Audio and video communications terminal with improved adjustments

• US 5,170,427 A
• Filed: 02/02/1990
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ETAT Francais Represente PAR Le Ministre Des Postes et Telecommunications Centre National
• Original Assignee: Etat Francais
• Inventors: Isckia, Alain, Buchner, Georges, Guichard, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Stella L.
• Application Number:
  US07/473,878
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 379/53, 358/85
• US Class Current: 348/14.05
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• 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

An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera provided with an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including a sound and image information encoder and decoder, and an interface in association with the elements for communication with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, the terminal further comprising electric motors and clutches for adjusting at least one camera parameter; a manual control suitable for generating control information for adjusting the parameter(s); and a switch for switching between a local adjustment mode in which the control information is applied to the electric motors and clutches, and a remote adjustment mode in which the control information is sent to the other terminal over the digital network in parallel with the sound and image information, and in which control information received from the other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to the electric motors and clutches. The invention is applicable to improving user comfort with video telephones.

Claims

1. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

(i) a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen; and

(ii) a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen;

said terminal further comprising a light source for illuminating the subject, and wherein the adjustment means are suitable for acting on the intensity of the source which thus constitutes one of the camera parameters.

2. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera inluding an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

(i) a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen; and

(ii) a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen;

wherein said adjustment means are also suitable for acting on sound transmission parameters to obtain a signal to noise ratio.

3. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen;

a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen,

wherein in the remote adjustment mode, adjustment information is conveyed over the digital network in the form of digital words incorporated in predetermined time intervals in the "control and flag" section of a standard digital transmission frame.

4. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen;

a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen; and

said adjustment means including motorized drive means for changing the aiming direction of the camera; and

said motorized drive means acting on a mirror associated with the optical system of the camera.

5. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen;

a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen;

wherein the switching means are in local mode while a call is being set up;

wherein the switchovers of the switching means from one mode to the other are controlled by the central unit;

said terminal further comprising means for generating an authorization signal for authorizing switchover to remote mode, and the central unit includes means for switching over the switching means to remote mode only after such authorization has been both generated in the terminal itself and received from another terminal.

6. A terminal according to claim 5, wherein the central unit includes means for recognizing a code received from another terminal and for switching over said switching means to remote mode when said received code is recognized.

7. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen;

a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen;

said adjustment means including motorized drive means for changing the aiming direction of the camera;

said drive means adapted to vary the elevation and the bearing of the camera aiming direction; and

said housing comprising a fixed portion and a moving portion housing the camera and hinged to the fixed portion about a horizontal axis, said drive means acting on the portion of the housing which houses the camera.

8. A terminal according to claim 7, wherein the drive means are likewise suitable for pivoting said portion of the housing which houses the camera about an axis which is perpendicular simultaneously to the hinge axis and to the aiming axis of the camera.

9. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen;

a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen;

said adjustment means including motorized drive means for changing the aiming direction of the camera; and

said drive means adapted to vary the height of the camera and the bearing direction of its aiming axis.

10. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen;

a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen;

said adjustment means including motorized drive means for changing the aiming direction of the camera;

said drive means adapted to vary the elevation and the bearing of the camera aiming direction;

said drive means comprising a single electric motor and two clutches connected to the motor.

11. An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera including an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including sound and image information encoding means and sound and image information decoding means, and interface means in association with said elements for communicating with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, said screen being normally used for displaying image information received from said other terminal, wherein the terminal further comprises, in combination:

adjustment means for adjusting at least one camera parameter;

manual control means suitable for generating control information for adjusting said parameter(s); and

control and image information switching means for switching over between;

a temporary local adjustment mode in which said control information is applied to said adjustment means and signals from the camera are applied to the screen instead of image information received from the other terminal, thereby enabling a speaker to adjust said parameter(s) according to what he sees on the screen;

a remote adjustment mode in which said control information is sent to said other terminal over the digital network in parallel with said sound and image information, and in which control information received from said other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound and image information, is applied to said adjustment means and said image information received from said other terminal is applied to the screen;

said adjustment means including motorized drive means for changing the aiming direction of the camera;

said drive means adapted to vary the elevation and the bearing of the camera aiming direction;

said drive means comprising a support for the camera optics, the support including three bearing points disposed in a right angle triangle, the point situated at the right angle of the triangle being constituted by a ball link, and motorized means for varying the positions of the other two bearing points in directions essentially perpendicular to the plane of the triangle.