Video telephone for the real-time exchange of image and other data through a digital communications network

• US 6,034,715 A
• Filed: 08/09/1996
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Goto, Hiroshi, Ishida, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/699,056
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90, 379/93, 379/96, 379/53, 379/54, 379/93.08, 379/93.17, 379/93.21, 379/93.01, 379/100.01, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/100.17, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/17, 348/19
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• 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 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/003 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 : Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13334 : Key telephone systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/337 : Picturephone

Abstract

A video telephone to be connected to the ISDN is a unitary structure comprising a communication controller for controlling communication of digital data, such as voice signal, image signal and facsimile/camera control signal, a dial or key panel unit, a telephone controller for controlling the functions of a handset and the key panel unit, a camera for inputting an image, a display for outputting an image, and an image CODEC for coding an input image signal and decoding a received image signal. The camera is tiltable and detachable.

Claims

1. A video telephone for exchanging image data, voice data, and user data through a digital communication channel or channels in real time, comprising:

(I) a voice output-and-input device which outputs a voice according to an input voice signal, produces a voice signal, and transmits the produced voice signal;

(II) a mainframe-and-display unit including;

(a) a communication controller for controlling communication of image data and voice data, which are multiplexed, through the digital communication channel,

(b) a multiplexor-separator for separating multiplexed image data and voice data received by said communication controller, and for multiplexing image data and voice data into multiplexed data which are to be transmitted,

(c) an image CODEC for decoding image data, which are separated by said multiplexor-separator, into an image signal and for coding an input image signal into image data and transmitting image data to said multiplexor-separator,

(d) a voice communication controller for decoding voice data, which are separated by said multiplexor-separator, into a voice signal to output to said voice output-and-input device and for coding an input voice signal input from said voice output-and-input device into voice data and transmitting voice data to said multiplexor-separator,

(e) a power supply unit for receiving a supply of power from an external source and for distributing the power to said video telephone,

(f) a key input unit having a plurality of keys,

(g) a display which displays an image represented by an image signal which is decoded by said image CODEC, and

(h) a facsimile terminal connected to said multiplexer separator for outputting user data as an analog signal to a facsimile and for inputting an analog signal as user data from said facsimile; and

(III) a camera unit connected to said mainframe-and-display unit, said camera unit including;

(a) a camera for photographing an image and outputting an image signal to be coded by said image CODEC, said camera being rotatable from an angle at which said camera photographs an image while pointing in a horizontal direction to an angle at which said camera photographs an image while pointing in a downward direction, and

(b) a lamp,

wherein when said camera photographs an image while pointing in a downwardly rotated direction, said lamp illuminates the image; and

wherein said image CODEC converts the image signal output by said camera so as to be displayed as a point-symmetrical image by said display [means], said point-symmetrical image being an inverted image of the image photographed by said camera in said downwardly rotated direction.

2. A video telephone according to claim 1, wherein said downward direction is a direction substantially perpendicular to said horizontal direction.

3. A video telephone system, comprising:

a video telephone for exchanging image data, voice data and user data through a digital communication channel in real time; and

a video tape recorder;

wherein said video telephone includes;

(a) a communication controller for controlling communication of image data and voice data, which are multiplexed, through the digital communication channel,

(b) a multiplexor-separator for separating multiplexed image data and voice data received by said communication controller, and for multiplexing image data and voice data into multiplexed data which are to be transmitted,

(c) an image CODEC for decoding image data, which are separated by said multiplexor-separator, into an image signal and for coding an input image signal into image data and transmitting image data to said multiplexor-separator,

(d) a camera for outputting an image signal, which is taken by said camera, to said image CODEC as an image signal to be coded,

(e) a display for displaying an image represented by an image signal which is decoded by said image CODEC,

(f) a voice communication controller for decoding voice data, which are separated by said multiplexor-separator, into a voice signal and for coding an input voice signal into voice data and transmitting voice data to said multiplexor-separator,

(g) a speaker for outputting a voice represented by a voice signal which is decoded by said voice communication controller,

(h) a microphone for producing and transmitting a voice signal to said voice communication controller as the voice signal to be coded,

(i) a key input unit having a plurality of keys,

(j) a video output terminal for outputting the image signal decoded by said image CODEC,

(k) a voice output terminal for outputting a voice represented by a voice signal which is decoded by said voice communication controller,

(l) a video tape recorder control signal terminal for outputting a video tape recorder control signal instructing an operation of said video tape recorder,

(m) a control unit, and

(n) a memory;

wherein said video tape recorder is connected to said image output terminal, said voice output terminal and said video tape recorder control signal terminal;

wherein, when an answer phone mode has been designated through an user'"'"'s operation of the key input unit, said control unit controls the communication controller to connect the communication channel between the communication controller and a calling terminal in response to a reception of an incoming call, from the calling terminal, requesting a connection of the communication channel;

wherein, when said answer phone mode has been designated, said control unit, in response to an establishment of a connection of the communication channel, outputs to said video tape recorder control signal terminal a video tape recorder control signal instructing an operation of picture and voice recording and stores a dial number of the calling terminal designated by the incoming call in said memory; and

wherein, when said answer phone mode has been designated, said control unit, in response to a disconnection of the communication channel, outputs to said video tape recorder control signal terminal a video tape recorder control signal instructing an operation of stopping the picture and voice recording.