Remote deposition system and method

• US 6,721,703 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jay M. Jackson, Julie J. Furer
• Original Assignee: Jay M. Jackson, Julie J. Furer
• Inventors: Jackson, Jay M., Furer, Julie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McFadden, Susan
• Application Number:
  US09/798,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 704/235, 704/270, 704/275, 704/270.1, 370/352, 386/85
• US Class Current: 704/270
• 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 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• 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 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A remote deposition system includes a computer connected to a high speed network connection to which are connected microphones, a video camera and a shorthand writing machine of an official reporter at the deposition site. Audio, video and transcript text is transmitted over the network to a remote computer. A chat communications link is established between the remote computer and the computer at the deposition for two way text communication. Two way audio communications are also possible, as are set objection commands by the remote user. The remote user, or several remote users, access the data over standard Internet software and connections. Playback and editing of the recorded deposition is possible with text, audio and video playback from an Internet connection with a suite of tools. A service of providing the deposition remotely is provided as well.

Claims

1. A remote communication system, comprising:

a digital video camera at a first location;

a microphone at the first location;

a local computer apparatus at the first location connected so said video camera and said microphone;

a high bandwidth connection from said computer apparatus to a network to transmit video and audio signals from the first location to said network;

at least one server connected to said network to receive said video and audio signals for retransmission;

a remote computer apparatus at a location remote from the first location and connected to said network to receive said video and audio signals from the first location;

a transcription apparatus at the first location;

a connection from said transcription apparatus to said local computer to communication transcription data from said transcription apparatus to said local computer, said local computer transmitting said transcription data over said network to said remote computer apparatus;

a microphone at said remote location connected to said remote computer apparatus to transmit audio signals of said microphone from said remote location so said first location so as to provide two way audio communication between said first location and said remote location simultaneously with said transmission of said transcription data and said audio and video data.

2. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is used in a deposition and said first location is a deposition location.

3. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a chat connection between said local computer apparatus and said remote computer apparatus over said network for text communication between said local computer apparatus and said remote computer apparatus to provide text communications between said first location and said remote location simultaneously with transmission of said transcription data and said audio and video data.

4. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

software running on said local computer apparatus and said remote computer apparatus for displaying video data at a first portion of a display of the respective computer apparatus and displaying transcript data at a second portion of the display and displaying chat at a third portion of the display.

5. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network is the Internet.

6. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an objection command selectively operable by a user of said remote computer apparatus, operation of said objection command alerting users at the first location of activation of said objection command during transmission of said transcription data and said audio and video data.

7. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an annotation function selectively operable by a user at at least one of said local computer apparatus and said remote computer apparatus for annotating at least a transcript data.

8. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a highlighting function selectively operable by at least one of a user at said local computer apparatus and said remote computer apparatus for annotating at least a transcript data.

9. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

further remote computer apparatus connected to said network for receiving transmissions from the first location;

said further remote computer apparatus being located in a location remote from said first location and remote from said remote location, said further remote apparatus receiving said two way audio data and said video data and said transcription data from said first location and receiving said two way audio data from said remote location.

10. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said video camera is integrated into said computer apparatus.

11. A remote communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high bandwidth connection is a broadband connection.

12. A method for providing deposition services, comprising the steps of:

distributing field kits to official reporters, said field kits including video and audio recording apparatus and computer apparatus;

training the official reporters to set up and connect said video and audio recording apparatus and computer apparatus for network transmission of video and audio data from a first location;

receiving the video and audio data and transcript data of a deposition from a first location via a network;

providing the video and audio data and transcript data via the network for viewing at a location remote from the first location;

providing communications via said network from said remote location to said first location during a deposition simultaneously with transmission of said video and audio data and said transcript data.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of providing communications from said remote location to said first location includes:

providing chat communication between the first location and the remote location; and

further comprising the step of;

recording said audio and video data and said transcript data for later retrieval but not recording said chat communication.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said distributing step includes the substeps of:

identifying market regions;

targeting at least one court reporter entity in each of said market regions for receiving said field kits;

providing each of said market regions as potential first locations; and

providing remote access to said audio data and video data and transcript data without regard to said market regions.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

training and supporting users of the deposition services.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of providing communications from said remote location to said first location includes:

providing two way audio communication between the first location and the remote location; and

further comprising the step of;

recording said audio and video data and said transcript data for later retrieval and also recording said two way audio communication.

17. A method of conducting depositions, comprising the steps of:

establishing broadband network access to a first location;

providing video and audio recording equipment and high speed network communications equipment at said first location;

providing computer equipment at said first location connected to said broadband network, said computer equipment including text chat software;

transmitting audio and video signals of a deposition over the network by said high speed network communications equipment as the deposition is conducted;

providing remote access for a remote user to said audio and video signals of the deposition via the network;

providing two way audio equipment at said remote access for the remote user to communicate via two way audio communications to the first location simultaneously with said transmitting of said audio and video signals of the deposition; and

providing two way text chat at said remote access for the remote user to communicate via two way text chat communications to the first location simultaneously with said transmitting of said audio and video signals of the deposition.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said step of providing the remote access includes providing remote access after said deposition has ended.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

providing transcription data of said deposition to said remote access over said network simultaneously with transmission of said audio and video.