Multiple-mode videoconferencing arrangement

• US 6,163,335 A
• Filed: 02/26/1998
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Inventors: Barraclough, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/031,085
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/15, 379/100.01, 379/100.02, 379/100.14, 379/354, 379/355, 379/356, 379/93.21
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence

Abstract

A videoconferencing system includes a videoconferencing arrangement with the capability to automatically determine whether a videoconferencing or conventional telephone call is being initiated. In one embodiment, a portable telephone unit includes a preprogrammed memory storing codes that indicate whether a telephone number input to the telephone unit should be used to initiate a videoconferencing or conventional telephone call. If a conventional telephone call is being initiated, the video processing functions of the videoconferencing unit are not activated and the user proceeds with the conventional telephone call. If a videoconferencing call is being initiated, the videoconferencing unit establishes a data connection with a compatible device at the remote end of the communications channel and proceeds with the videoconference. In another embodiment, a portable telephone unit interfaces with a remotely located switch circuit and the switch circuit determines whether the telephone call input to the portable telephone unit should be used to initiate a videoconferencing call or a conventional telephone call. The switch circuit includes a preprogrammed memory storing codes that indicate whether the telephone number input to the telephone unit should be used to initiate a videoconferencing or conventional telephone call.

Claims

1. A videoconferencing arrangement for communicating video data over a communications channel, comprising:

a telephone unit including an interface circuit, user-selectable inputs and a telephone circuit configured to communicate through the interface circuit;

means for automatically determining based on codes associated with telephone numbers stored in memory if a videoconferencing call is being initiated by a sequence of user-selectable inputs; and

a videoconferencing circuit including a processor circuit, coupled to the telephone unit, configured to respond to the automatic determination means determining that a videoconferencing call is being initiated, by attempting to establish a videoconferencing call with another videoconferencing unit over the communications channel, and permitting a conventional telephone call to be initiated in response to determining that a videoconferencing call is not being initiated.

2. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the interface circuit of the telephone unit is a wireless interface.

3. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a camera coupled to the processor circuit, both being disposed internal to a common housing.

4. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the telephone unit further includes a depressable keys for engaging the user-selectable inputs.

5. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the means for automatically determining is part of the processor circuit.

6. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the means for automatically determining is part of the telephone circuit.

7. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the means for automatically determining includes a programmable memory circuit.

8. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 7, wherein the programmable memory circuit is configured and arranged to store codes associated with telephone numbers for remote videoconferencing units.

9. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 8, wherein the codes associated with telephone numbers are the telephone numbers.

10. A method of videoconferencing, according to claim 1, wherein the processor circuit includes a first audio signal format for the videoconferencing call and another audio signal format for the conventional telephone call.

11. A method of videoconferencing, according to claim 10, wherein the first audio format is compatible with a protocol for passing real-time video.

12. A videoconferencing arrangement for communicating video data over a communications channel, comprising:

a telephone unit including an interface circuit, user-selectable inputs and a telephone circuit configured to communicate through the interface circuit, the telephone circuit including a memory circuit arranged to store codes associated with telephone numbers for remote videoconferencing units, and further including a control circuit, responsive to the user-selectable inputs, for accessing the codes to determine if a videoconferencing call is being initiated; and

a videoconferencing circuit including a processor circuit, coupled to the telephone unit, configured to respond to a selected command from the telephone unit by attempting to establish a videoconferencing call with another videoconferencing unit over the communications channel.

13. A videoconferencing arrangement, according to claim 12, wherein the telephone unit is a wireless unit configured to communicate with a base unit that includes the videoconferencing circuit.

14. A method of videoconferencing, according to claim 12, wherein the first audio format is compatible with a protocol for passing real-time video.

15. A videoconferencing arrangement for communicating video data over a communications channel, comprising:

a telephone unit including an interface circuit, user-selectable inputs and a telephone circuit configured to communicate through the interface circuit; and

a videoconferencing circuit including a processor circuit, coupled to the telephone unit, configured to respond to a selected command from the telephone unit by attempting to establish a videoconferencing call with another videoconferencing unit over the communications channel, the videoconferencing circuit including a memory circuit arranged to store codes associated with telephone numbers for remote videoconferencing units, and wherein the processor circuit is configured to respond to the user-selectable inputs by accessing the codes to determine if a videoconferencing call is being initiated.

16. A method of videoconferencing, according to claim 15, wherein the first audio format is compatible with a protocol for passing real-time video.

17. A method of videoconferencing over a communications channel, comprising:

providing a memory circuit and storing therein codes that indicate if a telephone number is associated with a remote videoconferencing unit;

using a telephone circuit with user-selectable inputs to communicate DTMF commands;

in response to the DTMF commands, using the stored codes in the memory circuit to automatically determine if a videoconferencing call is being initiated by a sequence of user-selectable inputs; and

in response to determining that a videoconferencing call is being initiated, using a processor-based videoconferencing circuit to attempt to establish a videoconferencing call with the remote videoconferencing unit over the communications channel.

18. A method of videoconferencing over a communications channel, according to claim 17, further including providing the memory circuit as part of the telephone circuit.

19. A method of videoconferencing over a communications channel, according to claim 17, further including providing the memory circuit as part of the processor-based videoconferencing circuit.

20. A method of videoconferencing over a communications channel, according to claim 17, further including attempting to establish a conventional telephone call over the communications channel in response to determining that a videoconferencing call is not being initiated.

21. A method of videoconferencing, according to claim 17, wherein the first audio format is compatible with a protocol for passing real-time video.