Integrated portable videoconferencing unit
First Claim
1. A portable, integrated videoconferencing unit comprisingan integral housing having an electronics containing interior chamber, an electronics board contained within said chamber, said electronics board performing video and audio processing including at least one of initiating or receiving a video conference call, a video camera integrally mounted on said housing and having a video output connected to said electronics board, a microphone assembly having at least one microphone mounted on said housing and having an audio output connected to said electronics board, said electronics board receiving and processing said video output and said audio output and generating a compressed video output signal and a compressed audio output signal for transmission over a communications channel, said electronics board further receiving videoconferencing signals from the communications channel, said videoconferencing signals representing compressed video and audio from a far end unit, and decompressing said compressed video and audio of said videoconferencing signals to generate decompressed far end audio and video signals, a connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical access to said decompressed video and audio signals, an answer actuation device on the exterior of said housing, said activation device being connected to said electronics board, and said electronics board, in response to activation of said device, connecting to the communications channel to establish a videoconference call, a channel connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical connection to the communications channel, and an interiorly mounted air movement unit wherein said housing interior chamber has at least two compartments separated by the interiorly mounted air movement unit, said air movement unit mounted for moving air from one compartment to another compartment while not adversely affecting operation of said microphones, and said compartments each being substantially airtight except for at least on ambient air opening in each compartment whereby in operation, said air movement unit causes air cooling of said electronics board.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable integrated videoconferencing unit has an integral housing in which an interior chamber houses an electronics board for performing video, audio, and communications processing. Integrally mounted on the housing are a video camera and preferably a microphone array for providing directive audio processing. The electronics board receives and processes video and audio outputs of the camera and microphone array respectively, and generates compressed video and audio outputs for transmission over the communications channel. The electronics board also receives compressed video conferencing signals from the channel and processes those signals to generate the appropriate video and audio signals for connection to a video monitor. Various elements are isolated from the microphones to reduce noise and vibration, and an answer bar can be mounted on the integrated unit to provide an easy known answer capability where an automatic answering mode is not desired. The software of the unit can be upgraded during a videoconference call with an upgrade server.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A portable, integrated videoconferencing unit comprising
an integral housing having an electronics containing interior chamber, an electronics board contained within said chamber, said electronics board performing video and audio processing including at least one of initiating or receiving a video conference call, a video camera integrally mounted on said housing and having a video output connected to said electronics board, a microphone assembly having at least one microphone mounted on said housing and having an audio output connected to said electronics board, said electronics board receiving and processing said video output and said audio output and generating a compressed video output signal and a compressed audio output signal for transmission over a communications channel, said electronics board further receiving videoconferencing signals from the communications channel, said videoconferencing signals representing compressed video and audio from a far end unit, and decompressing said compressed video and audio of said videoconferencing signals to generate decompressed far end audio and video signals, a connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical access to said decompressed video and audio signals, an answer actuation device on the exterior of said housing, said activation device being connected to said electronics board, and said electronics board, in response to activation of said device, connecting to the communications channel to establish a videoconference call, a channel connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical connection to the communications channel, and an interiorly mounted air movement unit wherein said housing interior chamber has at least two compartments separated by the interiorly mounted air movement unit, said air movement unit mounted for moving air from one compartment to another compartment while not adversely affecting operation of said microphones, and said compartments each being substantially airtight except for at least on ambient air opening in each compartment whereby in operation, said air movement unit causes air cooling of said electronics board.
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13. A portable, integrated videoconferencing unit comprising
an integral housing having an electronics containing interior chamber, an electronics board contained within said chamber, said electronics board performing video and audio processing including at least one of initiating or receiving a video conference call, a video camera integrally mounted on said housing and having a video output connected to said electronics board, said camera being driven by a worm gear drive for rotating said camera, a microphone assembly having at least one microphone mounted on said housing and having an audio output connected to said electronics board, said electronics board receiving and processing said video output and said audio output and generating a compressed video output signal and a compressed audio output signal for transmission over a communications channel, said electronics board further receiving videoconferencing signals from the communications channel, said videoconferencing signals representing compressed video and audio from a far end unit, and decompressing said compressed video and audio of said videoconferencing signals to generate decompressed far end audio and video signals, a connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical access to said decompressed video and audio signals, a channel connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical connection to the communications channel, an answer actuation device on the exterior of said housing, said activation device being connected to said electronics board, and said electronics board, in response to activation of said device, connecting to the communications channel to establish a videoconference call, and said housing interior chamber having, a first compartment having an air inlet for ambient air and an air outlet, a second compartment having an air inlet and an air exhaust to ambient air, and an air movement unit having an air inlet connected to the air outlet of the first compartment and an air outlet connected to the air inlet of the second compartment whereby in operation, said air movement unit causes air cooling of said electronics board.
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14. A portable, integrated videoconferencing unit comprising an integral housing having a front portion, a rear portion, and an electronics containing interior chamber,
an electronics board contained within said chamber, said electronics board performing video and audio processing including at least one of initiating or receiving a videoconference call, a video camera integrally mounted on said housing and having a video output connected to said electronics board, a camera mount for mounting said camera for pan and tilt motion, said camera mounted for substantially silent movement, whereby movement of said camera does not generate sufficient noise to be noticeably objectionable in said videoconference environment, a microphone assembly having at least one microphone mounted on said housing proximate said front portion and having an audio output connected to said electronics board, said electronics board receiving and processing said video output and said audio output and generating a compressed video output signal and a compressed audio output signal for transmission over a communications channel, said electronics board further receiving videoconferencing signals from the communications channel, said videoconferencing signals representing compressed video and audio from a far end unit, and decompressing said compressed video and audio of said videoconferencing signals to generate decompressed far end audio and video signals, a connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical access to said decompressed video and audio signals, a channel connection integral with the housing for enabling an electrical connection to the communications channel, an answer actuation device on the exterior of said housing, said activation device being connected to said electronics board, and said electronics board, in response to activation of said device, connecting to the communications channel to establish a videoconference call, and said housing interior chamber having a first compartment having an air inlet for ambient air and an air outlet and being otherwise substantially airtight, a second compartment having an air inlet and an air outlet to ambient air and being otherwise substantially airtight and an air movement unit proximate said rear portion and having an inlet and an outlet said air movement unit inlet being connected to the air outlet of the first compartment and said air movement unit outlet being connected to the air inlet of the second compartment, whereby in operation, said air movement unit causes air cooling of said electronics board, and an infrared communications system for enabling a user, distanced from said videoconferencing unit to remotely operate said unit.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneePolycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
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Original AssigneePolycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
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InventorsForsberg, Roy W. Jr., Nilssen, Andrew H., Kallelis, Dennis S., Rock, Alan M., Duckworth, Mark R.
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Primary Examiner(s)Garber, Wendy R.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Villecco, John M.
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Application NumberUS08/964,324Time in Patent Office2,638 DaysField of Search348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348 1401- 1416, 348/211.12, 348/211.13, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 725/110, 725/139, 725/140, 725/141US Class Current348/373CPC Class CodesH04N 23/51 HousingsH04N 7/142 Constructional details of t...
