Method and apparatus for video broadcasting and teleconferencing
First Claim
1. A network for providing video teleconferencing capability among several remote sites, comprising:
- a) central switching means for receiving and processing signals from the remote sites;
b) means for generating video signals at the remote sites;
c) means for transmitting said video signals to said central switching means;
d) said central switching means including;
i) means for allocating a different channel to said video signals from each one of the remote sites, each channel being indicative of one of the remote sites and having a predetermined carrier frequency;
ii) means for scanning said allocated channels to generate signals identificative of said allocated channels;
iii) means for feeding back said channel identifying signals to the remote sites over a first carrier frequency;
iv) multiplexer means for compressing and multiplexing said video signals of said allocated channels, said multiplexer means including means for modulating said video signals over a second carrier frequency, sand said video signals being modulated over said predetermined carrier frequencies of their respective channels and over said second carrier frequency; and
v) means for transmitting said multiplexer signals from said central switching means to the selecting remote sites; and
e) each remote site including;
i) selection means for using said feedback channel identifying signals to selectively identify and select the channels to be revised by each remote site;
ii) means for receiving said multiplexed signals;
iii) means for demultiplexing and separating said received signals into separate channels;
iv) means for storing the separated signals for a predetermined period of time;
v) means for decompressing and reconstructing the signals of the selected channel on a real-time basis; and
vi) monitor means for displaying the reconstructed signals of the selected channel on a real-time basis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video teleconferencing network among several remote sites includes a central switching system for receiving and processing signals from the remote sites. Video cameras are located at each one of the remote sites for generating video signals. Each camera includes an optical system having a plurality of lens systems for processing colors of different frequencies. Each one of the lens systems includes a shutter for generating amplitude vectorial signals proportional to the amplitude of the color signal being processed by the lens system. Each one of the lens systems further includes means responsive to the frequency of the corresponding color being processed by the particular lens system, for generating vectorial signals proportional to the frequency of the color signal being processed by the lens system. A modular monitor has a relatively small size liquid crystal modular screen, for use by an individual user to display texts and graphics. The modular screen includes a plurality of modules selectively engageable to one another, by the individual user, to form a single unitary screen. A user station is adapted to be coupled to the single unitary screen, for controlling the display of information thereon.
314 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network for providing video teleconferencing capability among several remote sites, comprising:
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a) central switching means for receiving and processing signals from the remote sites; b) means for generating video signals at the remote sites; c) means for transmitting said video signals to said central switching means; d) said central switching means including; i) means for allocating a different channel to said video signals from each one of the remote sites, each channel being indicative of one of the remote sites and having a predetermined carrier frequency; ii) means for scanning said allocated channels to generate signals identificative of said allocated channels; iii) means for feeding back said channel identifying signals to the remote sites over a first carrier frequency; iv) multiplexer means for compressing and multiplexing said video signals of said allocated channels, said multiplexer means including means for modulating said video signals over a second carrier frequency, sand said video signals being modulated over said predetermined carrier frequencies of their respective channels and over said second carrier frequency; and v) means for transmitting said multiplexer signals from said central switching means to the selecting remote sites; and e) each remote site including; i) selection means for using said feedback channel identifying signals to selectively identify and select the channels to be revised by each remote site; ii) means for receiving said multiplexed signals; iii) means for demultiplexing and separating said received signals into separate channels; iv) means for storing the separated signals for a predetermined period of time; v) means for decompressing and reconstructing the signals of the selected channel on a real-time basis; and vi) monitor means for displaying the reconstructed signals of the selected channel on a real-time basis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A teleconferencing method for providing selective video communication capability among a plurality of remote sites and a central video switching exchange (CVSE), the teleconferencing method comprising the steps of:
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a) initiating a video call to one or more remote sites for participating in a video teleconferencing session; b) the CVSE allocating a plurality of different video channels to the participating remote sites, each video channel corresponding to one of the participating remote sites; c) the CVSE generating signals for identifying said video channels, said video identifying signals being distinct from said video channels; d) transmitting said channel identifying signals to the participating remote sites; e) each of the remote sites selecting the desired video identifying signals indicative of the desired video channels to be viewed at the selecting remote site; f) the remote sites feeding back said selected video identifying signals to the CVSE; g) the CVSE scanning said fed back video identifying signals for identifying the video channels selected by each of the remote sites; h) the CVSE compressing and multiplexing said allocated video channels and modulating said video channels over a second carrier frequency, each of said video channels having a predetermined carrier frequency, and said video channels including video signals being modulated over said predetermined carrier frequencies of their respective video channels and over said second carrier frequency, the CVSE compressing and multiplexing said signals from said allocated video channels into separate video signal packets, each packet corresponding to the particular selection of the video channels made by one of the remote sites; i) the CVSE transmitting said video signal packets to the corresponding remote site; j) each of the remote sites receiving its corresponding compressed and multiplexed video signal packet; k) each of the remote sites demultiplexing and separating the received video signal packets into separate video channels; l) each of the remote sites reconstructing the demultiplexed video channels on a real-time basis; and m) each of the remote sites displaying the signals of said reconstructed video channels on a real-time basis. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A video teleconferencing network for providing selective video communication capability among a plurality of remote sites and a central video switching exchange (CVSE), the teleconferencing network comprising:
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a) means for initiating a video call to one or more remote sites for participating in a video teleconferencing session; b) means for allocating a plurality of different video channels to the participating remote sites, each video channel corresponding to one of the participating remote sites; c) means for generating signals for identifying said video channels, said video identifying signals being distinct from said video channels; d) means for transmitting said channel identifying signals to all the participating remote sites; e) control mean located at the remote sites for selecting the desired video identifying signals indicative of the desired video channels to be viewed at the selecting remote site; f) feed-back means at the remote sites for feeding back said selected video identifying signals to the CVSE; g) means for scanning said fed back video identifying signals for identifying the video channels selected by each of the remote sites; h) multiplexer means for compressing and multiplexing said allocated video channels and modulating said video channels over a second carrier frequency, each of said video channels having a predetermined carrier frequency, and said video channels including video signals being modulated over the predetermined carrier frequencies of their respective video channels and over said second carrier frequency, said multiplexer means compressing and multiplexing said video signals from said allocated video channels into separate video signal packets, each packet corresponding to the particular selection of the video channels made by one of the remote sites; i) means for transmitting said video signal packets to the corresponding remote site; j) reception means at the remote sites for receiving a corresponding compressed and multiplexed video signal packet; k) means located at the remote sites for demultiplexing and separating the received video signal packets into separate video channels; l) means for reconstructing the demultiplexed video channels, at the remote sites, on a real-time basis; and m) display means at the remote sites for displaying the signals of said reconstructed video channels on a real-time basis. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification