Mobile video teleconferencing system and control method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile video teleconferencing apparatus comprising:
- (a) a base;
(b) two wheels rotatably connected to the base;
(c) a movement control subsystem mechanically rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels;
(d) a video subsystem comprising a video camera;
(e) a central processing unit, the central processing unit controlling the movement control subsystem, and accepting video data from the video camera;
(f) a data link for communicating between the central processing unit and a remotely located computational device, the data link sending video data to the remotely located computational device, and receiving movement control data from the remotely located computational device;
(g) a vertical support member, the top of the vertical support member supporting the video subsystem and the bottom of the vertical support member connected to the base; and
(h) a dynamic stabilization subsystem, whereby the apparatus is kept substantially upright in the fore-aft plain through a control loop which senses the forces acting on the apparatus and drives the movement control subsystem.
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Abstract
A mobile video teleconferencing system comprising an audio-visual assembly atop a vertical support structure mounted to a powered, wheeled base. The device is controlled through a wireless Internet connection by a remote user, and is light enough to be carried with one hand.
224 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A mobile video teleconferencing apparatus comprising:
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(a) a base;
(b) two wheels rotatably connected to the base;
(c) a movement control subsystem mechanically rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels;
(d) a video subsystem comprising a video camera;
(e) a central processing unit, the central processing unit controlling the movement control subsystem, and accepting video data from the video camera;
(f) a data link for communicating between the central processing unit and a remotely located computational device, the data link sending video data to the remotely located computational device, and receiving movement control data from the remotely located computational device;
(g) a vertical support member, the top of the vertical support member supporting the video subsystem and the bottom of the vertical support member connected to the base; and
(h) a dynamic stabilization subsystem, whereby the apparatus is kept substantially upright in the fore-aft plain through a control loop which senses the forces acting on the apparatus and drives the movement control subsystem.
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2. A mobile video teleconferencing apparatus comprising:
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(a) a base;
(b) a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the base;
(c) a movement control subsystem mechanically rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels;
(d) a video subsystem comprising a video camera and a video display;
(e) a central processing unit, the central processing unit controlling the movement control subsystem, accepting video data from the video camera, and sending video data to the video display;
(f) a data link for communicating between the central processing unit and a remotely located computational device, the data link sending video data to the remotely located computational device, and receiving movement control data and video data from the remotely located computational device; and
(g) a vertical support member, the top of the vertical support member supporting the video subsystem and the bottom of the vertical support member connected to the base, (h) whereby the apparatus may be carried with one hand by a human of average strength without mechanical assistance. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A mobile video teleconferencing apparatus comprising:
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(a) a base;
(b) a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the base;
(c) a movement control subsystem mechanically rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels;
(d) a video subsystem comprising a video camera and a video display;
(e) a central processing unit, the central processing unit controlling the movement control subsystem, accepting video data from the video camera, and sending video data to the video display;
(f) a data link for communicating between the central processing unit and a remotely located computational device, the data link sending video data to the remotely located computational device, and receiving movement control data and video data from the remotely located computational device; and
(g) a vertical support member, the top of the vertical support member supporting the video subsystem and the bottom of the vertical support member connected to the base, (h) wherein the apparatus may be collapsed into a rectangular volume that is less than half of the rectangular volume when uncollapsed.
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28. A mobile video teleconferencing system comprising:
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(a) a remotely located computational device comprising a means for sending and receiving audio and video over the Internet; and
(b) a mobile video teleconferencing apparatus comprising;
(i) a base;
(ii) a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the base;
(iii) a movement control subsystem mechanically rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels;
(iv) a video subsystem comprising a video camera and a video display;
(v) a central processing unit, the central processing unit controlling the movement control subsystem, accepting video data from the video camera, and sending video data to the video display;
(vi) a data link for communicating between the central processing unit and the remotely located computational device, the data link sending video data to the remotely located computational device, and receiving movement control data and video data from the remotely located computational device; and
(vii) a vertical support member, the top of the vertical support member supporting the video subsystem and the bottom of the vertical support member connected to the base, (viii) wherein the apparatus may be carried with one hand by a human of average strength without mechanical assistance.
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29. A method for mobile video teleconferencing comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a bi-directional data link between a mobile video teleconferencing apparatus and a remote computational device;
(b) sending video data of the remote environment to the mobile video teleconferencing apparatus;
(c) sending video data of the mobile video teleconferencing device'"'"'s local environment to the remote computational device; and
(d) commanding the mobile video teleconferencing apparatus to move to a new physical position via an instruction sent over the bi-directional data link, (e) wherein the mobile video teleconferencing apparatus comprises;
(i) a base;
(ii) a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the base;
(iii) a movement control subsystem mechanically rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels;
(iv) a video subsystem comprising a video camera and a video display;
(v) a central processing unit, the central processing unit controlling the movement control subsystem, accepting video data from the video camera, and sending video data to the video display;
(vi) a data link for communicating between the central processing unit and the remotely located computational device, the data link sending video data to the remotely located computational device, and receiving movement control data and video data from the remotely located computational device; and
(vii) a vertical support member, the top of the vertical support member supporting the video subsystem and the bottom of the vertical support member connected to the base, (viii) wherein the apparatus may be carried with one hand by a human of average strength without mechanical assistance.
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Specification