Tele-robotic videoconferencing in a corporate environment

• US 20060082642A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc., D.B.A. InTouch Health
• Sponsoring Entity: InTouch Technologies, Inc., D.B.A. InTouch Health
• Inventors: Southard, Jonathan, Wang, Yulun, Pinter, Marco, Jordan, Charles S.
• GRANTED PATENT: US 7,593,030 B2
• Time in USPTO: 0 Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A business to business mobile teleconferencing system. The system includes a mobile robot that can be remotely operated from a remote station. Both the robot and the remote station may have a camera, a screen, a microphone and a speaker to conduct a teleconference between a user at the remote station and personnel located in viewing proximity of the robot.

Claims

1. . A method for conducting a business tele-conference, comprising:

moving a robot that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone, across a surface of a business facility with at least one signal from a remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone, the remote station screen has a first field that displays an image from the robot camera and a second field that displays an image from the remote station camera; and

,

transmitting images and sound between the robot and the remote station.

2. . The method of claim 1, wherein a user at the remote station gives a presentation through the robot to an audience within viewing distance of the robot.

3. . The method of claim 1, wherein a user at the remote station moves the robot into at least one office to conduct a teleconference with one or more occupants of the office.

4. . The method of claim 3, wherein the user is a manager and the office occupants are employees.

5. . The method of claim 1, wherein the user at the remote station attends a meeting through the robot.

6. . The method of claim 5, wherein the meeting is unscheduled.

7. . The method of claim 1, wherein the tele-conference occurs after the joining of a business entity at the remote station and a business entity at the robot.

8. . A method for assisting in the integration of a first business entity with a second business entity, comprising:

moving a robot that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone, across a surface of a business facility of the first business entity with at least one signal from a remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone and is located at the second business entity, the remote station screen has a first field that displays an image from the robot camera and a second field that displays an image from the remote station camera; and

,

transmitting images and sound between the robot and the remote station.

9. . The method of claim 8, wherein a user at the remote station gives a presentation through the robot to an audience within viewing distance of the robot.

10. . The method of claim 8, wherein a user at the remote station moves the robot into a plurality of offices to conduct a teleconference with one or more occupants of each office.

11. . The method of claim 10, wherein the user is a manager and the office occupants are employees.

12. . The method of claim 8, wherein the user at the remote station attends a meeting through the robot.

13. . The method of claim 12, wherein the meeting is unscheduled.

14. . The method of claim 8, wherein the tele-conference occurs after the joining of a business entity at the remote station and a business entity at the robot.

15. . A remote controlled robot system, comprising:

a robot that includes a screen, a first camera with a wide view angle, and a second camera with a narrow view angle;

a remote station that can control said robot, said remote station includes a screen that displays a display user interface, said display user interface displays at least one graphical input to select between a wide angle view and a narrow angle view.

16. . The system of claim 15, wherein said robot includes a mobile platform.

17. . (canceled)

18. . A remote controlled robot system, comprising:

a broadband network;

a robot that is coupled to said broadband network and includes a screen, a first camera with a wide view angle, and a second camera with a narrow view angle; and

,

a remote station that is coupled to said broadband network and can control said robot, said remote station includes a screen that displays a display user interface, said display user interface displays at least one graphical input to select between a wide angle view and a narrow angle view.

19. . The system of claim 18, wherein said robot includes a mobile platform.

20. . The system of claim 18, wherein said remote station includes a screen that displays a display user interface, said display user interface displays at least one graphical input to select between a wide angle view and a narrow angle view.

21. . A remote controlled robot system, comprising:

a robot that includes a screen and camera means for providing a wide view angle and a narrow view angle;

a remote station that can control said robot, said remote station includes a screen that displays a display user interface, said display user interface displays at least one graphical input to select between a wide angle view and a narrow angle view.

22. . The system of claim 21, wherein said robot includes a mobile platform.

23. . The system of claim 21, wherein said remote station includes a screen that displays a display user interface, said display user interface displays at least one graphical input to select between a wide angle view and a narrow angle view.

24. . A method for remotely tele-conferencing, comprising:

capturing images with a first camera with a wide angle view and a second camera with a narrow angle view, the first and second cameras being attached to a robot with a screen;

transmitting the images from said first and second cameras to a remote station;

selecting at least one graphical input of a display user interface to switch the display of the images between the first and second cameras.

25. . The method of claim 24, further comprising moving the robot.

26. . The method of claim 24, further comprising displaying an image from the first camera or the second camera on a display image field.

27. . The method of claim 24, further comprising selecting at least one graphical input of a display user interface to switch the display of the images between the first and second cameras.