Method for remotely controlling a peripheral device in a videoconferencing system

• US 5,526,037 A
• Filed: 01/17/1995
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Libre Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Videoconferencing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Mays, Richard C., Smith, Curtis M., Cortjens, Leo M., Franklin, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/373,657
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 375/220, 375/222, 375/219, 375/257, 375/211, 375/212, 375/377, 370/60, 370/62, 370/85.13, 370/85.1, 340/13, 340/15-19, 340/505, 395/831, 395/836, 395/828, 395/883, 395/882, 395/885, 395/892, 395/821, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 348/15, 348/14, 348/13, 380/20
• US Class Current: 348/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A videoconferencing system for remotely controlling a peripheral device such as a VCR (20). A controller (10) controls the operation of the peripheral device by transmitting a conversion program to a converter (11G) via a network. The converter stores the conversion program in a memory and then uses the conversion program to convert subsequently transmitted network standard control signals into device specific control signals for controlling the peripheral device and also converts signals from the peripheral device into network standard control signals. The controller, or any other device in the network capable of using network standard control signals, may then remotely control and monitor the peripheral device by transmitting network standard control signals to the converter and receiving network standard control signals from the converter. The videoconferencing system thus allows a peripheral device to be remotely controlled and monitored by any device that is capable of transmitting and receiving network standard control signals.

Claims

1. A converter for converting network standard control signals, received from a controller over a network, into device-specific control signals for controlling a device, comprising:

input means, connected to said network, for receiving said network standard control signals;

a memory for storing a conversion program, said conversion program containing instructions as to converting said network standard control signals into said device-specific control signals;

output means, for providing said device-specific control signals to said device; and

a microprocessor, connected to said input means, said memory, and said output means, for receiving said conversion program from said controller via said network and said input means, for causing said memory to store said conversion program, for executing said instructions in said conversion program to convert said network standard control signals received by said input means into device-specific control signals, and for causing said output means to provide said device-specific control signals to said device.

2. A converter for converting network standard control signals, received from a controller over a network, into device-specific control signals for controlling a device, comprising:

input means, connected to said network, for receiving said network standard control signals;

a memory containing a basic program and for storing a conversion program, said conversion program containing instructions as to converting said network standard control signals into said device-specific control signals;

output means, for providing said device-specific control signals to said device; and

a microprocessor, connected to said input means, said memory, and said output means, for executing said basic program to determine whether a said conversion program has been stored in said memory, for providing a notice if a said conversion program has not been stored, and for receiving said conversion program from said controller via said network and said input means, for causing said memory to store said conversion program, for executing said instructions in said conversion program to convert said network standard control signals received by said input means into device-specific control signals, and for causing said output means to provide said device-specific control signals to said device.

3. The converter of claim 2 and further comprising a second output means connected to said network for placing network standard control signals on said network, and wherein said microprocessor provides said notice to said controller via said second output means.

4. The converter of claim 2 and further comprising a visible display device, and wherein said microprocessor provides said notice by causing said visible display device to provide a predetermined visible display.

5. The converter of claim 2 and further comprising user-operable means to cause said microprocessor to provide said notice.

6. A converter for converting device-specific control signals from a device into network standard control signals and providing said network standard control signals to a controller over a network, comprising:

input means for receiving said device specific control signals from said device;

input/output means, connected to said network, for receiving conversion program signals over said network and for placing said network standard control signals onto said network;

a memory for storing a conversion program, said conversion program containing instructions as to converting said device-specific control signals into said network standard control signals; and

a microprocessor, connected to said input means, said input/output means, and said memory, for receiving said conversion program from said controller via said network and said input/output means, for causing said memory to store said conversion program, for executing said instructions in said conversion program to convert said device-specific control signals received by said input means into said network standard control signals, and for causing said input/output means to place said network standard control signals onto said network.

7. A converter for converting device-specific control signals from a device into network standard control signals and providing said network standard control signals to a controller over a network, comprising:

input means for receiving said device specific control signals from said device;

input/output means, connected to said network, for receiving conversion program signals over said network and for placing said network standard control signals onto said network;

a memory containing a basic program and for storing a conversion program, said conversion program containing instructions as to converting said device-specific control signals into said network standard control signals; and

a microprocessor, connected to said input means, said input/output means, and said memory, for executing said basic program to determine whether a said conversion program has been stored in said memory, for providing a notice if a said conversion program has not been stored, for receiving said conversion program from said controller via said network and said input/output means, for causing said memory to store said conversion program, for executing said instructions in said conversion program to convert said device-specific control signals received by said input means into said network standard control signals, and for causing said input/output means to place said network standard controls signals onto said network.

8. The converter of claim 7 wherein said microprocessor provides said notice to said controller via said input/output means.

9. The converter of claim 7 and further comprising a visible display device, and wherein said microprocessor provides said notice by causing said visible display device to provide a predetermined visible display.

10. The converter of claim 7 and further comprising user-operable means to cause said microprocessor to provide said notice.