System and method of determining the identity of a caller in a videoconferencing system

• US 20090033738A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Acevedo, Thomas G., Thielman, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,005 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

Abstract

A system and method of determining the identity of a caller in a local room from a remote room includes a local image capture device for capturing a plurality of images of a caller in the local room in real time. A remote codec receives the plurality of images of the caller. A remote viewscreen displays the plurality of images of the caller in real time in the remote room. A remote display monitor displays the plurality of images in real time after two-way communication is established between the local room and the remote room. The method includes establishing one-way communication between the local room and the remote room, transmitting the plurality of images of the caller to the remote room, displaying the plurality of images of the caller in real time on the remote viewscreen, and establishing two-way communication between the local room and the remote room.

Claims

1. A method of determining the identity of a caller in a videoconferencing system, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing one-way communication between a local room and a remote room;

transmitting a plurality of images of the caller to the remote room;

displaying the plurality of images of the caller in real time on a remote viewscreen; and

establishing two-way communication between the local room and the remote room.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising transferring the plurality of images of the caller from the remote viewscreen to a remote display monitor after two-way communication has been established.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of enabling one-way communication includes capturing the plurality of images of the caller in the local room in real time.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of enabling one-way communication includes encoding the plurality of images into a video signal.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising capturing an audio message in the local room.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 further comprising playing the audio message in the remote room.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of playing the audio message is simultaneous with said step of displaying the plurality of images of the caller in real time on the remote viewscreen.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising encoding an audio message into an audio signal.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising enabling a local image capture device.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of establishing two-way communication includes enabling a remote image capture device.

11. A videoconferencing system comprising:

a local image capture device;

a network in communication with said local image capture device;

a remote codec in communication with said network; and

a remote viewscreen in communication with said network for displaying a plurality of images of a caller in real time in a remote room during one-way communication between the remote room and a local room.

12. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a remote display monitor in communication with said remote codec for displaying the plurality of images of the caller in real time during two-way communication between the local room and the remote room.

13. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a local room server in communication with said network.

14. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a remote room server in communication with said network and said remote viewscreen.

15. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a local codec in communication with said local image capture device and said network.

16. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a local audio processor in communication with said local codec.

17. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a local room server in communication with said local image capture device and said network and wherein said local audio processor is in communication with said local room server.

18. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a local sound capture device in communication with said local audio processor.

19. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a local display monitor in communication with said local codec.

20. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a local viewscreen in communication with said network.

21. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 20 further comprising a local room server in communication with said local image capture device and said network and wherein said local viewscreen is in communication with said local room server.

22. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a remote image capture device in communication with said remote codec.

23. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a remote audio processor in communication with said remote codec.

24. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 23 further comprising a remote room server in communication with said network and said remote viewscreen and wherein said remote audio processor is in communication with said remote room server.

25. A videoconferencing system as set forth in claim 23 further comprising a remote sound capture device in communication with said remote audio processor.