Variable bandwidth communication systems and methods

• US 6,282,206 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
• Inventors: Gaver, William, Hindus, Debby, Mainwaring, Scott, Pedersen, Elin, White, Sean Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/169,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 370/468, 370/465, 370/276, 370/278, 370/280, 370/281, 370/294, 370/295, 375/222
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1682 Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

A variable bandwidth communication system includes a first communication station and a second communication station coupled to the first communication station for continuous, by directional communication. The first communication station is capable of transmitting at a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth, and is capable of receiving at a third bandwidth and a fourth bandwidth greater than the third bandwidth. The transmitting bandwidth of the first communication station is selectable by first user. The second communication station is capable of receiving at the first bandwidth and at the second bandwidth and is capable at transmitting at the third bandwidth and the fourth bandwidth. Again, the transmitting bandwidth of the second communication station is selectable by the second user. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first bandwidth and the third bandwidth are about the same, and the second bandwidth and the fourth bandwidth are about the same. The first communication system is capable of displaying communication received at the fourth bandwidth at a first lower bandwidth display level, and the second communication system is capable of displaying communications received at the second bandwidth at a second lower bandwidth display level. In this fashion, two or more users can interact at a variety of threshold levels dependent upon the user'"'"'s desires for privacy and/or high bandwidth communications.

Claims

1. A variable bandwidth communication system comprising:

a first communication station capable of transmitting at a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth greater than said first bandwidth, and capable of receiving at a third bandwidth and a fourth bandwidth greater than said third bandwidth, wherein the transmitting bandwidth of said first communication station is selectable by a first user; and

a second communication station coupled to said first communication station for continuous, bi-directional communication with said first communication station, said second communication station being capable of receiving at said first bandwidth and said second bandwidth, and capable of transmitting at said third bandwidth and a fourth bandwidth, wherein the transmitting bandwidth of said second communication station is selectable by a second user.

2. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first bandwidth and said third bandwidth are about the same, and wherein said second bandwidth and said fourth bandwidth are about the same.

3. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 2 wherein said second bandwidth is at least two orders of magnitude greater than said first bandwidth.

4. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 3 wherein said first communication system is capable of displaying communications received at said fourth bandwidth at a first lower bandwidth display level.

5. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 4 wherein said lower bandwidth display level is at about said third bandwidth.

6. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 5 wherein said second communication system is capable of displaying communications received at said second bandwidth at a second lower bandwidth display level.

7. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 6 wherein said second lower bandwidth display level is at about said first bandwidth.

8. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 7 wherein said second bandwidth is capable of transmitting video communications.

9. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein said first bandwidth is capable of transmitting at least one of a representational video communication, a reduced resolution video communication, an audio communication, and an abstract representational communication.

10. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 7 wherein said second bandwidth is capable of transmitting audio communications.

11. A variable bandwidth communication system as recited in claim 10 wherein said first bandwidth is capable of transmitting at least one of a degraded audio communication, a haptic communication, and an abstract representational communication.

12. A method for variable bandwidth communications comprising:

selectively and continuously transmitting communications from a first communication station at one of a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth, where said second bandwidth is greater than said first bandwidth, and continuously receiving communications at one of a third bandwidth and a fourth bandwidth, where said fourth bandwidth is greater than said third bandwidth; and

selectively and continuously transmitting communications from a second communication station at one of said third bandwidth and said fourth bandwidth, and continuously receiving communications at one of said first bandwidth and a second bandwidth.

13. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 12 wherein said first bandwidth and said third bandwidth are about the same, and wherein said second bandwidth and said fourth bandwidth are about the same.

14. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 13 wherein said second bandwidth is at least two orders of magnitude greater than said first bandwidth.

15. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 14 further comprising selectively converting communications received by said first communication system at said fourth bandwidth to a first lower bandwidth display level.

16. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 15 wherein said lower bandwidth display level is at about said third bandwidth.

17. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 16 further comprising selectively converting communications received by said second communication system at said second bandwidth to a first lower bandwidth display level.

18. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 17 wherein said second lower bandwidth display level is at about said first bandwidth.

19. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 18 wherein said second bandwidth is capable of transmitting video communications.

20. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 19 wherein said first bandwidth is capable of transmitting at least one of a representational video communication, a reduced resolution video communication, an audio communication, and an abstract representational communication.

21. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 18 wherein said second bandwidth is capable of transmitting audio communications.

22. A method for variable bandwidth communications as recited in claim 21 wherein said first bandwidth is capable of transmitting at least one of a degraded audio communication, a haptic communication, and an abstract representational communication.