AUDIOVISUAL TERMINAL

• US 20100283826A1
• Filed: 09/01/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rixen UK Limited (Vee24, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rixen UK Limited (Vee24, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henshaw, Michael Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/675,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283826A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

An audiovisual terminal for use in videoconferencing or in providing online services is provided with a high resolution camera for capturing a video image of the operator. The camera is mounted at a distance from the operator and has a narrow field of view allowing a significantly clearer image of the operator to be obtained than is normally possible with a conventional webcam. The operator is also provided with a headset incorporating a microphone and a loudspeaker. The operator is provided with a primary display unit, displaying control information for operating the terminal and may also display visual or other date received from external sources. A secondary display is operable to display the video image captured by the camera. This allows the operator to monitor the operation of the camera during a videoconference call.

Claims

1-39. -39. (canceled)

40. An audiovisual terminal comprising:

audio and visual recording means for making an audiovisual recording of an operator;

audio and visual output means for outputting audiovisual data;

control means for operating the terminal;

connection means for facilitating the receipt and transmission of audiovisual data; and

a backdrop panel provided behind the operator with respect to the visual recording means, wherein the visual recording means is a high resolution video camera with a narrow field of view.

41. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the visual recording means is positioned at a sufficient distance from the operator that it is able to capture a clear image of at least the operators head and wherein the position of the visual recording means and the field of view are adapted such that the image of the operators head takes up a desired proportion of the area of the captured image.

42. An audiovisual terminal as claim 40, wherein the backdrop panel is adapted to provide a contrast to the operator so as to improve the clarity of the captured image.

43. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 42, wherein the backdrop panel is adapted to display data, which may or may not be controlled by the operator and wherein said data display on the backdrop panel is achieved by:

projection onto the panel from a projector means;

or by incorporating a display unit into the panel.

44. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein:

the control means comprises control input means being a keypad and/or a pointer device such as a computer mouse, trackball, joystick or touch sensitive pad; and

a processor means such as a personal computer.

45. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the audio and visual output means include a data display unit provided in front of the operator which is free standing or is mounted on, in or to any other component of the terminal and wherein the data display unit is fixed in position or is moveable by way of translation and/or rotation.

46. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the audio and visual output means include one or more loudspeakers, which are integrated into the display unit or are separate units mounted on, in or to any other component of the terminal or mountable on or in the vicinity of the operator and wherein the loudspeakers are fixed in position or are moveable by way of translation and/or rotation.

47. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 45, wherein the data display unit is operable to display incoming audiovisual data and/or terminal control information and/or the image captured by the visual recording means.

48. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 45, wherein two or more display units are provided and wherein said display units are dedicated for the display of incoming or outgoing audiovisual data, control information, the image captured by the visual recording means or any other suitable data.

49. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 48, wherein a primary display unit is provided directly in front of the operator and a secondary display unit is provided adjacent to the visual recording means.

50. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the audio recording means comprises a microphone mountable on or in the vicinity of the operator and connected to the terminal by a wired or via a wireless link.

51. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the terminal is provided with additional audio/visual recording means.

52. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the terminal is provided with a fine detail camera, which is either fixed or moveable and which is operable to capture a high resolution, narrow field image at a short focal length.

53. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the connection means comprises wired or wireless connections to a local private network or a public network such as the internet, television or telephone network.

54. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the received data comprises audiovisual data and/or purely audio data, purely visual data or text data.

55. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the terminal is provided with lighting means comprising:

soft front lighting means positioned in front of the operator; and

/or rear lighting means operable to illuminate the backdrop panel and/or the operator.

56. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the terminal is provided with one or more warning indicators operable to output a visual indication as to whether the terminal is currently in operation.

57. An audiovisual terminal as claimed in claim 40, wherein the terminal is provided in the form of a desk unit which incorporates one or more screening panels, in front of and/or to the side of the operator and wherein the desk and said panels are connected and supported by upstanding legs.

58. A method of capturing a video image of a participant in a video conference comprising capturing the image using a video camera having a narrow field of view positioned at sufficient distance from the participant that the head of the participant fills around half of the captured image wherein a display screen is provided behind the participant within the field of view of the video camera such that additional information displayed on the display screen may form part of the captured image.

59. A method of connecting a video conference between two audiovisual terminals, wherein each audiovisual terminal comprises:

audio and visual recording means for making an audiovisual recording of an operator;

audio and visual output means for outputting audiovisual data;

control means for operating the terminal;

connection means for facilitating the receipt and transmission of audiovisual data; and

a backdrop panel provided behind the operator with respect to the visual recording means, and wherein the visual recording means is a high resolution video camera with a narrow field of view, the method comprising the steps of;

providing an online directory of terminal operators;

enabling terminal operators to connect to said online directory;

enabling connected terminal operators to select other terminal operators from the online directory; and

enabling audiovisual data to be routed between said connected terminal operator and said selected terminal operator.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the online directory comprises a list of names and/or images identifying the terminal operators and wherein an operator sets permissions with regard to which other operators may view their entry in the database and/or which operators may send audiovisual data to them.