Modular video conference enclosure

• US 6,205,716 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diane P. Peltz
• Original Assignee: Diane P. Peltz
• Inventors: Peltz, Diane P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/478,852
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 52/361, 52/362, 52/791, 52/275, 345/330, 345/905, 348/15, 348/383, 379/453
• US Class Current: 52/36.2
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/125 Small buildings, arranged in other buildings E04H1/1272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A secure, modular and movable interactive two-way telecollaborative video conferencing and imaging enclosure for conducting business or privileged medical, legal, or other confidential matters in private, being particularly equipped for remote monitoring of physiological attributes of one or more users by medical specialists and remote interaction between users and medical specialists.

Claims

1. A modular enclosure for two way interactive video conferencing, comprising:

an enclosed structure, said structure further comprising an equipment compartment separated by a firewall from an adjacent user compartment;

a user door for secure access to said user compartment;

an equipment door for secure access to said equipment compartment;

accommodations for users in said user compartment;

video conferencing equipment removably mounted on a rack in said equipment compartment, said equipment having user interfaces, said user interfaces protruding through said firewall for availability to said users in said user compartment;

a console for user operation of said video conferencing equipment;

a telephone and a video camera mounted in said user compartment and connected to said video conferencing equipment through said firewall;

wherein said video conferencing equipment, console, telephone and video camera are usable by said users for two way interactive meetings, and wherein said enclosed structure, said user door, said equipment door and said video conferencing equipment conform to a modular design of said enclosure for ease of breakdown, movement to another location, reassembly and replacement.

2. A modular enclosure as in claim 1, wherein said user door provides wheelchair accessibility and said accommodations accommodate a wheelchair.

3. A modular enclosure as in claim 1, wherein said secure access to said user compartment is provided by a smart card usable to open said user door, said smart card being insertable into a smart card reader mounted in said user door, thereby providing an electronic record of said users, enabling easy access to billing, and acting to deter vandalism and theft.

4. A modular enclosure as in claim 1, wherein said secure access is provided by a voice recognition device.

5. A modular enclosure as in claim 1, wherein said video conferencing equipment includes blood pressure monitors, a dental exam camera, dermatoscopes, electrocardiography systems, electroencephalograph systems, fundoscopes, intravenous infusion pumps, ophthalmoscopes, otoscopes, pulse oximeters, gastroscopes, bronchoscopes or videomicroscopes.

6. A modular enclosure as in claim 1, wherein electronic network connectivity is provided to a plurality of video conferencing transmission carriers through a plug-in.

7. A modular enclosure as in claim 1, wherein said user compartment has

foam core walls for improved sound having a minimum of − 20 dB SPL within said user compartment, and wherein said equipment compartment has

a plug-in to said equipment compartment for electronically connecting said video conferencing equipment to remote video conferencing systems.

8. A modular enclosure as in claim 7, further comprising a telemedicine application.

9. A modular enclosure as in claim 8, wherein said telemedicine application further comprises medical peripheral equipment.