Video conferencing on existing UTP infrastructure

• US 6,437,818 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1998
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pragmatus AV LLC (Pragmatus, LLC), Vicor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Collaboration Properties Incorporated
• Inventors: Lauwers, J. Chris, Ludwig, Lester F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/072,622
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/15, 370/260, 370/261, 379/93.21, 379/93.17, 379/202.01, 709/204, 709/205
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5027 Dropping a party from a conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 : Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 : PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 : Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 : where the conference facilities are distributed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 : User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 : whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 : Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• 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 7/152 : Multipoint control units therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 : Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1319 : Amplifier, attenuation circuit, echo suppressor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 : Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 : Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A video collaboration system and method utilizing at least one control communications link, and an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) wire network among a plurality of video sources and display devices, the UTP network defining a video signal path for transport of video signals. In the invention, the control communications link controls any of transmission, routing, multipoint conferencing, and end display of video signals as well as connection termination.

Claims

1. A video communication system comprising:

(a) at least one video signal source;

(b) at least one video display device;

(c) at least one unshielded twisted pair of wires

(i) defining a video signal path

(ii) arranged for transport of video signals,

(1) originating at a video signal source,

(2) to at least one of the video display devices; and

(d) at least one control communication link,

(i) arranged for transmission of control signals for controlling at least one of the transmission, routing, multi-point conferencing, and display of video signals and connection termination wherein, the system is configured

(i) to respond to control signals,

(1) transmitted over the control communication link,

(ii) to control the video signal path, and

(iii) to cause video image reproduction

(1) based on the transported video signals

(2) on at least one of the video display devices.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) at least one switch

(i) in communication with the control communication link, wherein the system is configured

(i) to control the switch

(ii) to route the video signals

(1) from at least one video signal source,

(2) to at least one video display device,

(3) over the video signal path.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

(a) at least one server

(i) configured to

(1) control the switch.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising

(a) at least two video display devices

(i) each having an associated processor

(ii) to each define a workstation, and

wherein the system is configured

(i) to control the reproduction of video images and spoken audio

(1) of a first workstation user

(2) at the workstation of a second workstation user.

5. The system of claim 4, where in

(a) the video signal path is separate from the control communication link.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system is configured to

(a) reproduce the video images,

(i) at greater than TV quality,

(ii) on at least one of the video display devices.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein

(a) the video signals are transported in analog.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

(a) at least one audio source; and

(b) at least one audio reproduction device,

wherein the system is configured to

(i) transport audio signals,

(1) originating at one of the audio sources,

(2) over at least one unshielded pair of wires, and

(ii) reproduce audio

(1) based on the transported audio signals

(iii) at one of the audio reproduction devices.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is configured

(a) to combine video images

(i) of at least a first and a second user

(ii) into a mosaic image, and

(b) to reproduce the mosaic image

(i) on at least one of the display devices.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is configured:

(a) to allow a first user

(i) to use a first graphical user interface

(ii) to select a user

(iii) from a plurality of users;

(b) to allow the first user

(i) to use a second graphical user interface

(ii) to select a collaboration type

(iii) from a group of collaboration types; and

(c) to respond

(i) by establishing communication

(ii) of the selected collaboration type

(iii) from the first user to

(iv) the selected user.

11. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

(a) at least one processing unit

(i) capable of providing data conferencing signals;

wherein the system is configured to

(i) display information,

(1) based on the data conferencing signals,

(2) on one of the display devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

(a) images

(i) based on the video signals

(ii) can be reproduced

(iii) in a first window on one of the the display devices, and

(b) information

(i) based on the data conferencing signals

(ii) can be displayed

(iii) in a second window on the display device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein

(a) the information

(i) based on the data conferencing signals

(ii) is displayed

(iii) interactively

(iv) on at least two of the display devices.

