Apparatus and method for videocommunicating having programmable architecture permitting data revisions

• US 6,121,998 A
• Filed: 01/09/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Inventors: Bednarz, Phil, Barraclough, Keith, Joe, Truman, Voois, Paul A., Martin, Bryan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Loomis, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/005,291
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/15, 379/93.08, 379/93.17, 379/93.28, 379/93.29, 379/93.31, 379/202, 370/260
• US Class Current: 348/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/007 Transform coding, e.g. discrete cosine transform
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• 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 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A cost-effective videophone includes a programmable video/general-purpose processor capable of readily updating program-related data. The processor includes a first circuit section used to process data for videoconferencing and to detect codes data used for revising software-related data provided from a remote location, and a second circuit section used for executing the executable program data stored in the second memory circuit. A volatile memory circuit is coupled to and accessed by the programmable video/general-purpose processor, and is used for storing the revision data until it is validated. Once validated, the revision data is transferred from the first memory circuit to a non-volatile memory circuit. The non-volatile memory circuit is then used by the processor in a subsequent video-related application, such as a videoconferencing application or a web browser application.

Claims

1. A videophone apparatus for communicating video and audio data and data revisions over a communications channel, comprising:

a user controller configured and arranged to be accessed by a user to enter commands for controlling the operation of the videophone apparatus;

a programmable video/general-purpose processor having a first section, including a DSP-type processor, configured and arranged to scale input data received from a video source and to encode and decode video data according to a programmed video-coding recommendation for communication with a remote device over the communications channel, and having a second controller section communicatively coupled to the first section, the second section executing a stored program for controlling operation of the videophone apparatus;

a display driver circuit responsive to the programmable video/general-purpose processor and configured and arranged to generate encoded video data for display;

a first volatile memory circuit coupled to and accessed by the programmable video/general-purpose processor; and

a second memory circuit constructed and arranged to store data, including information data and at least part of the executable program;

the executable program configured and arranged to cause the second controller section of the programmable video/general-purpose processor to revise the data stored in the second memory circuit by;

receiving the revision data over the communications channel,

storing the revision data in the first memory circuit, and

transferring the revision data from the first memory circuit to the second memory circuit.

2. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the user controller includes at least one of a telephone and a wireless remote unit, and wherein the first and second sections of the programmable video/general-purpose processor are respectively implemented using two intercommunicative integrated circuit packages.

3. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of the programmable video/general-purpose processor are implemented as part of a single integrated circuit.

4. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the information data includes parameter data and setup data and wherein the executable program data includes data instructing the processor to revise only at least one of a set of parameter data and a set of setup data, in response to said at least one command.

5. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein the program data instructs the video/general-purpose processor to interface with an Internet web browser and instructs the video/general-purpose processor to revise a set of user preferences to the web browser by changing at least one of the set of parameter data and the set of setup data.

6. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the program data instructs the video/general-purpose processor to revise the data stored in the second memory circuit in response to one of the following:

an initiation command provided by the user controller, and a reset with an off-hook condition being detected.

7. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein the initiation command is a DTMF signal.

8. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein the initiation command follows a sequence of menu-selection commands sent from the user controller to the processor.

9. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the programmable video/general-purpose processor and the executable program are configured and arranged to generate data-revision status information through the display driver circuit, and wherein the reporting includes sending progress bar-code status information to the display driver circuit.

10. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein the reporting includes at least one of the following:

sending the status information in the form of text messages to the display driver circuit;

sending the status information in the form of changing progress information to the display driver circuit while the revision is occurring; and

sending the status information in response to progress information received over the communications channel.

11. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the programmable video/general-purpose processor is further configured and arranged to respond to commands received the remote device, including at least one of the following command types:

display previously stored information or information to follow;

verify checksum;

receive and store attached data;

transfer data from first address group to second address group;

validate transferred data; and

query for inputs from the control/handset.

12. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the external videophone apparatus includes an input/output port, and wherein the executable program is configured and arranged to cause the programmable video/general-purpose processor to respond to commands received by a server coupled to the videocommunicator through the input/outport.

13. A videophone apparatus for communicating video and audio data and data revisions over a communications channel, comprising:

user controller means accessed by a user for entering a first set of commands to control the operation of the videophone apparatus;

a programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a first fast-access volatile memory means coupled to and accessed by the programmable video/general-purpose processor for storing volatile data;

a second memory means, including an EEPROM circuit, for storing nonvolatile data, including information data and executable program data for execution by the programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a display driver means, coupled and responsive to the programmable video/general-purpose processor, for driving a display;

first section means, responsive to the executable program data and included within the programmable video/general-purpose processor, for encoding and decoding video data for communication with a remote device over the communications channel;

second section means, responsive to the executable program data and included within the programmable video/general-purpose processor, for executing the executable program data stored in the second memory circuit, including program data used for generating display information through the display driver circuit;

the executable program data configured and arranged for execution to cause the programmable video/general-purpose processor to revise the data stored in the second memory circuit by;

receiving the revision data over the communications channel in response to the first section means detecting said at least one command,

storing the revision data in the first memory means,

validating the revision data as stored in the first memory means,

transferring the validated program-related data from the first memory means to the EEPROM circuit, and

reporting to the user by sending status information to the display driver means.

14. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 13, further including means for validating the device sending the data over the communications channel.

15. A videophone apparatus for communicating video and audio data and data revisions over a communications channel, comprising:

a hand-held user controller configured and arranged to be accessed by a user to enter a first set of commands, including an initiation data-revision command, for controlling the operation of the videophone apparatus;

a programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a first fast-access volatile memory circuit coupled to and accessed by the programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a second memory circuit, including an EEPROM circuit, constructed and arranged to store data, including information data and executable program data for execution by the programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a display driver circuit coupled and responsive to the programmable video/general-purpose processor;

responsive to the executable program data, a first section of the programmable video/general-purpose processor configured and arranged to encode and decode video data for video communications with a remote device over the communications channel;

also responsive to the executable program data, a second section of the programmable video/general-purpose processor including a reduced-instruction-set architecture configured and arranged for executing the executable program data stored in the second memory circuit, including program data used for generating display information through the display driver circuit;

the executable program data configured and arranged for execution to cause the programmable video/general-purpose processor to revise the data stored in the second memory circuit by;

receiving the revision data over the communications channel in response to the first section detecting said at least one command,

storing the revision data in the first memory circuit,

validating the revision data as stored in the first memory circuit,

transferring the validated program-related data from the first memory circuit to the EEPROM circuit, and

reporting to the user by sending progress status information to the display driver circuit.

16. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein the display driver circuit is configured and arranged to drive an input for a television set, and further including a housing enclosing the processor, the first and second memory circuits, and the display driver circuit, the housing configure and arranged to set on top of the television set.

17. A videophone apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein, in response to commands detected by the first section of the programmable video/general-purpose processor, the processor is further configured and arranged to revise the data under control by a remote device communicating over the communications channel.

18. A videophone apparatus for communicating video and audio data and data revisions over a communications channel, comprising:

a user controller configured and arranged to be accessed by a user to enter a first set of commands for controlling the operation of the videophone apparatus;

a programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a first fast-access volatile memory circuit coupled to and accessed by the programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a second memory circuit, including an EEPROM circuit, constructed and arranged to store data, including information data and executable program data for execution by the programmable video/general-purpose processor;

a display driver circuit coupled and responsive to the programmable video/general-purpose processor;

the programmable video/general-purpose processor including a first digital signal processor section for encoding and decoding video data for communication with a remote device over the communications channel, and a second RISC-type processor section, responsive to the executable program data stored in the second memory circuit, for controlling operation of the videophone apparatus and for generating display information through the display driver circuit;

the executable program data configured and arranged to cause the programmable video/general-purpose processor to revise the data stored in the second memory circuit by;

receiving the revision data over the communications channel in response to the first section detecting said at least one command,

storing the revision data in the first memory circuit,

validating the revision data as stored in the first memory circuit,

transferring the validated program-related data from the first memory circuit to the EEPROM circuit, and

reporting to the user by sending status information to the display driver circuit.

19. A system, comprising:

a videophone apparatus for communicating video and audio data and data revisions over a communications channel, the videophone apparatus including

a user controller configured and arranged to be accessed by a user to enter commands for controlling the operation of the videophone apparatus;

a programmable video/general-purpose processor having a first section, including a DSP-type processor, configured and arranged to scale input data received from a video source and to encode and decode video data according to a programmed video-coding recommendation for communication with a remote device over the communications channel, and having a second controller section communicatively coupled to the first section, the second section executing a stored program for controlling operation of the videophone apparatus;

a display driver circuit responsive to the programmable video/general-purpose processor and configured and arranged to generate encoded video data for display;

a first volatile memory circuit coupled to and accessed by the programmable video/general-purpose processor; and

a second memory circuit, including an EEPROM circuit, constructed and arranged to store data, including information data and at least part of the executable program;

the executable program configured and arranged to cause the programmable video/general-purpose processor to revise the data stored in the second memory circuit by;

receiving the revision data over the communications channel,

storing the revision data in the first memory circuit, and

transferring the revision data from the first memory circuit to the EEPROM circuit; and

a server programmed to send the revision data over the communications channel.

20. A system, according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the server and the second controller section of the programmable video/general-purpose processor first validates the revision data stored in the first memory circuit before the revision data is transferred to the EEPROM circuit.