Home picture/video display system with ultra wide-band technology

• US 7,327,385 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Hirohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGGARWAL, YOGESH K
• Application Number:
  US10/717,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20050120381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 455/426.2, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/552
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00103 specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A new display system and method is described, utilizing a cellular telephone having digital camera capability and a television linked directly over a UWB wireless signal forming a UWB wireless video pico-net. The system utilizes a digital camera unit to capture picture or video images for UWB transmission directly to the television acting as a pico-net host controller, either independently or together with the cellular telephone operating as a pico-net child. The display system comprises and one or more remote devices and a host display communicating on a UWB wireless network. The host display comprises a display for presentation of the picture or video images and a UWB transceiver for processing image data from the picture or video images, for selectively sending and receiving the image data based on a request from the child. The one or more remote devices comprise a digital camera for capturing the picture or video images and another UWB transceiver as used in the host display. The host display has a generally larger display for improved presentation of the captured picture or video images useful and amusing for group, party, wedding, and conference viewing, or simply for enhanced personal enjoyment. For picture or video image sharing, the system further facilitates downloading the current picture or video images from the host display television to a requesting cellular telephone or digital camera equipped with the UWB transceiver. The UWB display system provides sufficient bandwidth to support numerous such download requests simultaneously, while utilizing a transmission technology having minimal power consumption.

Claims

1. A display system for transmitting and receiving picture or video images between one or more wireless remote devices and a host display communicating on an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) wireless network using a UWB protocol, the display system comprising:

the host display unit comprising;

a display for presentation of the picture or video images;

a host UWB image transceiver operating as a UWB host for wirelessly receiving the picture or video images for presentation on the display, and for selectively transmitting picture or video images based on receipt of an image selection request from one of the wireless remote devices the host UWB image transceiver further comprises;

a memory for temporarily storing the picture and video images as image data captured by the digital camera unit and for presentation by the host display and the local display;

a picture processing unit for compressing the image data stored in the memory, and for support of the graphics user interface of the host and local display;

the one or more wireless remote devices comprising;

a digital camera unit for capturing a picture or video image;

a local display for presentation of a picture or video image;

a UWB child image transceiver, comprising;

a UWB MAC unit for support of the UWB protocol used to sense the UWB host and synchronize communications with the UWB host, to set up a communication link between the UWB host and one of the remote devices for uploading and downloading the picture and video image data to and from the UWB host, respectively;

a UWB PHY unit having baseband and RF hardware coupled to an antenna and used to send and receive UWB signals;

wherein the one or more wireless remote devices operable to wirelessly transmit captured picture or video images to the host display unit and to selectively receive picture or video images from the host display unit based on generating and transmitting the image selection request to the host display unit;

wherein one or more of the wireless remote devices capture and transmit a picture or video image to the host display unit, and wherein upon receipt of an image selection request, the host display unit transmits the displayed image to the UWB wireless network, the image subsequently received by the requesting wireless remote device on the UWB wireless network;

wherein in the remote device, the digital camera unit, the local display, and the picture processing unit are operably coupled to the memory, the picture processing unit is operably coupled to the UWB MAC unit, the UWB MAC unit is coupled to the UWB PHY unit, which is also connected to the antenna,

wherein in the host display unit, the large display, and the picture processing unit is operably coupled to the memory, the picture processing unit is operably coupled to the UWB MAC unit, the UWB MAC unit is coupled to the UWB PHY unit, which is also connected to the antenna, wherein in one of the remote devices, image data from the digital camera unit is stored in the memory for image presentation on the local display and is selectively transmitted to the host display unit by passing image data from the memory to the picture processing unit for image data decompression, which is sent to the UWB MAC unit for synchronization in accordance with the UWB protocol and to the UWB PHY unit for UWB baseband addition and RF modulation of the UWB signal and to the antenna for transmission to the host display unit; and

wherein in the host display unit, image data from the digital camera unit is received in the UWB image transceiver over the RF modulated baseband of the UWB signal via the antenna of the UWB PHY unit into the UWB MAC unit for synchronization in accordance with the UWB protocol for communication to the picture processing unit for image data compression and storage in the memory for image presentation on the large display of the host display unit, the UWB image transceiver of the host display unit operable to selectively retransmit the captured picture or video images to the remote devices based on generating and transmitting an image selection request to the host display unit.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the digital camera unit of one or more of the wireless remote devices is operable to capture live video images.

