COMPACT REAL-TIME VIDEO TRANSMISSION MODULE

• US 20100202510A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Albert S. Kyle
• Original Assignee: Albert S. Kyle
• Inventors: Kyle, Albert S.
• Application Number:
  US12/702,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20100202510A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

The invention comprises a low cost, lightweight, self-contained video transmission module for transmitting streaming video images from a video image source to a remote location over a packet-switched network such as the internet. The transmission module requires no user skill or expertise to connect or to operate and provides high quality real-time streaming video to remote users. The transmission module is especially useful for transmitting images from medical equipment such as XRay, CT, MRI and ultrasound equipment at a medical site which does not otherwise have access to video conference capabilities to thereby enable consultation with specialists at a remote location. Thus, it is expected to be especially beneficial to smaller and poorer medical sites, as well as enabling real-time consultation from mobile vehicles such as ambulances or helicopters. It also is expected to be useful in other applications involving remote consultations accompanied by video streaming.

Claims

1. A video transmission module for streaming video images over a packet-switched network comprising:

an enclosure;

a connector terminal within said enclosure for receiving video signals from an external source;

an encoder within said enclosure for compressing said video signals; and

a transmission element within said enclosure for receiving compressed video from said encoder and transforming said video into a format adapted to transmission over a packet-switched network.

2. A video transmission module according to claim 1 in which said transmission element comprises at least one of a bridge or router and a wireless modem.

4. A video transmission module according to claim 1 in which said video signals comprise video in one or more formats, including compact video, S-video, HDMI, DVI and VGA, among others.

5. A video transmission module according to claim 1 in which said encoder encodes the video signals into a format including an Mpeg format, among others.

6. A video transmission module according to claim 1 which further includes a power supply for providing power to said encoder and said transmission element.

7. A video transmission module according to claim 1 in which said network includes one includes one or more of Ethernet, WiFi, and mobile broadband cellular networks.

8. A video transmission module according to claim 1 which includes a subscription to a packet-switched network.

3. A video transmission module according to claim in which said transmission element includes both a router and a wireless modem.