Peripheral video conferencing system

• US 6,397,275 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Viseon Incorporated
• Inventors: Mulder, David, Clapp, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cao, Chun
• Application Number:
  US09/561,159
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62,65,69,60 348/552,554,15
• US Class Current: 710/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• 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

Abstract

A peripheral video conferencing system is housed in a peripheral housing and adapted for communication with an analog or digital communication channel and a separate host computer system. Audio, video, and data file information is transmitted to and received from a remote conferencing site over the communication channel. A plurality of audio, video, and communication channel connectors provide means for acquiring source audio and video signals, and respectively displaying on a separate monitor and broadcasting over an internal or separate external speaker remote video images and audio. A high-speed output interface provides connectivity with the separate host computer system for coordinating, in cooperation with video conferencing application software operating thereon, the presentation of local and remote NTSC or PAL video images on a display coupled to the computer system.

Claims

1. A stand-alone video-conferencing system comprising:

a housing;

a first receive unit that receives a local audio signal and a local video signal;

a local transmission unit that transmits the local audio signal and the local video signal to a communication channel;

a second receive unit that receives a remote audio signal and a remote video signal transmitted over the communication channel;

an output interface, comprising an output connector, that communicates the remote video signal between the second receive unit and the output connector; and

a control unit that controls the presentation of the remote video signal through the output connector and adjusts the transmission bandwidth of the communication channel;

wherein the first receive unit, local transmission unit, second receive unit, and output interface are disposed in the housing.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is disposed in the housing.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is controlled by a user interface device.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the user interface device is separate from the housing.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the user interface device is selected from the group consisting essentially of a separate host computer, a telephone, a numeric keyboard, and a mouse.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a video image associated with the remote video signal within a video window displayed on a display device.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit modifies the size of the video window displayed on the display device.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to display a video image associated with the remote video signal within a video window displayed on the display device;

and modifies the size of the video window displayed on the display device.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is adapted to simultaneously display on the display device video images associated with the remote and local video signals.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to simultaneously display on the display device video images associated with the remote and local video signals.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit coordinates communication of the remote video signal between the second receive unit and the output interface.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit for coordinating communication of the remote video signal between the second receive unit and the output interface.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to adjust the transmission bandwidth of the communication channel.

14. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a display device connected to the output connector.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the display device is a television.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the display device is a video monitor.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the video monitor is coupled to a host computer.

18. A system according to claim 14, wherein the display device is arranged and configured to receive an analog signal.

19. A system according to claim 14, wherein the display device is arranged and configured to receive a digital signal.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is a separate host computer.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first receive unit is adapted to receive the local video signal in one of a plurality of predetermined video formats.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first receive unit is adapted to receive the local audio signal from a microphone and the local video signal from at least one of a video camera and a video media player.

23. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a channel selection device for selectably transmitting the local audio signal or local video signal over the communication channel.

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel can be either an analog communication channel or a digital communication channel.

25. A system according to claim 1, wherein the local transmission unit comprises a data file processor that transmits a data file over the communication channel.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein:

the local transmission unit converts a standard data file to a coded data file of a predetermined format; and

the first receive unit converts a coded data file of a predetermined format to a standard data file.

27. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a detection device that detects an incoming communication.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the control unit produces a detection signal in response to the detection device detecting an incoming communication.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the control unit generates an alert message displayed on a display device in response to the detection signal.

30. A system according to claim 1, further comprising video conferencing software.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the video conferencing software operates on a separate host computer system.

32. A system according to claim 1, wherein the local transmission unit converts the local video signal in at least one of an NTSC format and a PAL format to an associated coded local video signal.

33. A stand-alone video-conferencing system comprising:

a housing;

a first receive unit that receives a local audio signal and a local video signal;

a local transmission unit that transmits the local audio signal and the local video signal to a communication channel;

a second receive unit that receives a remote audio signal and a remote video signal transmitted over the communication channel;

an output interface, comprising an output connector, that communicates the remote video signal between the second receive unit and the output connector; and

a control unit that controls the presentation of the remote video signal through the output connector, displays a video image associated with the remote video signal within a video window displayed on a display device, and modifies the size of the video window displayed on the display device;

wherein the first receive unit, local transmission unit, second receive unit, and output interface are disposed in the housing.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the control unit is disposed in the housing.

35. A system according to claim 33, wherein the control unit adjusts the transmission bandwidth of the communication channel.

36. A system according to claim 33, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to display a video image associated with the remote video signal within a video window displayed on the display device;

and modifies the size of the video window displayed on the display device.

37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the control unit is adapted to simultaneously display on the display device video images associated with the remote and local video signals.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit to simultaneously display on the display device video images associated with the remote and local video signals.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein the control unit coordinates communication of the remote video signal between the second receives unit and the output interface.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein the system further comprises software that cooperates with the control unit for coordinating communication of the remote video signal between the second receive unit and the output interface.

41. A system according to claim 33, wherein the display device is connected to the output connector.

42. A system according to claim 33, wherein the control unit is a separate host computer.

43. A system according to claim 33, wherein the first receive unit is adapted to receive the local video signal in one of a plurality of predetermined video formats.

44. A system according to claim 33, further comprising a channel selection device for selectably transmitting the local audio signal or local video signal over the communication channel.

45. A system according to claim 33, wherein the communication channel can be either an analog communication channel or a digital communication channel.

46. A system according to claim 33, wherein the local transmission unit comprises a data file processor that transmits a data file over the communication channel.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein:

the local transmission unit converts a standard data file to a coded data file of a predetermined format; and

the first receive unit converts a coded data file of a predetermined format to a standard data file.

48. A system according to claim 33, further comprising a detection device that detects an incoming communication.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein the control unit produces a detection signal in response to the detection device detecting an incoming communication.

50. A system according to claim 49, wherein the control unit generates an alert message displayed on a display device in response to the detection signal.

51. A system according to claim 33, further comprising video conferencing software.

52. A system according to claim 51, wherein the video conferencing software operates on a separate host computer system.