Collaborative video conferencing system

• US 5,872,923 A
• Filed: 09/28/1993
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Cyr, Joseph B., Boss, Catherine A., Grinn, J. Michael, Peterson, Paul A., FitzPatrick, Catherine M., Carleton, Allison A., Schwartz, Krista S., Pommier, Theresa M., Schwartz, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/128,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 395/163, 395/800, 395/157, 395/150-159, 395/153, 395/650, 395/200.34, 395/200.35, 348/12, 364/514, 370/62, 345/330, 345/331
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A video conferencing system, wherein multiple parties at different locations can view, and modify, a common image on their computer displays. The invention also provides a video camera at each computer, which takes a video picture of each party.

The invention distributes data to all computers involved in the conference from which each computer can generate a display containing the common image, the modifications, and the video pictures.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a) multiple remote computers at different locations, each having a display;

b) substantially identical remote program means, running on each remote computer, for communicating with one host application program running on a host computer; and

c) means for allowing a user of each remote computer to simultaneously;

i) hold a video conference; and

ii) operate the remote program means executing on the remote computer, the remote program enabling the remote computer to;

1) communicate with the host application program;

2) provide program input to the host application program;

3) draw annotation images on the display of the remote computer; and

4) communication between the remote program and the host program to selectively replicate the annotation images on the displays of the other remote computers.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which communication among the computers can by accomplished by two data channels having a total capacity not exceeding 128,000 bits per second in both directions, simultaneously.

3. A computer system, comprising:

a) two or more computers at different locations, each capable of running a substantially identical message-driven, multi-tasking, operating environment;

b) substantially identical program means, running on each computer, for communicating with one host application program running on a host computer; and

c) means for allowing users of the computers to simultaneously;

i) hold a video conference; and

ii) operate the substantially identical program means executing on the computer, the program means enabling the remote computer to;

1) communicate with the host application program;

2) provide program input to the host application program;

3) draw annotation images on the display of the remote computer; and

4) communicate between the remote program and the host application program to selectively replicate the annotation images on the displays of the other remote computers.

4. A kit for connection to a user'"'"'s computer, comprising:

a) a video camera;

b) a capture card for receiving

i) video data from the video camera, and

ii) video data from a communication channel; and

converting both video data into forms usable by the computer;

c) remote program means for communicating with one host application program running on a host computer; and

d) program means for allowing a user of the computer to simultaneously;

i) hold a video conference with another computer; and

ii) operate the remote program means, the remote program means enabling the computer to;

1) communicate with the host application program;

2) provide program input to the host application program;

3) draw annotation images on the display of the computer; and

4) communicate between the remote program and the host program to selectively replicate the annotation images on the displays of the other remote computers.

5. A system for communicating with other computers by a communication channel, comprising:

a) a computer equipped with

i) a message-driven, multi-tasking, operating environment;

ii) video camera means for feeding the computer with data representing a visual image; and

iii) means for interfacing with the communication channel;

b) remote program means for communicating with one host application program running on a host computer; and

c) program means for allowing a user of the computer to simultaneously;

i) hold a video conference with other computers so equipped; and

ii) operate the remote program means, the remote program means enabling the computer to;

1) communicate with the host application program;

2) provide program input to the host application program;

3) draw annotation images on the display of the computer; and

4) communicate between the remote program and the host program to selectively replicate the annotation images on the displays of the other remote computers.