Systems and methods for remote video and audio capture and communication

• US 6,529,233 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/698,298
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.04, 348/14.05, 348/61, 348/207, 348/211-213, 348/222, 348/373-376, 348/734, 348/207.99, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211--21, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64 Addressing network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00; support for multicast or broadcast of one-way stream services H04L65/611
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• 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 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A remote control for an interactive television system includes an integrated camera, a specifically-designated button for activating the camera, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting video information captured by the camera to the interactive television system. The remote control also includes an activity indicator for visually indicating when the camera is active. A set top box for the interactive television system includes a wireless receiver for receiving the video information and a converter for transforming the video information into a network-compatible video stream for transmission to a network.

Claims

1. A system for video capture and communication comprising:

a television remote control for an interactive television system, the television remote control comprising a camera, a volume adjustment button for a television, a specifically-designated button for activating the camera, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting video information captured by the camera to the interactive television system in response to activation of the camera by the specifically-designated button; and

a set top box for the interactive television system, the set top box comprising a wireless receiver for receiving the video information from the wireless transmitter in the television remote control.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control further comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the camera is active.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box further comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the camera is active.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a high-bandwidth, radio-frequency transmitter utilizing a radio-frequency antenna integrated into a circuit board for the device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a high-bandwidth, radio-frequency receiver utilizing a radio-frequency antenna integrated into a circuit board within the set top box.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box further comprises a digital recording device for recording video information received from the camera in the remote control.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box further comprises a converter for transforming the video information received from the camera in the remote control into a network-compatible video stream for transmission over a network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control further comprises a microphone, and wherein the wireless transmitter transmits audio information captured by the microphone to the interactive television system in response to activation of the camera by the specifically-designated button.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the set top box further comprises a digital recording device for recording audio information received from the microphone in the remote control.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the set top box further comprises a converter for transforming the audio information received from the microphone in the remote control into a network-compatible audio stream for transmission over a network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box further comprises a camera for capturing video information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote control further comprises a button for selectively activating the camera in the remote control and the camera in the set top box.

13. A method for video capture and communication comprising:

in response to activation of a specifically-designated button on a television remote control for an interactive television system, capturing a video signal using a camera integrated with the television remote control, the television remote control comprising a volume adjustment button for a television;

transmitting the video signal using a wireless transmitter integrated with the television remote control;

receiving the video signal at a wireless receiver integrated with a set top box for the interactive television system;

transforming the video signal into a video stream of a format compatible for transmission over a network;

transmitting the video stream from the set top box to the network;

transmitting the video stream from the network to a client terminal; and

recording the video stream received from the network in a digital recording device associated with the client terminal, said recorded video stream comprising a form of videomail.

14. A method for video capture and communication comprising:

in response to activation of a specifically-designated button on a television remote control for an interactive television system, capturing a video signal using a camera integrated with the television remote control, the television remote control comprising a volume adjustment button for a television;

transmitting the video signal using a wireless transmitter integrated with the remote control;

receiving the video signal at a wireless receiver integrated with a set top box for the interactive television system;

transforming the video signal into a video stream of a format compatible for tranission over a network;

transmitting the video stream from the set top box to the network;

transmitting the video stream from the network to a client terminal; and

performing a handshake procedure between the set top box and the client terminal to initiate a video conference between the set top box and the client terminal.