High definition videoconferencing system

• US 20060158509A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Kenoyer, Michael L., Malloy, Craig B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.80
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

In some embodiments, a videoconferencing system may support using high definition images (e.g., 1280×720 pixels) for high definition displays. The videoconferencing system comprises a plurality of participant locations that may participate in the videoconference. Each participant location may comprise videoconferencing equipment, such as at least one camera, microphone(s), a display, one or more speakers, and a videoconferencing codec. The camera may be a high definition camera operable to acquire or capture images having a high resolution compatible with HDTV. In one embodiment, the videoconferencing equipment comprises a H.264 encoder and is operable to encode the video stream of high definition images using H.264 encoding techniques. In one embodiment the network may be 1.544 MB or less (e.g., T1 or less). In another embodiment, the network is 2.048 MB or less.

Claims

1. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

a camera operable to capture a plurality of high definition images of a first participant location;

a videoconferencing device coupled to the camera and operable to provide a video stream to a remote participant location, wherein the video stream comprises the plurality of high definition images of the first participant location; and

wherein the videoconferencing system is configured to provide the video stream over a network at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth.

2. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the camera is a high definition camera.

3. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the camera is a high definition camera that supports two or more of pan, tilt and zoom capabilities.

4. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the camera is a high definition camera that supports pan, tilt and zoom capabilities.

5. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the camera provides a digital interface to the videoconferencing device.

6. The videoconferencing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a high definition display located at the remote participant location and operable to display the video stream in a high definition format.

7. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the videoconferencing device comprises an H.264 encoder operable to encode the video stream using H.264 encoding prior to providing the stream over the network.

8. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the high definition images have a resolution of at least 1280×

720.

9. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the high definition images have a resolution of at least 1280×

720 at 5 frames per second.

10. The videoconferencing system of claim 1

wherein the high-definition images have a resolution of at least 1920×

1080.

11. The videoconferencing system of claim 1,

wherein the high definition images have a resolution of at least 1920×

1080 at 30 frames per second.

12. The videoconferencing system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the network operates at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth capability.

13. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

a videoconferencing device located at a first participant location, wherein the videoconferencing device is coupled to a network and operable to receive an encoded video stream, wherein the videoconferencing device is configured to receive the encoded video stream at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth, wherein the encoded video stream comprises high definition images of the first participant location, wherein the encoded video stream is encoded using H.264 encoding, wherein the videoconferencing device comprises a decoder for decoding the encoded video stream; and

a high definition display coupled to the videoconferencing device and located at a remote participant location, wherein the high definition display is operable to display the high definition images in a high definition format.

14. The videoconferencing system of claim 13,

wherein the high definition images have a resolution of at least 1280×

720.

15. The videoconferencing system of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the network operates at 1.5 Megabits per second or less bandwidth capability.

16. A method for operating a videoconference, comprising:

capturing a plurality of images of a first participant location in the videoconference, wherein each of the captured images has a high resolution;

encoding a video stream based on the plurality of images, wherein the video stream is encoded using H.264 encoding;

providing the video stream to a remote participant location in the videoconference for display on a high resolution display at the remote participant location, wherein the video stream comprises high definition images of the first participant location; and

wherein the videoconferencing system provides the video stream over a network at 1.5 Megabits per second or less bandwidth.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein the high definition images have a resolution of at least 1280×

720.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the network operates at 1.5 Megabits per second or less bandwidth capability.

19. A method for operating a videoconference, comprising:

receiving an encoded video stream over a wide area network at a participant location in the videoconference, wherein the encoded video stream is received by the participant location at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth, wherein the encoded video stream comprises an encoded plurality of high definition images, wherein the video stream is encoded using H.264 encoding;

decoding the encoded video stream at a remote participant location to produce the plurality of high definition images; and

displaying the plurality of high definition images on a high resolution display at the participant location in the videoconference.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein the high definition images have a resolution of at least 1280×

720.

21. A method for operating a videoconferencing system, comprising:

capturing a plurality of high definition images of a first participant location in the videoconference;

encoding a video stream based on the plurality of high definition images to produce an encoded video stream, wherein the video stream is encoded using H.264 encoding, wherein the encoded video stream comprises high definition images of the first participant location;

providing the encoded video stream over a wide area network to a remote participant location in the videoconference, wherein the video stream is provided at 1.5 Megabits per second or less bandwidth;

decoding the encoded video stream at the remote participant location to produce the plurality of high definition images; and

displaying the plurality of high definition images on a high definition display at the remote participant location.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein the high definition images have a resolution of at least 1280×

720.

23. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

a camera operable to capture a plurality of high definition images of a first participant location;

a videoconferencing device coupled to the camera and operable to provide a video stream to a remote participant location, wherein the video stream comprises the plurality of high definition images of the first participant location; and

wherein the videoconferencing system is configured to provide the video stream over a network, wherein at least a portion of the network operates at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth capability.