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Television conversation/monitoring system changing transmission capacity responsive to state change in remote location

  • US 5,751,339 A
  • Filed: 10/12/1995
  • Issued: 05/12/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A television conversation/monitoring system in which a plurality of terminal-station-side terminal systems and one central-station-side terminal system are connected to each other through an integrated service digital communication network so that pictures and sounds are transmitted and received between said terminal-station-side terminal systems and said central-station-side terminal system,wherein each of said plurality of terminal station-side terminal systems includes:

  • a first picture input means;

    a first picture encoding means for encoding a picture signal inputted from said first picture input means;

    a first sound input means;

    a first sound encoding means for encoding a sound signal inputted from said first sound input means;

    a state detection means for outputting a state and a state change in a terminal station as state information and state change information respectively;

    a first multimedia multiplex means for multiplexing said picture signal encoded by said first picture encoding means and said sound signal encoded by said first sound encoding means, receiving said state information and said state change information from said state detection means, and transmitting a signal including said picture signal, said sound signal, said state information and said state change information to said communication network;

    a first multimedia separation means for separating a signal received from said communication network into a sound signal, a picture signal and other signals;

    a first sound decoding means for decoding said sound signal separated by said first multimedia separation means;

    a first sound output means for outputting said sound signal decoded by said first sound decoding means;

    a first picture decoding means for decoding said picture signal separated by said first multimedia separation means;

    a first picture output means for outputing said picture signal decoded by said first picture decoding means; and

    a first system control means connected to said first multimedia separation means for analyzing the signals other than said sound signal and said picture signal, and controlling the terminal system in accordance therewith, andwherein said central-station-side terminal system includes;

    a second picture input means;

    a second picture encoding means for encoding a picture signal inputted from said second picture input means;

    a second sound input means;

    a second sound encoding means for encoding a sound signal inputted from said second sound input means;

    a plurality of second multimedia multiplex means the number of which is equal in number to a plurality of said terminal-station-side terminal systems connected simultaneously to said central-station-side terminal system, each of said second multimedia multiplex means multiplexing said picture signal encoded by said second picture encoding means and said sound signal encoded by said second sound encoding means;

    a plurality of second multimedia separation means the number of which is equal in number to the plurality of said terminal-station-side terminal systems connected simultaneously to said central-station-side terminal system, each of said second multimedia separation means separating said signal received from said communication network into a sound signal, a picture signal and other signals;

    a plurality of second sound decoding means the number of which is equal in number to the plurality of said terminal-station-side terminal systems connected simultaneously to said central-station-side terminal system, each of said second sound decoding means decoding a sound signal separated by a corresponding one of said second multimedia separation means;

    a second sound output means for selecting and outputting one of decoded sound signals the number of which is equal in number to the plurality of terminal-station-side terminal systems connected simultaneously;

    second picture decoding means the number of which is equal in number to the plurality of terminal-station-side terminal systems connected simultaneously, each of said second picture decoding means decoding a picture signal separated by a corresponding one of said second multimedia separation means;

    a second picture output means for combining, into one picture scene, the whole of the decoded picture signals the number of which is equal in number to the plurality of terminal-station-side terminal systems connected simultaneously, and outputting the combined one picture scene; and

    a second system control means connected to said second multimedia multiplex means and said second multimedia separation means, and for analyzing said state information and said state change information, controlling said terminal-station-side terminal systems, giving instructions to said second multimedia multiplex means in response to a predetermined detected state change as indicated by said state change information to switch during communications the transmission capacity for transmissions with respect to at least one selected terminal-station-side terminal system, and sending transmission capacity switch information to the at least one selected terminal-station-side terminal system;

    wherein said central-station-side terminal system communicates with at least a sub-plurality of said terminal-station-side terminal systems simultaneously.

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