Video compression and decompression arrangement having reconfigurable camera and low-bandwidth transmission capability

• US 5,926,208 A
• Filed: 09/06/1996
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Inventors: Deierling, Kevin, Martin, Bryan R., Noonen, Michael, Barraclough, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US08/708,184
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14-18, 348/207, 348/213, 379/202, 379/93.08, 379/93.21, 379/100.17, 379/93.01, 358/426, 358/432, 382/236, 382/276
• US Class Current: 348/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A video and audio compression and decompression system includes a reconfigurable compact camera communicating with a computer system to permit the camera to execute one of several types of compression modules. The camera includes first and second types of memory. The first type of memory is made of smaller ROM-type memory cells and is used for storing computer-executable video-data-compression subprograms. The second type of memory is made of larger RAM-type memory cells and stores the compression program. A download circuit on the camera is configured to receive transmitted data representing the data compression program and to store the transmitted data in the second memory. A selection is made of the stored subprograms corresponding to the data representing the compression program. An image reader including a data generation circuit captures the external image and generates data representing the image. A processor executes the data representing the computer-executable program and the selected ones of the stored subprograms to generate compressed data, and the compressed data is transmitted from the camera.

Claims

1. A video-conferencing system, comprising:

a source computer station including a device-communication circuit;

a memory device including data corresponding to a computer-executable video-data-compression program;

a data transfer circuit configured and arranged to carry the data corresponding to the computer-executable video-data-compression program from the memory device;

a reconfigurable video-signal camera device having

a first type of memory storing a plurality of computer-executable video-data-compression subprograms usable in compressing video-data,

a second type of memory,

a download circuit including receiver interface circuitry configured to receive the transmitted data corresponding to the computer-executable video-data-compression program and to store the transmitted data in the second memory,

an image reader including a data generation circuit which captures an external image and generates data representing the image,

a processor circuit, including a programmable RISC-type processor and a programmable DSP-type processor communicatively coupled to the programmable RISC-type processor, configured and arranged to execute the data corresponding to the computer-executable video-data compression program and the selected ones of the stored subprograms and to generate compressed data representing the external image, and

a data transmission circuit, responsive to the processor means, for transmitting the compressed data from the reconfigurable video-signal camera device; and

an interface link communicatively coupled between the data transmission circuit and the device-communication circuit of the source computer station and arranged to carry the compressed data from the data transmission circuit; and

a video-destination arrangement configured and arranged to be communicatively coupled to receive the compressed data and to decompress the compressed data using a video-data-decompression program that is compatible with the computer-executable video-data-compression program transmitted to the reconfigurable video-signal camera device.

2. The video-conferencing system of claim 1 wherein the first type of memory includes memory cells which are substantially smaller in size than memory cells of the second type of memory.

3. The video-conferencing system of claim 2 wherein the first type of memory includes at least one of the following:

ROM, EPROM, EEPROM and flash EPROM.

4. The video-conferencing system of claim 3 wherein the second type of memory includes a volatile RAM-type memory.

5. A video-conferencing system, comprising:

a source computer station including a device-communication circuit;

a memory device including data representing a computer-executable video-data-compression program;

data transfer circuit that transmits the data representing the computer-executable video-data-compression program from the memory device;

a reconfigurable video-signal camera device having

a first memory storing a plurality of computer-executable video-data-compression subprograms usable in compressing video-data,

a memory receive port constructed and arranged to receive and electrically connect to the memory device for accessing the data representing a computer-executable video-data-compression program,

an access circuit including receiver interface circuit configured to access the data representing the computer-executable video-data-compression program,

selection means configured and arranged to execute selected ones of the stored subprograms corresponding to the data representing the computer-executable video-data-compression program,

an image reader including a data generation circuit which captures an external image and generates data representing the image,

processor means, responsive to the data generation circuit, for executing the data representing the computer-executable program and the selected ones of the stored subprograms to generate compressed data representing the external image, and

a data transmission circuit, responsive to the processor means, for transmitting the compressed data from the reconfigurable video-signal camera device; and

an interface link communicatively coupled between the data transmission circuit and the device-communication circuit of the source computer station and arranged to carry the compressed data from the data transmission circuit to the device-communication; and

a video-destination arrangement communicatively coupled to the source computer station and including a computer configured and programmed to receive the compressed data and to decompress the compressed data using a video-data-decompression program that is compatible with the computer-executable video-data-compression program transmitted to and selected by the reconfigurable video-signal camera device.

6. A method of operating a video-conferencing system, comprising:

transmitting data representing a computer-executable video-data-compression program from a memory device to a reconfigurable video-signal camera device,

storing a plurality of computer-executable video-data-compression subprograms in a first type of memory,

receiving the transmitted data representing the computer-executable video-data-compression program into a download circuit including receiver interface circuitry configured and arranged to respond to an externally generated signal,

storing the transmitted data in a second type of memory,

selecting one of the stored subprograms corresponding to the data representing the computer-executable video-data-compression module,

capturing an external image and generating data representing the image,

executing the data representing the computer-executable video-data-compression program and the selected ones of the stored subprograms to generate compressed data representing the external image, and

transmitting the compressed data from the reconfigurable video-signal camera device;

using an interface link to carry the compressed data from the data transmission circuit to the device-communication; and

receiving and decompressing the compressed data at a video-destination arrangement communicatively coupled to the source computer station including a computer configured and programmed to receive the compressed data and decompress the compressed data using a video-data-decompression program that is compatible with the computer-executable video-data-compression program transmitted to and selected by the reconfigurable video-signal camera device.

7. A video-conferencing system, comprising:

a source computer station including a device-communication circuit;

a memory device including data corresponding to a computer-executable video-data-compression program;

a data transfer circuit configured and arranged to carry the data corresponding to the computer-executable video-data-compression program from the memory device;

a reconfigurable video-signal processing arrangement having

a first memory region storing computer-executable video-data-compression code usable in compressing video-data for a plurality of different compression standards,

a second memory region,

a download circuit including receiver interface circuitry configured to receive the transmitted data corresponding to the computer-executable video-data-compression code and to store the transmitted data in the second memory region,

a processor circuit, including a programmable multiple-purpose processor and a programmable DSP-type processor communicatively coupled to the programmable multiple-purpose processor, configured and arranged to execute the data corresponding to the computer-executable video-data compression program provided from the memory device and selected code from the compression code usable in compressing video-data for a plurality of different compression standards, and to generate compressed data, and

a data transmission circuit, responsive to the processor means, for transmitting the compressed data from the reconfigurable video-signal processing arrangement; and

an interface link communicatively coupled between the data transmission circuit and the device-communication circuit of the source computer station and arranged to carry the compressed data from the data transmission circuit; and

a video-destination arrangement configured and arranged to be communicatively coupled to receive the compressed data and to decompress the compressed data using a video-data-compression program that is compatible with the computer-executable video-data-compression program transmitted to the reconfigurable video-signal processing arrangement.