Portable conference center

• US 6,323,893 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pnf Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tildenet, Inc.
• Inventors: Tosaya, Carol
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/428,305
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 348/17, 379/93.21, 379/93.23, 379/202, 370/260, 370/261, 709/204, 345/330, 455/556, 455/557, 455/566, 455/575
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference comprising a processor, a video camera, and audio input device and several interfaces coupled to the processor. The processor includes a local instruction processor accessing a local non-volatile memory. The interfaces include a wireless data capture interface, a video display interface, an audio output interface and a network interface.

Claims

1. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference, comprising:

a processor further comprising a local instruction processor accessing a local non-volatile memory;

a wireless data capture interface coupled to a processor;

a video camera coupled to the processor;

a video display interface coupled to the processor;

an audio input device coupled to the processor;

an audio output interface coupled to the processor; and

a network interface coupled to the processor;

wherein the local instruction processor is coupled to the audio input device and is coupled to the audio output interface;

wherein the local instruction processor is coupled to the video camera and is coupled to the video display interface;

wherein the local instruction processor is coupled to the network interface; and

wherein the local instruction processor executes program code segments residing in the local non-volatile memory including;

a program code segment for initializing a local audio video data stream of the video conference;

a program code segment for repeatedly receiving from the network interface an external audio-video stream to create a received video stream presented to the video display interface and to create a received audio stream presented to the audio output interface;

a program code segment for receiving a local video stream from the video camera and receiving a local audio stream from the audio input device and receiving the wireless data capture state from the wireless data capture interface to create a local audio video data stream; and

a program code segment for sending the local audio video data stream to the network interface;

wherein the local processor executes the program code segment residing in local non-volatile memory for receiving the local video stream from the video camera and receiving the local audio stream from the audio input device and receiving the wireless capture data capture state from the wireless data capture interface to create the local audio video data stream and

further includes one of a program code segment for compressing the local video stream to create the local audio video data stream and a program code segment for compressing the local audio stream to create the local audio video data stream.

2. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1

further comprising a module interface coupling the portable video conference module to a computer containing a display device and audio output device;

wherein the received video stream presented to the video display interface includes sending the received video steam via the module interface to the computer for presentation to the display device;

wherein the received audio stream presented to the audio output interface includes sending the received audio stream via the module interface to the computer for presentation to the audio output device of the computer.

3. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 2

wherein the computer further includes an external network interface;

and

wherein communication with the network interface is through the module interface with the external network interface.

4. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 2 further comprises a mechanical attachment mechanism able to mechanically attach the portable video conference module to the computer.

5. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 4 wherein the computer is a portable computer.

6. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 2 wherein the module interface includes a standard computer interface.

7. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 2 wherein the module interface includes a USB interface.

8. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 2 wherein the module interface includes a PCMCIA interface.

9. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 further comprising a compression accelerator coupled to the local instruction processor.

10. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 9 wherein the video camera coupled to the local instruction processor includes the video camera coupled to the compression accelerator.

11. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 further comprising video display ram coupled to the video display interface.

12. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 11 further comprising a decompression accelerator coupled to the local instruction processor.

13. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 12 wherein the local instruction processor coupled to the video display interface further comprises the decompression accelerator coupled to the video display interface.

14. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 13 wherein the compression accelerator coupled to the video display interface further comprises the video display ram coupled to the compression accelerator.

15. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 further comprising a video display coupled to the video display interface.

16. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 15 wherein the video display is a flat panel display.

17. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 15 further comprising a selector device coupled to the local instruction processor.

18. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 17 wherein the selector device includes a touch sensitive panel integrated with the video display.

19. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the portable video conference module weighs less than about 2.5 KG.

20. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 19 wherein the portable video conference module weighs less than about 2 KG.

21. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 20 wherein the portable video conference module weighs less than about 1.5 KG.

22. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 21 wherein the portable video conference module weighs less than about 1 KG.

23. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 22 wherein the portable video conference module weighs less than about 0.5 KG.

24. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the network interface supports a wireline physical transport layer.

25. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the network interface supports a wireless physical transport layer.

26. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the network interface supports a multi-channel access protocol.

27. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 26 wherein the multi-channel access protocol includes frequency modulation.

28. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 26 wherein the multi-channel access protocol includes time division.

29. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 26 wherein the multi-channel access protocol includes wavelet mechanisms.

30. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 26 wherein the multi-channel access protocol includes spread spectrum mechanisms.

31. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 30 wherein the multi-channel access protocol includes broadband spread spectrum mechanisms.

32. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the network interface supports a DSL communications protocol.

33. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the local instruction processor executes further program code segments including a program code segment using the network interface to support TCPIP.

34. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 33 the program code segment using the network interface to support TCPIP further includes a program code segment using the network interface to support the Wireless Application Protocol.

35. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 33 wherein the program code segment using the network interface to support TCPIP further includes a program code segment supporting the Internet.

36. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 35 wherein the program code segment using the network interface to support TCPIP further includes a program code segment supporting the World Wide Web.

37. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the network interface supports ATM.

38. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the audio output interface supports a digital protocol.

39. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the audio output interface supports an analog protocol.

40. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 further includes an audio output device coupled to the audio output interface.

41. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the wireless data capture interface employs a wireline physical transport layer to couple to a wireless data capture device.

42. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the wireless data capture interface employs a wireless physical transport layer to couple to a wireless data capture device.

43. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 42 wherein the wireless data capture interface wireless physical transport layer interacts in the infra-red spectrum.

44. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the wireless data capture interface wireless physical transport layer interacts in the radio spectrum.

45. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the wireless data capture interface wireless transport layer employing at least part of the Bluetooth communications protocol.

46. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the program code segments residing in the local non-volatile memory executed by the local instruction processor further includes a program code segment examining the local audio stream to effect user selections.

47. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1

wherein the local instruction processor executes the program code segment residing in local non-volatile memory for repeatedly receiving from the network interface the external audio-video stream to create the received video stream presented to the video display interface and to create the received audio stream presented to the audio output interface

further includes decompressing the external audio-video stream to create the received video stream.

48. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1

wherein the local instruction processor executes the program code segment residing in local non-volatile memory for repeatedly receiving from the network interface the external audio-video stream to create the received video stream presented to the video display interface and to create the received audio stream presented to the audio output interface

further includes decompressing the external audio-video stream to create the received audio stream.

49. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the program code segments residing in the local non-volatile memory executed by the local instruction processor further includes a program code segment maintaining a windowing system to the video display interface including

a program code segment for presenting the received local video stream in at least one window in the windowing system;

a program code segment for presenting the wireless data capture state in a window in the windowing system.

50. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 49 wherein the program code segments residing in the local non-volatile memory executed by the local instruction processor further includes a program code segment maintaining a windowing system to the video display interface

further includes a program code segment for supporting a web browser within the windowing system.

51. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the video display interface supports an analog video display protocol.

52. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 51 wherein the analog video display protocol video display interface supports NTSC.

53. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 51 wherein the analog video display protocol video display interface supports PAL.

54. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the video display interface supports a digital video display protocol.

55. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 54 wherein the digital video display protocol of the video display interface supports RGB.

56. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the video display interface supports HDTV.

57. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the video display interface supports flat panel displays.

58. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the video display interface supports flat panel displays,

wherein the program code segment residing in the local non-volatile memory for initializing a local audio video data stream of the video conference executed the local instruction processor further includes

a program code segment adjusting the video camera setup parameters for the video conference.

59. A portable video conference module supporting a network-based video conference as recited in claim 1 wherein the video display interface supports flat panel displays,

wherein the program code segment residing in the local non-volatile memory for initializing a local audio video data stream of the video conference executed the local instruction processor further includes

a program code segment adjusting parameters of the program code segment for receiving the local audio stream from the audio input device to minimize background noise and cancel echoes.