Video conference system and control method thereof

• US 6,172,703 B1
• Filed: 03/04/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/034,370
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14-20, 348/373, 348/836, 248/920-925, 379/202, 379/110.01, 709/204, 345/340, 345/342, 345/346, 345/330, 345/331-332
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A video conference system and a control method thereof which allows conferencees to communicate by making eye contact with each other. The video conference system includes an input device for detecting images and outputting a first video signal, the input device being adjustable to align it to the line of vision of a user. A main frame receives the first video signal and transmits it to a computer on the other end of a network, and receives a second video signal from the computer on the other end and outputs a video control signal to enable reproduction of the second video signal. A monitor receives the video control signal and reproduces images corresponding to the second video signal on a display area of the monitor not blocked by the input device.

Claims

1. A video conference system, comprising:

an input device detecting images and outputting a first video signal, said input device being movable to a location aligned with a line of vision of a user;

a main unit transmitting said first video signal output by said input device to a first computer, receiving a second video signal transmitted by the first computer, outputting a first video control signal controlling reproduction of said second video signal, the first computer being separately located from said main unit;

a monitor receiving said video control signal of said main unit, said monitor reproducing first images at a first site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said first site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said first site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the first images corresponding to said second video signal;

said main unit receiving a third video signal transmitted by a second computer, the second computer being separately located from said main unit and from the first computer;

said monitor reproducing second images at a second site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said second site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said second site without the user needing to change a position of the user the second images corresponding to said third video signal;

said first and second sites being spaced apart allowing the user to view the entirety of said first and second sites substantially simultaneously;

said input device comprising;

an input part detecting images;

an arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said input part;

a support being attached to said main unit and being connected to said second end of said arm; and

a microphone on said input part detecting sounds and outputting a first audio signal together with said first video signal.

4. The system of claim 1, said support comprising:

a rotator connected to said arm, said rotator rotating to adjust position of said arm; and

a stationary body contacting said rotator, said rotator and said stationary body having a frictional force therebetween used to securely hold said arm at a selected position.

5. The system of claim 1, said support comprising a rotator adjusting position of said arm by rotating said rotator, said rotator being connected to said arm and contacting said main unit, said rotator and said main unit having a frictional force therebetween used to securely hold said arm at a selected position.

6. The system of claim 1, said support comprising:

a gear having a plurality of teeth and being connected to said arm, a position of said arm being adjusted by rotating said gear in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane of a face of said monitor; and

a clutch locking at least one of said plurality of teeth of said gear to securely hold said arm at a selected position.

7. The system of claim 6, said gear being constructed of elastic material to enable rotation of said gear.

2. A video conference system, comprising:

an input device detecting images and outputting a first video signal, said input device being movable to a location aligned with a line of vision of a user;

a main unit transmitting said first video signal output by said input device to a first computer, receiving a second video signal transmitted by the first computer, outputting a first video control signal controlling reproduction of said second video signal, the first computer being separately located from said main unit;

a monitor receiving said video control signal of said main unit, said monitor reproducing first images at a first site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said first site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said first site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the first images corresponding to said second video signal;

said main unit receiving a third video signal transmitted by a second computer, the second computer being separately located from said main unit and from the first computer;

said monitor reproducing second images at a second site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said second site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said second site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the second images corresponding to said third video signal; and

said first and second sites being spaced apart allowing the user to view the entirety of said first and second sites substantially simultaneously.

3. A video conference system, comprising:

an input device detecting images and outputting a first video signal, said input device being movable to a location aligned with a line of vision of a user;

a main unit transmitting said first video signal output by said input device to a first computer, receiving a second video signal transmitted by the first computer, outputting a first video control signal controlling reproduction of said second video signal, the first computer being separately located from said main unit;

a monitor receiving said video control signal of said main unit, said monitor reproducing first images at a first site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said first site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said first site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the first images corresponding to said second video signal;

said main unit receiving a third video signal transmitted by a second computer, the second computer being separately located from said main unit and from the first computer;

said monitor reproducing second images at a second site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said second site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said second site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the second images corresponding to said third video signal;

said first and second sites being spaced apart allowing the user to view the entirety of said first and second sites substantially simultaneously;

said input device comprising;

an input part detecting images;

an arm being connected to said input part and

being attached to said main unit; and

a microphone on said input part detecting sounds and outputting a first audio signal together with said first video signal.

