Video telephone

• US 6,246,430 B1
• Filed: 02/23/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation), Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Schneider, Gerhard, Peters, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/027,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.03, 379/355, 379/356, 379/357, 379/199, 379/93.25, 455/411, 455/558, 455/564, 455/556, 455/557, 455/410, 455/90, 455/550, 455/575, 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 380/247, 380/248, 380/271
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release

Abstract

A video telephone (TEL) for use in an interactive video service is disclosed to establish a switched connection to a video server (VOD) to receive video signals corresponding to selections chosen by a user. In a further aspect, the video telephone (TEL) includes a card slot and chip card reader to activate the TEL by reading the VOD call number from the card data. The TEL automatically dials the VOD to establish the switched connection via the digital radio network GSM and/or the integrated services digital network ISDN.

Claims

1. A video telephone (TEL) for interactive video service between the video telephone and a video server (VOD) for receiving selected video signals transmitted from the video server (VOD), said video telephone (TEL) comprising:

means for establishing a switched connection to the video server (VOD) via a digital network, said switched connection containing a first channel to transmit picture and a second channel to transmit sound associated with said pictures;

means for receiving and displaying a menu of different video signals available from the video server;

means for selecting from said displayed menu a desired one of said different video signals and transmitting said video signal selection to the video server;

means for receiving in real time said selected one of said different video signals; and

means for maintaining or releasing the switched connection between the video telephone and the video server.

2. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for selecting a desired video signal comprises a numeric keypad.

3. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 2 further comprising a handset, wherein the switched connection is released by replacing the handset in a similar manner as ending a normal telephone call.

4. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 2, wherein the switched connection is simultaneously maintained to the video server by entering a predetermined number at the video telephone and the video signal is stopped to select from the displayed menu of different video signals another desired one of said different video signals.

5. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 2, wherein the switched connection is released at the completion of transmission of the video signal in response to the absence of entry of a further selection from said displayed menu within a predetermined time after the completion of transmission of the video signal.

6. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 1, wherein said switched connection to the video server (VOD) is via the integrated services digital network (ISDN).

7. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 1, wherein said switched connection to the video server (VOD) is via the integrated services digital network (ISDN) and the digital radio network GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) cellular mobile radio network.

8. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 1 wherein the digital radio network GSM further comprises a base station (BTS), a base station controller (BSC) and a mobile switching center (MSC), wherein the base station (BTS) is connected to the integrated services digital network (ISDN) via the base station controller (BSC) and the mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein said video telephone (TEL) is located in a moving object (ZUG) containing a unit (UNIT) for receiving and converting radio signals transmitted from the base station (BTS) into signals capable of being processed by the video telephone (TEL) and for converting signals from the video telephone into radio signals conforming to the GSM standard, wherein said video telephone cooperates with the unit (UNIT), and further comprises means for receiving said converted signals from the unit (UNIT) and means for sending signals to the unit (UNIT) for conversion to the GSM standard.

9. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 8 further comprises a chip card-reading unit and a slot for receiving a chip card (CARD) and means for locking the video telephone when no chip card (CARD) is inserted in the slot and for unlocking the video telephone when a chip card (CARD) with a code dependent on the video server (VOD) is inserted into the chip card-reading unit.

10. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 9 further comprising autodialing means for establishing a switched connection wherein the call number of a video server is contained in the code dependent on the video server and is entered via the card-reading unit whereby a switched connection with the video server (VOD) is established and maintained as the location of the video telephone moves relative to the location of the video server.

11. A video telephone (TEL) as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing a switched connection further comprises means for dialing the call number of a video server (VOD).

12. In a service for transmitting a video film having a video server (VOD) including a transmitting unit (SEN), a receiving unit (EMP), a control unit (CTRL), and a memory (MEMO) for storing video signals, wherein the video server (VOD) is callable to establish a switched connection from an integrated services digital network (ISDN) for transmitting selected video signals to a video telephone (TEL), said video telephone (TEL) comprising:

a chip card-reading unit and a slot for receiving a chip card (CARD) and means for locking the video telephone when no chip card (CARD) is inserted in the slot and for unlocking the video telephone when a chip card (CARD) with a code dependent on the video server (VOD) is inserted into the chip card-reading unit, and

means for establishing a switched connection to the video server (VOD) via the integrated services digital network (ISDN) including autodialing means for dialing the call number of the video server (VOD) wherein the call number of a video server is contained in the code dependent on the video server and is entered via the card-reading unit whereby a switched connection with the video server (VOD) is established.

13. In a service for transmitting a video film having a video server (VOD) including a transmitting unit (SEN), a receiving unit (EMP), a control unit (CTRL), and a memory (MEMO) for storing video signals, wherein the video server (VOD) is callable to establish a switched connection from an integrated services digital network (ISDN) and the digital radio network GSM cellular mobile radio network for transmitting selected video signals to a video telephone (TEL), wherein the digital radio network GSM further comprises a base station (BTS), a base station controller (BSC) and a mobile switching center (MSC), wherein the base station (BTS) is connected to the integrated services digital network (ISDN) via the base station controller (BSC) and the mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the video telephone (TEL) is located in a moving object (ZUG) containing a unit (UNIT) for receiving and converting radio signals transmitted from the base station (BTS) into signals capable of being processed by the video telephone (TEL) and for converting signals from the video telephone into radio signals conforming to the GSM standard, said video telephone (TEL) comprising:

means for receiving converted radio signals from the unit (UNIT) and means for sending signals to the unit (UNIT) for conversion to the GSM standard;

a chip card-reading unit and a slot for receiving a chip card (CARD) and means for locking the video telephone when no chip card (CARD) is inserted in the slot and for unlocking the video telephone when a chip card (CARD) with a code dependent on the video server (VOD) is inserted into the chip card-reading unit, and

means for establishing a switched connection to the video server (VOD) via the integrated services digital network (ISDN) including autodialing means for dialing the call number of the video server (VOD) wherein the call number of a video server is contained in the code dependent on the video server and is entered via the card-reading unit whereby a switched connection with the video server (VOD) is established and maintained as the video telephone moves relative to the location of the video server.