Video communication/monitoring apparatus and method therefor

• US 6,226,031 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Inventors: Rainnie, Hedley, Barraclough, Keith, Martin, Bryan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/176,994
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/12-20, 348/407, 348/413, 348/415, 348/417, 382/423, 382/166, 382/232-236, 358/41, 358/56, 358/432, 364/723, 364/724.015, 379/93.17, 379/93.24, 379/202, 379/102.02, 345/502, 345/508, 345/519, 712/20, 712/23, 712/35, 712/215
• 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

In one embodiment, a cost-effective videophone device acts as a security monitor and includes a programmable processor circuit capable of communicating over a conventional communications channel, such as a POTS line, and of generating video data for display on a television set. The device includes a video source, an interface circuit, including a modem transmitting and receiving video and audio data over the channel; an EEPROM circuit for storing a program to control the videophone apparatus; and a display driver circuit for generating video data to the display. The programmable processor circuit includes a DSP-type processor for processing video data and a general-purpose processor for executing the stored program and controlling the operation of the videophone apparatus. Further, a code is used to designate one of multiple operations for various interacting processor circuits communicating in the same system.

Claims

1. A video monitoring/communication apparatus for communicating data including video data over a telephone line and for operating in a mode selected from a plurality of operating modes, the video monitoring/communication apparatus comprising:

a video source configured and arranged to capture images and to generate video data representing monitored images;

a telephone line interface circuit, including a signal transceiver circuit, configured and arranged to transmit and receive data including video data over the telephone line;

a programmable processor circuit configured and arranged for processing captured video and causing image data to be output for display, the programmable processor circuit having a DSP section, including a DSP-type processor, configured and arranged for executing compression/decompression algorithms, and further having a controller section communicatively coupled to the DSP section and configured and arranged for controlling operation of the video monitoring/communication apparatus;

a memory circuit configured and arranged for storing executable code for controlling operation of the programmable processor circuit including executable code for compressing/decompressing video data consistent with at least one video-coding recommendation;

means for setting the memory circuit to designate the selected mode for operating the video monitoring/communication apparatus; and

a display driver circuit responsive to the programmable processor circuit and configured and arranged to generate video data for a display.

2. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the memory circuit is further configured and arranged for storing a plurality of video compression/decompression programs, each of the programs corresponding to a respective said at least one of the plurality of different video-coding recommendations.

3. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the means for setting the memory circuit includes a programmable memory section that is set via an externally-generated command.

4. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein the externally-generated command is processed by the controller section of the programmable processor circuit.

5. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein the externally-generated command sent from a remotely-coupled video communication device.

6. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the programmable processor circuit is located at a first site and is communicatively coupled to another programmable processor circuit located at a second site, each programmable processor circuit being configured to operate at least one function that corresponds to either the first site or the second site, depending on its location.

7. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein the means for setting the memory circuit to designate the selected mode for operating the video monitoring/communication apparatus is located at the first site, and further including another means for setting the memory circuit to designate the selected mode for operating the video monitoring/communication apparatus that is located at the second site, in each instance the means including executable data for downloading a code that designates the selected mode.

8. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the means for setting the memory circuit to designate the selected mode for operating the video monitoring/communication apparatus is located at the first site, and further including another means for setting the memory circuit to designate the selected mode for operating the video monitoring/communication apparatus that is located at the second site, in each instance the means including a unique settable code that designates the selected mode.

9. A video monitoring/communication apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the programmable processor circuit is located at a first site and is communicatively coupled to another programmable processor circuit located at a second site, the programmable processor circuit at the first site configured to command the programmable processor circuit at the second site operate to playback limited amounts of data surrounding at least one designated event.

10. A video monitoring/communication system, comprising:

a videocommunication server including a plurality of telephone line ports for coupling to remotely-located sites and to at least one wide-bandwidth link;

a plurality of video monitoring/commnunication apparatuses situated at the remotely-located sites and coupled to the videocommunication server via the telephone line ports, each of the plurality of video monitoring/communication apparatuses configured and arranged for communicating data including video data and for operating in a mode selected from a plurality of operating modes, and each including;

a video source configured and arranged to capture images and to generate video data representing monitored images;

a telephone line interface circuit, including a signal transceiver circuit, configured and arranged to transmit and receive data including video data over the telephone line;

a programmable processor circuit configured and arranged for processing captured video and causing image data to be output for display, the programmable processor circuit having a DSP section, including a DSP-type processor, configured and arranged for executing compression/decompression algorithms, and further having a controller section communicatively coupled to the DSP section and configured and arranged for controlling operation of the video monitoring/communication apparatus;

a memory circuit configured and arranged for storing executable code for controlling operation of the programmable processor circuit including executable code for compressing/decompressing video data consistent with at least one video-coding recommendation;

means for setting the memory circuit to designate the selected mode for operating the video monitoring/communication apparatus; and

a display driver circuit responsive to the programmable processor circuit and configured and arranged to generate video data for a display; and

means for tagging captured images with identifying data relative to the video source of the respective video monitoring/communication apparatus;

the videocommunication server configured and arranged for using the identifying data to couple the video data between selected ones of the plurality of telephone line ports and said at least one wide-bandwidth link.

11. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 10, further including means, coupled to the videocommunication server through at least one of said plurality of video monitoring/communication apparatuses, for selectively displaying the captured images.

12. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 11, wherein the means for selectively displaying images is responsive to the videocommunication server using the identifying data.

13. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 10, wherein the means for tagging captured images with identifying data is used in conjunction with at least one of the following:

means for appending data coded to captured image segments per remote user;

means for tracking facial characteristics of within the captured images;

tracking color-coded schemes within the captured images;

means for tracking being-related characteristics of within the captured images; and

means for tracking badges attached to beings monitored by the video sources.

14. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 10, wherein said at least one wide-bandwidth link includes means for processing a multitude of world-wide web data links.

15. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 10, further including a display monitoring station coupled to the server via said at least one wide-bandwidth link.

16. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 15, wherein the display monitoring station includes means, coupled to the videocommunication server through at least one of said plurality of video monitoring/communication apparatuses, for selectively displaying the captured images.

17. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 16, wherein the means for selectively displaying images is responsive to the videocommunication server using the identifying data.

18. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 10, wherein the videocommunication server is configured for determining whether the video monitoring/communication apparatuses have communication access to a supervisory video processing unit.

19. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 18, wherein the videocommunication server determines whether the video monitoring/communication apparatuses have said communication access by reading a programmable code therefrom.

20. A video monitoring/communication system, according to claim 19, wherein the programmable code is identified to the server by a facility operating the supervisory video processing unit.

21. A remotely-accessed video monitoring apparatus for communicating data, including video data, over a plain old telephone service (POTS) line, comprising:

a video source configured and arranged to capture images and to generate video data representing the images;

a POTS interface circuit, including a modem, configured and arranged to transmit and receive video and audio data over the POTS line;

a programmable processor circuit having a first section, including a DSP-type processor, configured and arranged to encode and decode video data, including the video data generated by the video source, according to a programmed video-coding recommendation, and having a controller section, including a RISC-type processor communicatively coupled to the first section, the controller section executing a stored program for controlling operation of the videophone apparatus in response to user-generated commands;

a memory circuit coupled to the programmable processor circuit and aranged for storing the program for controlling operation of the videophone apparatus;

a display driver circuit responsive to the programmable processor circuit and configured and arranged to generate video data for a display.

22. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 21, wherein the controller section includes at least one of a telephone and a wireless remote unit.

23. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 21, wherein the programmable processor circuit is implemented using at least two intercommunicative integrated circuit packages.

24. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 21, wherein the programmable processor circuit is implemented using one integrated circuit package including both the RISC-type processor and the DSP-type processor.

25. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 21, wherein the first and controller sections of the programmable processor circuit are implemented as part of a single integrated circuit.

26. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 21, wherein the processor circuit is programmed to receive a user-generated command that configures the videoconferencing apparatus to automatically answer a call detected over the POTS line.

27. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 21, wherein the processor circuit is programmed to process video received from one of a plurality of video sources and to respond to a remotely generated “

select”

command causing one of the video sources to be selected by a remotely-located user.

28. A videoconferencing apparatus for communicating video and audio data over a communications channel, comprising:

means for capturing images and generating video data representing the images;

means for transmitting and receiving video and audio data over the channel;

programmable means for processing having a first section, including a DSP-type processor, configured and arranged to encode and decode video data, including the video data generated by the video source, according to a programmed video-coding recommendation, and having a controller section, including a RISC-type processor, communicatively coupled to the first section, the controller section executing a stored program for controlling operation of the videoconferencing apparatus in response to user-generated commands;

an EEPROM circuit coupled to the programmable means for processing and arranged for storing the program for controlling operation of the videoconferencing apparatus;

a display driver circuit responsive to the programmable means for processing and configured and arranged to generate video data for a display; and

a housing arrangement, enclosing the means for capturing images and generating video data representing the images, the means for transmitting and receiving video and audio data, the programmable means for processing, the EEPROM circuit, the display driver circuit, and constructed and arranged to mount adjustably on the top of the display.

29. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 28, wherein the programmable means for processing is programmed to receive a user-generated command that configures the videoconferencing apparatus to automatically answer a call detected over the communications channel.

30. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 28, wherein the programmable means for processing is programmed to process video received from one of a plurality of video sources and to respond to a remotely generated “

select”

command causing one of the video sources to be selected by a remotely-located user.

31. A videoconferencing apparatus, according to claim 28, wherein the programmable means for processing is programmed to process video received from one of a plurality of video sources and to respond to a remotely generated “

select”

command causing one of the video sources to be selected by a remotely-located user, and wherein the programmable means for processing is further programmed to receive a user-generated command that configures the videoconferencing apparatus to automatically answer a call detected over the communications channel.