8. A video conference system, comprising:

a stand-type input device detecting images and outputting a first video signal, said stand-type input device being movable to a location in front of a monitor to align said stand-type input device with a line of vision of a user;

a main unit transmitting said first video signal output by said input device to a first computer, receiving a second video signal transmitted by the first computer, outputting a first video control signal enabling reproduction of said second video signal, the first computer being separately located from said main unit;

said monitor receiving said first video control signal of said main unit, said monitor reproducing first images at a first site on a display area of said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said first site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said first site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the first images corresponding to said second video signal;

said main unit receiving a third video signal transmitted by a second computer, the second computer being separately located from said main unit and from the first computer;

said monitor reproducing second images at a second site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said second site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said second site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the second images corresponding to said third video signal; and

said first and second sites being spaced apart allowing the user to view the entirety of said first and second sites substantially simultaneously.

9. The system of claim 8, said input device further comprising a microphone detecting sounds and outputting a first audio signal together with said first video signal.

10. A video conference system, comprising:

a retractable input device detecting images and outputting a first video signal, said input device being extendable to a location aligned with a line of vision of a user;

a main unit transmitting said first video signal output by said input device to a first computer, receiving a second video signal transmitted by the first computer, outputting a first video control signal enabling reproduction of said second video signal, the first computer bing separately located from said main unit;

a monitor receiving said first video control signal of said main unit, said monitor reproducing first images at a first site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said first site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said first site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the first images corresponding to the second video signal;

said main unit receiving a third video signal transmitted by a second computer, the second computer being separately located from said main unit and from the first computer;

said monitor reproducing second images at a second site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said second site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said second site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the second images corresponding to said third video signal; and

said first and second sites being spaced apart allowing the user to view the entirety of said first and second sites substantially simultaneously.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

said main unit receiving fourth and fifth video signals transmitted by third and fourth computers respectively, the third and fourth computers being separately located from said main unit and from the first and second computers; and

said monitor reproducing additional images at third and fourth sites on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said third and fourth sites corresponding to places where the user can view the entirety of said third and fourth sites without the user needing to change a position of the user, said third and fourth sites on said monitor being spaced apart to allow the user to view images at said first, second, third, and fourth sites substantially simultaneously, the additional images corresponding to said fourth and fifth video signals.

12. The system of claim 10, said input device comprising:

an input part detecting images;

an arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said input part, said arm being extendable to a location aligned with the line of vision of the user; and

a support being attached to said main unit and being connected to said second end of said arm.

13. The system of claim 12, said input device further comprising a microphone on said input part detecting sounds and outputting a first audio signal together with said first video signal.

14. The system of claim 10, said input device comprising:

an input part detecting images;

an arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said input part, said arm being extendable to a location aligned with the line of vision of the user; and

a support being attached to a face of said monitor and being connected to said second end of said arm.

15. A video conference system control method, comprising:

adjusting an input device to align it with a line of vision of a user;

detecting images and outputting a first video signal;

transmitting said first video signal output by said input device to a first computer, said transmitting being performed by a main unit coupled to said input device, the first computer being separately located from said main unit;

receiving a second video signal transmitted by the first computer, outputting a first video control signal controlling reproduction of said second video signal;

receiving said first video control signal, reproducing first images at a first site on a monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said first site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said first site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the first images corresponding to said second video signal;

receiving a third video signal transmitted by a second computer, the second computer being separately located from said main unit and from the first computer;

reproducing second images at a second site on the monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said second site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said second site without the user needing to change a position of the user, the second images corresponding to said third video signal, said first and second sites being spaced apart allowing the user to view the entirety of said first and second sites substantially simultaneously;

receiving fourth video signals transmitted by a third computer, the third computer being separately located from said main unit and from the first and second computers; and

said monitor reproducing additional images at a third site on said monitor where the line of vision of the user is not blocked by said input device, said third site corresponding to a place where the user can view the entirety of said third site without the user needing to change a position of the user, said first, second, and third sites on said monitor being spaced apart to allow the user to view said first, second, and third sites substantially simultaneously, the additional images corresponding to said fourth video signals.