Video communication controller using FM sideband transmission

• US 5,602,580 A
• Filed: 09/17/1993
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ling-Yuan Tseng
• Original Assignee: Ling-Yuan Tseng
• Inventors: Tseng, Ling-yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US08/123,299
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 348/17, 348/18, 348/19, 348/725, 348/22, 379/96, 379/53, 379/54
• US Class Current: 348/729
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/02 Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linking to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for simultaneous generation of broadcast information and broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A module containing digital compression and decompression circuitry is used in conjunction with a system whereby a video program may be communicated over a telephone line to an RF broadcaster to be received by individuals at remote locations equipped with one of the modules. In the preferred embodiment, the RF transmitter is an FM transmitter, and the video broadcasts are modulated onto a subcarrier, such as an SCA subcarrier. The module has various other inputs and outputs adapted for connection to other video-related devices and/or a personal computer which may be used for control or program production. A configuration is also described whereby multiple modules may be used in conjunction with a conference control module enabling multiple participants to view one another as part of a gathering such as a classroom instruction situation.

Claims

1. A video communications system, comprising:

radio receiver circuitry operative to recover a digitally compressed video program from an FM sub-carrier signal including programs characterized in having a plurality of sequential frames representative of motion video;

decompression circuitry operative to receive said digitally compressed video program and output a decompressed version of said program;

means for outputting said decompressed program to a display device for viewing of said program in real time; and

an interface in communication with said decompression circuitry, operative to send and receive a digitally compressed video program over a telephone line.

2. A video communications system, comprising:

radio receiver circuitry operative to recover a digitally compressed video program from an FM sub-carrier signal, including programs characterized in having a plurality of sequential frames representative of motion video;

decompression circuitry operative to receive said digitally compressed video program and output a decompressed version of said program;

means for outputting said decompressed program to a display device for viewing of said program in real time;

an input to receive a non-compressed video program from an external source;

digital data-compression circuitry operative to generate a compressed version of said program; and

an output to transmit said externally sourced program in digitally compressed form over a telephone line.

3. The video communication system of claim 2, further including a plurality of said inputs and image-integration means whereby programs received through said inputs may be arranged in separate windows of a single frame of said program prior to transmission.

4. A video communications controller, comprising:

an enclosure;

a first connector disposed on said enclosure for connection to a source of an outgoing video program;

a digital data compressor disposed within said enclosure to receive and digitally compress said outgoing video program;

a second connecter disposed on said enclosure for attachment to a telephone line;

circuitry connected between said digital data compressor and said second connector whereby said digitally compressed video program may be transmitted over said phone line;

an antenna;

a radio receiver disposed within said enclosure and connected to the antenna, said receiver being operative to tune an RF broadcast;

a digital decompressor disposed within said enclosure to receive and decompress a digitally compressed incoming video program;

a digital-to-analog converter disposed within said enclosure to receive said decompressed incoming digital video program and output said program in analog form; and

a third connector disposed on said enclosure and connected to the output of said digital-to-analog converter, whereby said incoming video program may be displayed on a video monitor connected to said third connector.

5. The video communications controller of claim 4, wherein said radio receiver is an FM radio receiver, the communications controller further comprising:

an SCA adapter disposed within said enclosure and connected to the FM radio receiver, said SCA adapter being operative to detect and demodulate a digitally compressed incoming video program transmitted on an FM SCA sideband.

6. The video communications controller of claim 5, further comprising an A-D converter disposed within said enclosure to receive and digitize said outgoing video program.

7. A video communications controller, comprising:

an input to receive a video program;

a digital data compressor connected in a video-path with said input to digitally compress said video program;

an output connected to receive and deliver said compressed program to a telephone line;

a radio receiver operative to tune an RF broadcast containing a digitally compressed incoming video program;

a digital decompressor connected to receive and decompress said incoming video program; and

a digital-to-analog converter connected to receive said decompressed incoming digital video program and output said program in analog form for real-time display on an attached video monitor.

8. The video communications controller of claim 7, further comprising:

an SCA adapter connected to said radio receiver, said SCA adapter being operative to detect and demodulate a digitally compressed incoming video program transmitted on an FM SCA sideband.

9. The video communications controller of claim 7, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter to receive and digitize said outgoing video program.