Conversational video system

• US 4,388,489 A
• Filed: 01/30/1981
• Issued: 06/14/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reuters Limited (The Woodbridge Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Reuters Limited (The Woodbridge Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Richards, John M., Ure, David G., Wigan, Jack G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US06/230,341
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 178/2 R, 178/3, 178/17.5, 178/15, 178/30, 358/85, 358/84, 358/86, 358/93, 358/101, 358/903, 179/2 TV, 340/711, 364/514
• US Class Current: 178/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1804 for stock exchange and similar applications

Abstract

A video conversational data communication network (30) in which subscribers (34, 35) may conduct conversational video textual data communications with one or more keystations (70, 602, 98) the network (30). Each keystation (70, 602, 98) is associated with a keystation terminal controller interface (68, 96, 600) which is in turn connected to a message switching node (32) for routing calls throughout the network (30). The keystation controller interface (68, 96, 600) locally stores (304, 306) video conversational textual data for its associated keystations (70, 82, 84, 98, 100, 602) and enables two different designated keystations to conduct two different video conversations with a common keystation in a split screen display (76). The split screen display (76) may also be used to display retrievable data from a data base (50, 52) for simultaneous display (76) along with a video conversation. The video conversational textual data is transmitted between connected keystation controller interfaces (96, 602) in packets which contain less than the total displayable data content of the conversational video textural data message input via the keyboard (72). The keystation controller interface (96, 602) also enables preparation of responses prior to transmission to the other party and while receiving a transmission from that party. Prior to completion of a call, the keystation controller interface (96, 602) provides an incoming calls queue video display (76) at the connected keystations (96, 602). This video display (76) may contain a unique identifier for each keystation initiating a call as well as an interest message. The receiving keystation may then randomly select any of the displayed incoming calls irrespective of position in the queue and the video conversation may then take place using the associated keyboards (72) and video displays (76). A hard copy print out of the video conversation may then be obtained on a printer (102, 604).

Claims

1. In a video communication network capable of providing textual data messages to a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising keystations, each of said keystations comprising a keyboard means for inputting textual data messages and associated data control signals to said network and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network;

the improvement comprising at least one message switching node interface means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network and a plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means operatively connected between said keystations and said one message switching node interface means with at least one keystation being operatively connected to one keystation terminal controller interface means for each of said plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means, said one message switching node interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals, each of said keystation controller interface means comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least one of said keystations connected to said keystation controller interface means, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said keystation controller interface means for initiating calls to a keystation designated portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, said keystation controller interface means comprising means for providing said calling signals to said message switching node interface means and for receiving said calling signals therefrom for completing a call to said one connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising means for routing said calling signals to said designated keystations to complete said initiated calls, said display control logic means comprising means for providing on said one connected keystation video display means a substantially simultaneous video display of video conversational textural data received from two different designated keystations in said network with which calls are completed via said separate keyboard means associated with said two different designated keystations and transmitted to said two different designated keystations via said keyboard means associated with said one connected keystation, whereby different video conversations may be substantially simultaneously carried out with different keystations on a common video display using a common keyboard.

2. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said local video display storage means comprises means for locally storing said video conversational textual data from said two different substantially simultaneous calls with said two different designated keystations.

3. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 2 wherein said network further comprises hard copy printing means operatively connected to each of said keystation controller interface means for providing a hard copy print out of said locally stored video conversational textual data.

4. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 3 wherein said display control logic means further comprises keyboard control logic means for enabling said one connected keystation to input a video conversational textual data message via said keyboard means prior to transmitting said message to said designated keystations.

5. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 4 wherein said keyboard control logic means enables said video conversational textual data message to be input while said connected keystation is receiving a video conversational textual data passage from one of said designated keystations.

6. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 5 wherein said network further comprises a retrievable data base comprising retrievable video displayable textual data, said keyboard control logic means comprising means for enabling selective retrieval of said data from said data base for video display thereof while at least video textual conversational data from one of said calls to one of said designated keystations is substantially simultaneously displayed on said one connected keystation video display means.

7. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 6 wherein said message routing control logic means comprises means for providing an incoming calls signal to said keystation controller interface means comprising all of said incoming calls designated for a particular keystation controller interface means, said display control logic means comprising means for displaying said incoming calls on said one connected keystation video display means, each of said incoming calls comprising at least a unique identifier associated with the keystation initiating the call.

8. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 7 wherein said local video display storage means stores said incoming calls in a caller queue for providing an incoming caller queue video display.

9. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 8 wherein said display control logic comprises means for enabling random selection of an incoming call from said incoming caller queue for completing a call to said selected incoming call initiating keystation.

10. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 9 wherein said display control logic means comprises means for transmitting said video conversational textual data input from said one connected keystation keyboard means from said one connected keystation to said designated keystations in data packets comprising less than the total video displayable data content of said video textual data conversational message.

11. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network further comprises hard copy printing means operatively connected to each of said keystation controller interface means for providing a hard copy print out of said locally stored video conversational textual data.

12. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display control logic means further comprises keyboard control logic means for enabling said one connected keystation to input a video conversational textual data message via said keyboard means prior to transmitting said message to said designated keystations.

13. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 12 wherein said keyboard control logic means enables said video conversational textual data message to be input while said connected keystation is receiving a video conversational textual data message from one of said designated keystations.

14. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network further comprises a retrievable data base comprising retrievable video displayable textual data, said keyboard control logic means comprising means for enabling selective retrieval of said data from said data base for video display thereof while at lease video textual conversational data from one of said calls to one of said designated keystations is substantially simultaneously displayed on said one connected keystation video display means.

15. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said message routing control logic means comprises means for providing an incoming calls signal to said keystation controller interface means comprising all of said incoming calls designated for a particular keystation controller interface means, said display control logic means comprising means for displaying said incoming calls on said one connected keystation video display means, each of said incoming calls comprising at least a unique identifier associated with the keystation initiating the call.

16. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 15 wherein said local video display storage means stores said incoming calls in a caller queue for providing an incoming caller queue video display.

17. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 16 wherein said display control logic comprises means for enabling random selection of an incoming call from said incoming caller queue for completing a call to said selected incoming call initiating keystation.

18. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display control logic means comprises means for transmitting said video conversational textual data input from said one connected keystation keyboard means from said one connected keystation to said designated keystations in data packets comprising less than the total video displayable data content of said video textual data conversational message.

19. In a video communication network capable of providing textual data messages to a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising keystations, each of said keystations comprising a keyboard means for operator input of textural data messages and associated data control signals to said network via said keyboard means and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network;

the improvement comprising at least one message switching node interface means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network and a plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means operatively connected between said keystations and said one message switching node interface means with at least one keystation being operatively connected to one keystation terminal controller interface means for each of said plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means, said one message switching node interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals, each of said keystation controller interface means comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least one of said keystations connected to said keystation controller interface means, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said keystation controller interface means for initiating calls to a keystation designated portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, said keystation controller interface means comprising means for providing said calling signals to said message switching node interface means and for receiving said calling signals therefrom for completing a call to said one connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising means for routing said calling signals to said designated keystations to complete said initiated calls, wherein said display control logic means comprises keyboard control logic means for enabling the operator at said one connected keystation to input and display a video conversational textual data reply message via said keyboard means prior to the operator enabling transmission of said conversational reply message to a designated keystation in said network with which a call has been completed while said one connected keystation is receiving and displaying a related video conversational textual data message from said designated keystation.

20. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 19 wherein said keyboard control logic means further comprises means for varying said displayed conversational reply message prior to the operator enabling said transmission thereof while said one connected keystation is receiving and displaying said related conversational message from said designated keystation.

21. In a video communication network capable of providing textual data messages to a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising keystations, each of said keystations comprising a keyboard means for inputting textual data messages and associated data control signals to said network and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network;

the improvement comprising at least one message switching node interface means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network and a plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means operatively connected between said keystations and said one message switching node interface means with at least one keystation being operatively connected to one keystation terminal controller interface means for each of said plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means, said one message switching node interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals, each of said keystation controller interface means comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least one of said keystations connected to said keystation controller interface means, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said keystation controller interface means for initiating calls to a keystation designated portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, said keystation controller interface means comprising means for providing said calling signals to said message switching node interface means and for receiving said calling signals therefrom for completing a call to said one connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising means for routing said calling signals to said designated keystations to complete said initiated calls, wherein said network further comprises a retrievable data base comprising retrievable video displayable textual data, said keyboard control logic means comprising means for enabling selective retrieval of said data from said data base for video display thereof while at least video textual conversational data from one of said calls to one of said designated keystations is substantially simultaneously displayed on said one connected keystation video display means.

22. In a video communication network capable of providing textural data messages to a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising keystations, each of said keystations comprising a keyboard means for inputting textual data messages and associated data control signals to said network and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network;

the improvement comprising at least one message switching node interface means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network and a plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means operatively connected between said keystations and said one message switching node interface means with at least one keystation being operatively connected to one keystation terminal controller interface means for each of said plurality of keystation terminal contoller interface means, said one message switching node interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals, each of said keystation controller interface means comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least one of said keystations connected to said keystation controller interface means, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said keystation controller interface means for initiating calls to a keystation designated portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, said keystation controller interface means comprising means for providing said calling signals to said message switching node interface means and for receiving said calling signals therefrom for completing a call to said one connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising means for routing said calling signals to said designated keystations to complete said initiated calls, wherein said message routing control logic means comprises means for providing an incoming calls signal to said keystation controller interface means comprising all of said incoming calls designated for a particular keystation controller interface means, said display control logic means comprising means for displaying said incoming calls on said one connected keystation video display means, each of said incoming calls comprising at least a unique identifier associated with the keystation initiating the call, said local video display storage means storing said incoming calls in a caller queue for providing an incoming caller queue video display, said display control logic means further comprising means for enabling random selection of an incoming call from said incoming caller queue for completing a call to said selected incoming call initiating keystation.

23. In a video communication network capable of providing textual data messages to a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising keystations, each of said keystations comprising a keyboard means for inputting textual data messages and associated data control signals to said network and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network;

the improvement comprising at least one message switching node interface means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network and a plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means operatively connected between said keystations and said one message switching node interface means with at least one keystation being operatively connected to one keystation terminal controller interface means for each of said plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means, said one message switching node interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals, each of said keystation controller interface means comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least one of said keystations connected to said keystation controller interface means, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said keystation controller interface means for initiating calls to a keystation designated portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, said keystation controller interface means comprising means for providing said calling signals to said message switching node interface means and for receiving said calling signals therefrom for completing a call to said one connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising means for routing said calling signals to said designated keystations to complete said initiated calls, wherein said display control logic means comprises means for initiating transmission of said keyboard generated video conversational textual data input from said one connected keystation to a designated keystation in said network with which a call has been completed in multicharacter data packets comprising less than the total video displayable data content of one video displayable line of one said video textual data conversational messages.