3. The display system of claim 2, wherein the host display unit and least one of the wireless remote devices are operable to communicate and display the live video images.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the host display unit and the one or more wireless remote devices are operable to communicate using a UWB signal directly between one another exclusive of a wide area network.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein the host display unit is operable to directly upload and display the picture or video images from one of the wireless remote devices.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote wireless devices are one or more wireless telephones.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the host display unit is operable to directly upload and display the picture or video images from one of the wireless telephones.

8. The display system of claim 6, wherein one or more of the wireless telephones is operable to receive the picture or video images using a UWB signal directly from another of the wireless telephones.

9. The display system of claim 8, wherein one of the wireless telephones is operable to directly download and display the picture or video images using the UWB signal directly from the host display unit or from one of the wireless telephones.

10. The display system of claim 6, wherein one or more of the wireless telephones have a digital camera unit, the wireless telephone operable to transmit the picture or video images.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein one of the wireless telephones is operable to receive and display the picture or video images captured by the digital camera unit downloaded directly from the host display unit using a UWB signal.

12. The display system of claim 1, wherein the host display unit comprises one of a television, computer, or video projector for display of one or more picture or video images uploaded from one of the wireless remote devices.

13. The display system of claim 12, wherein the host display unit comprises one of an Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), Plasma, flat panel, and Digital Light Processing (DLP™

) display technology.

14. A wireless telephone for communicating picture or video images over an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) wireless signal, the wireless telephone comprising:

a digital camera unit for capturing the picture or video images;

a local display for local presentation of the captured picture or video images; and

a UWB image transceiver selectively operable to transmit or receive the captured picture or video images over a UWB wireless signal directly communicating with a host display unit, the receiving of the picture or video images based on receipt by the host display unit of an image selection request from the wireless telephone, said UWB image transceiver comprising;

a UWB MAC unit for support of the UWB protocol operable to set up a communication link between the wireless telephone and the host display unit or the second wireless telephone for uploading and download mg the picture and video image data, and

a UWB PHY unit having baseband and RF hardware coupled to an antenna and used to send and receive UWB signals;

a memory for temporarily storing the picture and video images as image data captured by the digital camera unit and for presentation by the host display and the local display;

a picture processing unit for compressing the image data stored in the memory, and for support of the graphics user interface of the host and local display;

wherein the UWB MAC unit is used to sense a UWB host and synchronize communications with the UWB host, wherein in the wireless telephone, the digital camera unit, the local display, and the picture processing unit are operably coupled to the memory, the picture processing unit is operably coupled to the UWB MAC unit, the UWB MAC unit is coupled to the UWB PHY unit, which is also connected to the antenna, and further wherein in the wireless telephone, image data from the digital camera unit is stored in the memory for image presentation on the local display and is selectively transmitted to the host display by passing image data from the memory to the picture processing unit for image data decompression, which is sent to the UWB MAC unit for synchronization in accordance with the UWB protocol and to the UWB PHY unit for UWB baseband addition and RF modulation of the UWB signal and to the antenna for transmission to the host display, and wherein the wireless telephone captures the picture or video images for display on the local display and selectively transmits the picture or video images to the host display unit, and wherein upon subsequent receipt of an image selection request from the wireless telephone or another wireless telephone, the host display unit retransmits the displayed image to the requesting wireless telephone over a UWB wireless signal.

15. The wireless telephone of claim 14, wherein the host display unit has a substantially larger display than the local display.

16. The wireless telephone of claim 14, wherein the wireless telephone is a cellular telephone and the host display unit is a television.

