capture mechanism, on said selected display frame when said apparatus is connected to the party being selected based on the fact that any party being connected is selected from said address book when the selection picture is displayed by said selection picture display processing mechanism and that the display frame is selected by said selection picture.

11. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a two-way communication system according to claim 1, wherein said display processing mechanism further includes:

tabs provided on said screen to display said plurality of still pictures on said display frames; and

operation mechanism for switching said tabs.

13. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a twp-way communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

capture mechanism for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected; and

a memory for storing a still picture captured by said capture mechanism and wherein said display processing mechanism displays the still picture stored in said a memory after it was captured by said capture mechanism during connection each time said operation mechanism located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame is operated during said graphical user interface apparatus is being connected to any party being connected or immediately after said connection was ended.

14. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a twp-way communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

capture mechanism for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected;

a memory for storing a still picture captured by said capture mechanism; and

selection picture display processing mechanism for displaying a selection picture to select any one of said display frames when an address book in which the parties being connected in the past are registered is displayed and wherein said display processing mechanism displays a still picture, stored in said a memory after it was captured by said capture mechanism, on said selected display frame when said apparatus is connected to the party being selected based on the fact that any party being connected is selected from said address book when the selection picture is displayed by said selection picture display processing mechanism and that the display frame is selected by said selection picture.

15. A graphical user interface apparatus for use with a two-way communication system according to claim 1, wherein said display processing mechanism further includes:

tabs provided on said screen to display said plurality of still pictures on said display frames; and

operation mechanism for switching said tabs.

5. A connection method for connecting with a spot of the party being connected for use with a two-way communication system in which a shot image is transmitted through a network to said spot of the party being connected, an image received from said spot of the party being connected through said network being displayed, comprising the steps of:

a display step for arranging a plurality of display frames to display still pictures representing specific nominated parties being connected on a screen of display means;

an operation step for operating a plurality of operation means arranged on said display frames in a one-to-one relation; and

a connection step for connecting with said nominated parties being connected represented by said still picture displayed on said display frame through said network each time said operation means located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame on which said still picture is displayed is operated.

6. A connection method for use with a twp-way communication system according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

a capture step for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected; and

a memory step for storing a still picture captured at said capture step and wherein said display step displays the still picture stored at said memory step after it was captured at said capture step during connection each time said operation means located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame is operated during said two-way communication system is being connected to any party being connected or immediately after said connection was ended.

7. A connection method for use a two-way communication system according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

a capture step for capturing a still picture received through said network from a spot of the party being connected;

a memory step for storing a still picture captured at said capture step; and

a selection picture display step for displaying a selection picture to select any one of said display frames when an address book in which the parties being connected in the past are registered is displayed and wherein said display step displays a still picture, stored at said memory step after it was captured at said capture step, on said selected display frame when said two-way communication system is connected to the party being selected based on the fact that any party being connected is selected from said address book when the selection picture is displayed at said selection picture display step and that the display frame is selected by said selection picture.

8. A graphical user interface apparatus for connecting with a spot of the party being connected for use with a two-way communication system in which a shot image is transmitted through a network to said spot of the party being connected, an image received from said spot of the party being connected through said network being displayed, comprising:

display processing mechanism for arranging a plurality of display frames for displaying still pictures representing specific nominated parties being connected on a screen of display mechanism;

a plurality of operation mechanism arranged on said display frames in a one-to-one relation; and

connection processing mechanism for connecting with said nominated parties being connected represented by said still picture displayed on said display frame through said network each time said operation mechanism located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame on which said still picture is displayed is operated.

12. A graphical user interface apparatus for connecting with a spot of the party being connected for use with a two-way communication system in which a shot image is transmitted through a network to said spot of the party being connected, an image received from said spot of the party being connected through said network being displayed, comprising:

display processing mechanism for arranging a plurality of display frames to display still pictures representing specific nominated parties being connected on a screen of display mechanism;

a plurality of operation mechanism arranged on said display frames in a one-to-one relation; and

connection processing mechanism for connecting with said nominated parties being connected represented by said still picture displayed on said display frame through said network each time said operation mechanism located at the position corresponding to any of said display frame on which said still picture is displayed is operated.