14. A method of conducting video communications,

over at least one unshielded twisted pair of wires defining a video signal path

using a system including

at least one signal source, and

at least one video display device,

the method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating video signals,

(i) at one of the video signal sources;

(b) transporting

(i) the generated video signals

(ii) to at least one of the display devices;

(c) transmitting

(i) control signals for controlling at least one of the transmission, routing, multi-point conferencing, and display of video signals and connection termination

(ii) over a control communication link,

(d) responding to the control signals

(i) to control the video signal path; and

(e) reproducing video images

(i) based on the controlled, transported video signals

(ii) on at least one of the video display devices.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(a) switching the video signals

(i) from at least one of the video signal sources,

(ii) to at least one of the video display devices,

(iii) over the video signal path.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein

(a) at least two video display devices

(i) each have an associated processor

(ii) to each define a workstation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein

(a) the video signal path is separate from the control communication link.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein

(b) the video images are reproduced,

(i) at TV quality,

(ii) on at least one of the video display devices.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein

(a) the video signals are transported in analog.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

(a) combining video images

(i) of at least a first and a second user

(ii) into a mosaic image, and

(b) reproducing the mosaic image

(i) on at least one of the video display devices.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

(a) allowing a first user

(i) to use a first graphical user interface

(ii) to select a user

(iii) from a plurality of users;

(b) allowing the first user

(i) to use a second graphical user interface

(ii) to select a collaboration type

(iii) from a group of collaboration types; and

(c) responding

(i) by establishing communication

(ii) of the selected collaboration type

(iii) from the first user to

(iv) the selected user.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

(a) generating data conferencing signals;

(b) transmitting the data conferencing signals

(i) over at least one data communication link

(ii) to at least one of the video display device; and

(c) displaying information,

(i) based on the transmitted data conferencing signals,

(ii) on the video display device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

(a) reproducing images

(i) based on the video signals

(ii) in a first window on the video display device, and

(b) displaying information

(i) based on the data conferencing signals

(ii) in a second window on the video display device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein

(a) the step of displaying information includes the substep of

(i) interactively displaying

(ii) the information

(iii) on at least two of the video display devices.

25. A video communication system

for operation with an infrastructure including

at least one video signal source;

at least one video display device;

an unshielded twisted pair of wires of defining a video signal path, arranged for transport of video signals; and

the system comprising;

at least one control communication link,

arranged for transmission of control signals for controlling at least one of the transmission, routing, multi-point conferencing, and display of video signals and connection termination,

(a) control components configured

(i) to respond to control signals

(1) transmitted over the control communication link,

(ii) to control the video signal path

(1) to at least two workstations, and

(iii) to cause video image reproduction

(1) based on the transported video signals

(2) on at least one of the video displays.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising

(a) a switch

(i) in communication with the video signal path, and

wherein the control components are further configured to

(ii) control the switch

(iii) to route the video signals

(1) from at least one video signal source,

(2) to at least one video display device,

(3) along the video signal path.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the control components include

(a) at least one server

(i) configured to

(1) control the switch.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein

(a) at least two video display devices

(i) each have an associated processor

(ii) to each define a workstation, and

wherein the control components are configured

(a) to control the reproduction of video images and spoken audio

(i) of a first workstation user

(ii) at the workstation of a second workstation user.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein

(i) the video images are reproduced

(ii) at TV quality,

(iii) on at least one of the video display devices.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein

(c) the video signals are transported in analog.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein,

(d) the video images are reproduced in color.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the control components are configured

(a) to combine video images

(i) of at least a first and a second user

(ii) into a mosaic image, and

(b) to reproduce the mosaic image

(i) on at least one of the video display devices.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the control components are configured

(a) to allow a first user

(i) to use a first graphical user interface

(ii) to select a user

(iii) from a plurality of users;

and

(b) to allow the first user

(i) to use a second graphical user interface

(ii) to select a collaboration type

(iii) from a group of collaboration types; and

(c) to respond

(i) by establishing communication

(ii) of the selected collaboration type

(iii) from the first user

(iv) to selected user.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the system is configured to

(a) generate data conferencing signals;

(b) transmit the data conferencing signals

(1) to at least one of the display devices, and

(c) display video images,

(1) based on the transported video signals,

(2) on the video display device; and

(d) display information,

(1) based on the transmitted data conferencing signals,

(2) on the video display device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein

(e) images

(i) based on the video signals

(ii) can be reproduced

in a first window on the video display device, and

(f) information

(i) based on the data conference signals

(ii) can be displayed

(iii) in a second window on the video display device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein

(a) the information

(i) based on the data conferencing signals

(ii) is displayed

(iii) interactively

(iv) on at least two of the video display devices.