Telecommunications system and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for adapting video and digital signals to a computer in a telecommunications system to allow a plurality of terminals to engage in teleconferencing via a digital data network, comprising:
- video input means for forming a standard video signal;
a frame grabber connected to the video input means;
a computer connected to the flame grabber to receive the video signal;
means connected to the computer for encoding and compressing the video signal and producing a continuous, fixed rate digital data stream output signal that comprises a first sequence of picture lines to define a first picture to be transmitted having a gray scale, and for controlling horizontal resolution, and for controlling the update rate for the first pictures transmitted;
means having an output connected as an input to said computer, for decoding and expanding digital signals from said data network, said means including a buffer for storing the first sequence of picture lines that comprise the first picture received by the means for encoding until the means for decoding receives a second sequence of picture lines that comprise the second picture received; and
modulator/demodulator means for interfacing the output of the means for encoding and compressing and the input to said means for decoding and expanding with the digital data network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A teleconferencing system includes desktop computers, external cameras anderipheral apparatus to allow interconnection of two or more terminals to engage in teleconferencing via digital data networks. A frame grabber interfaces each camera with its computer. Signals output from the computer are encoded and compressed before being input to a telephone line via a modulator/demodulator. A decoder is connected between the modulator/demodulator and the computer for decoding compressed video signals received by the modulator/demodulator means from the telephone line so that the signals may be displayed on a video display connected to the computer.
212 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus for adapting video and digital signals to a computer in a telecommunications system to allow a plurality of terminals to engage in teleconferencing via a digital data network, comprising:
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video input means for forming a standard video signal; a frame grabber connected to the video input means; a computer connected to the flame grabber to receive the video signal; means connected to the computer for encoding and compressing the video signal and producing a continuous, fixed rate digital data stream output signal that comprises a first sequence of picture lines to define a first picture to be transmitted having a gray scale, and for controlling horizontal resolution, and for controlling the update rate for the first pictures transmitted; means having an output connected as an input to said computer, for decoding and expanding digital signals from said data network, said means including a buffer for storing the first sequence of picture lines that comprise the first picture received by the means for encoding until the means for decoding receives a second sequence of picture lines that comprise the second picture received; and modulator/demodulator means for interfacing the output of the means for encoding and compressing and the input to said means for decoding and expanding with the digital data network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for adapting video signals to a computer for a telecommunications system to allow a plurality of terminals to engage in teleconferencing via a digital data network, comprising the steps of:
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forming a standard video signal; arranging a frame grabber to receive the video signal;
connecting a computer to the frame grabber to receive the video signal therefrom;connecting encoder means to the computer for compressing the video signal and producing a continuous, fixed rate digital data stream output signal that comprises a first sequence of picture lines to define a first picture to be transmitted having a gray scale, and for controlling horizontal resolution, and vertical resolution; connecting decoder means to the computer, the decoder means including a buffer for storing the first sequence of picture lines that comprise the first picture received by the encoder means until the decoder means receives a second sequence of picture lines that comprise the second picture received; and interfacing the output of the encoder means with the digital data network by means of a modulator/demodulator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification