Peripheral video conferencing system with control unit that controls presentation of remote video signal through the output connector

• US 6,073,192 A
• Filed: 02/05/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RSI Systems Incorporated (Viseon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RSI Systems Incorporated (Viseon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mulder, David, Clapp, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US09/019,114
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62, 710/69, 710/65, 348/554, 348/15, 348/552
• US Class Current: 710/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. conference server dials participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• 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

Abstract

A peripheral video conferencing system is housed in a peripheral housing and adapted for communication with an analog or digital communication channel and a separate host computer system. Audio, video, and data file information is transmitted to and received from a remote conferencing site over the communication channel. A plurality of audio, video, and communication channel connectors provide means for acquiring source audio and video signals, and respectively displaying on a separate monitor and broadcasting over an internal or separate external speaker remote video images and audio. A high-speed output interface provides connectivity with the separate host computer system for coordinating, in cooperation with video conferencing application software operating thereon, the presentation of local and remote NTSC or PAL video images on a display coupled to the computer system.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with a communication channel, comprising:

a housing;

a source receive unit that receives a source audio signal and a source video signal;

a local transmission unit that selectively transmits a coded source audio signal and a coded source video signal to either one of an analog or a digital communication channel;

a local receive unit that receives a coded remote audio signal and a coded remote video signal transmitted over the either one of the analog or the digital communication channel;

an output interface, comprising an output connector, that communicates the remote video signal between the local receive unit and the output connector; and

a control unit that controls the presentation of the remote video signal through the output connector;

wherein the source receive unit, local transmission unit, local receive unit, and output interface are respectively disposed in the housing.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is disposed in the housing.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is controlled by a user interface device.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the user interface device is separate from the housing.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the user interface device is selected from the group consisting essentially of a separate host computer, a telephone, a numeric keyboard, and a mouse.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit coordinates communication of the remote video signal between the local receive unit and the output interface.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit produces a coordination instruction;

and the output interface receives the coordination instruction and communicates the coordination instruction between the output interface and the local receive unit.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit produces a request coordination instruction;

and the local receive unit transmits at least a portion of the remote video signal to the output interface in response to the request coordination instruction.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit for coordinating communication of the remote video signal between the local receive unit and the output interface.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the software cooperates with the control unit to produce a coordination instruction;

and the output interface receives the coordination instruction and communicates the coordination instruction between the output interface and the local receive unit.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the software cooperates with the control unit to produce a request coordination instruction;

and the local receive unit transmits at least a portion of the remote video signal to the output interface in response to the request coordination instruction.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to adjust the transmission bandwidth of the communication channel.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to adjust the transmission bandwidth of the communication channel.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is a separate host computer.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the display device is a television.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the output connector is connected to a display device.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit displays a video image associated with the remote video signal within a video window displayed on the display device;

and is adapted to modify the size of the video window displayed on the display device.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to display a video image associated with the remote video signal within a video window displayed on the display device;

and is adapted to modify the size of the video window displayed on the display device.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is adapted to simultaneously display on the display device video images associated with the remote and source video signals.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to simultaneously display on the display device video images associated with the remote and source video signals.

21. A system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit detects an incoming communication received over the communication channel;

and software cooperates with the control unit to produce a detection signal in response to the detection of an incoming communication.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the software cooperates with the control unit to generate an alert message displayed on the display device in response to the detection signal.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the control unit receives at least one of an answer coordination instruction and a decline coordination instruction from a user of the system in response to the alert message;

and in response to the answer coordination instruction, the software cooperates with the control unit to coordinate the receiving of the incoming communication.

24. A system according to claim 16, wherein the display device is a television.

25. A system according to claim 16, wherein the display device is a video monitor.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the video monitor is coupled to a host computer.

27. A system according to claim 16, wherein the display device is arranged and configured to receive an analog signal.

28. A system according to claim 16, wherein the display device is arranged and configured to receive a digital signal.