Webcam-based interface for initiating two-way video communication

• US 7,003,795 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• 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): Philippe, Gims
• Assistant Examiner(s): REKSTAD, ERICK J
• Application Number:
  US09/892,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725/40, 725/41, 725/43, 725/37, 348/564, 348/588, 348/14.03, 348/14.07, 348/207.1, 709/231
• US Class Current: 725/105
• 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 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A plurality of user-selectable video streams are displayed on a first terminal, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network. By selecting one of the displayed video streams, a user may establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.

Claims

1. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;

simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and

establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one video stream comprises a pre-recorded video stream in response to the video camera associated with the selected video stream being currently inactive.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying comprises:

arranging the plurality of video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving the video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises:

selectively receiving video streams corresponding to entries in a video phonebook.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises:

moving a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device; and

detecting user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for establishing two-way video communication.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing comprises:

displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;

capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;

transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;

receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and

displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

enlarging the selected video stream as displayed on the first terminal relative to the non-selected video streams, wherein the enlarged video stream comprises the video communication window.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

caching at least one video stream generated by a video camera.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one video stream is cached at a location selected from the group consisting of the terminal from which the video stream originated, the first terminal, a satellite broadcast center, and a cable head-end.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;

retrieving a cached copy of an earlier-in-time segment of the selected video stream; and

displaying the cached copy of the earlier-in-time segment on the first terminal.

14. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;

combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream;

sending the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream; and

establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the intermediate network node comprises a cable head-end.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the intermediate network node comprises a satellite broadcast center.

17. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;

simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;

establishing a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;

displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;

capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;

transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;

receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and

displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.

19. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;

simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and

establishing two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.

20. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;

simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and

establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein at least one video stream comprises a pre-recorded video stream in response to the video camera associated with the selected video stream being currently inactive.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein displaying comprises:

arranging the plurality of video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.

24. The computer program product of claim 20, the method further comprising:

moving the video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.

25. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.

26. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein receiving comprises:

selectively receiving video streams corresponding to entries in a video phonebook.

27. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein detecting comprises:

moving a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device; and

detecting user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for establishing two-way video communication.

28. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein establishing comprises:

displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;

capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;

transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;

receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and

displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, the method further comprising:

enlarging the selected video stream as displayed on the first terminal relative to the non-selected video streams, wherein the enlarged video stream comprises the video communication window.

30. The computer program product of claim 20, the method further comprising:

caching at least one video stream generated by a video camera.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the at least one video stream is cached at a location selected from the group consisting of the terminal from which the video stream originated, the first terminal, a satellite broadcast center, and a cable head-end.

32. The computer program product of claim 30, the method further comprising:

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;

retrieving a cached copy of an earlier-in-time segment of the selected video stream; and

displaying the cached copy of the earlier-in-time segment on the first terminal.

33. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;

combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream;

sending the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream; and

establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the intermediate network node comprises a cable head-end.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the intermediate network node comprises a satellite broadcast center.

36. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;

simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;

establishing a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;

displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;

capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;

transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;

receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and

displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.

38. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;

simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and

establishing two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.

39. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:

a stream reception component configured to receive at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;

a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and

a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein at least one video stream comprises a pre-recorded video stream in response to the video camera associated with the selected video stream being currently inactive.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the stream display component is further configured to arrange the plurality of video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the stream display component is further configured to move the video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein the stream reception component is further configured to selectively receive video streams corresponding to entries in a video phonebook.

46. The system of claim 39, wherein the stream selection component is further configured to move a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device and

detect user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for establishing two-way video communication.

47. The system of claim 39, wherein the video communication component is further configured to display a video communication window on the first terminal;

capture a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;

transmit the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;

receive a second video stream from the second terminal; and

display the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the video communication component is further configured to enlarge the selected video stream as displayed on the first terminal relative to the non-selected video streams, wherein the enlarged video stream comprises the video communication window.

49. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

a stream caching component configured to cache at least one video stream generated by a video camera.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the at least one video stream is cached at a location selected from the group consisting of the terminal from which the video stream originated, the first terminal, a satellite broadcast center, and a cable head-end.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the stream selection component is further configured to detect another user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;

wherein the stream caching component is further configured to retrieve a cached copy of an earlier-in-time segment of the selected video stream; and

wherein the stream display component is further configured to display the cached copy of the earlier-in-time segment on the first terminal.

52. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:

a stream reception component configured to receive at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;

a stream compositing component configured to combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;

a stream transmission component configured to send the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon;

a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream; and

a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the intermediate network node comprises a cable head-end.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the intermediate network node comprises a satellite broadcast center.

55. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:

a stream reception component configured to receive at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;

a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;

a video communication component configured to establish a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;

display a video communication window on the first terminal;

capture a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;

transmit the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;

receive a second video stream from the second terminal; and

display the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.

57. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the system comprising:

a stream reception component configured to receive at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;

a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;

a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and

a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.