17. A wireless digital camera for transmitting or receiving a picture or video images over an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) wireless signal in direct communication with a host display unit having a UWB image transceiver operating as a UWB host, the wireless digital camera comprising:

a digital camera unit for capturing the picture or video images;

a local display for presentation of the picture or video images; and

a UWB image transceiver selectively operable to communicate directly with the host display over a UWB wireless signal based on receipt of an image selection request from the receiving wireless digital camera to transmit or receive the captured picture or video images, the UWB image transceiver comprising;

a UWB MAC unit for support of the UWB protocol used to sense the UWB host and synchronize communications with the host, to set up a communication link between the host and digital camera for uploading and download mg the picture and video image data to and from the host, repectively; and

a UWB PHY unit having baseband and RF hardware coupled to an antenna and used to send and receive UWB signals;

a memory for temporarily storing the picture and video images as image data captured by the digital camera unit and for presentation by the local display;

a picture processing unit for compressing the image data stored in the memory, and for support of the graphics user interface of the local display;

wherein the digital camera unit, the local display, and the picture processing unit are operably coupled to the memory, the picture processing unit is operably coupled to the UWB MAC unit, the UWB MAC unit is operably coupled to the UWB PHY unit, which is also operably coupled to the antenna,

wherein image data from the digital camera unit is stored in the memory for image presentation on the local display and is selectively transmitted to the host display by passing image data from the memory to the picture processing unit for image data decompression, which is sent to the UWB MAC unit for synchronization in accordance with the UWB protocol and to the UWB PHY unit for UWB baseband addition and RF modulation of the UWB signal and to the antenna for transmission to the host display, and

wherein the wireless digital camera captures and transmits the picture or video images to the host display, and wherein upon receipt of an image selection request, the host display retransmits the displayed image to the wireless digital camera over a UWB wireless signal.

18. A wireless display device for displaying picture or video images on a host display unit having a UWB image transceiver operating as a UWB host, the image data received over an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) wireless signal directly from a UWB remote device, the wireless display device comprising:

the host display unit for presentation of the picture or video images; and

a UWB image transceiver selectively operable to receive or transmit the picture or video images over a UWB wireless signal directly communicating with the UWB remote device based on receipt of an image selection request from the UWB remote-device, said UWB image transceiver comprising;

a UWB MAC unit for support of the UWB protocol used to sense the UWB host and synchronize communications with the UWB host, to set up a communication link between the UWB host and one of the remote UWB devices for uploading and downloading the picture and video image data to and from the host display unit, respectively; and

a UWB PHY unit having baseband and RF hardware coupled to an antenna and used to send and receive UWB signals;

a memory for temporarily storing the picture and video images as image data captured by a digital camera unit and for presentation by the host display unit;

a picture processing unit for compressing the image data stored in the memory, and for support of the graphics user interface of the host display unit;

wherein the host display unit and the picture processing unit are operably coupled to the memory, the picture processing unit is operably coupled to the UWB MAC unit, the UWB MAC unit is coupled to the UWB PHY unit, which is also operably coupled to the antenna,

wherein in the host display unit, image data from the digital camera unit is received in the UWB image transceiver over the RF modulated baseband of the UWB signal via the antenna of the UWB PHY unit into the UWB MAC unit for synchronization in accordance with the UWB protocol for communication to the picture processing unit for image data compression and storage in the memory for image presentation on the large display of the host display, the UWB image transceiver of the host display unit operable to selectively retransmit the captured picture or video images to the UWB remote devices based on generating and transmitting an image selection request to the host display unit, and

wherein the UWB remote device captures and transmits the picture or video images to the wireless display device, and wherein upon receipt of an image selection request, the wireless display device transmits the displayed picture or video images directly over a UWB wireless signal to the requesting UWB remote device.

19. The wireless display device of claim 18, wherein the wireless display device comprises one of a television, computer, or video projector for display of one or more picture or video images uploaded from the UWB remote device.

20. The wireless display device of claim 18, wherein the host display unit comprises one of an Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), Plasma, flat panel, and Digital Light Processing (DLP™

) display technology.

21. The wireless display device of claim 18, wherein the wireless display device has a substantially larger display than the display of the UWB remote device.

22. A method of communicating picture or video images over an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) wireless signal directly between a cellular telephone and a host display unit having a UWB image transceiver operating as a UWB host of a display system, the host display unit having a UWB host, the method comprising:

sensing the UWB host;

synchronizing communications with the UWB host and the cellular telephone;

transmitting an initial access request from the cellular telephone to the host display unit, requesting an upload of the picture or video images;

waiting for readiness of the host display unit;

transmitting from the host display unit to the cellular telephone, an acceptance for the upload;

uploading the picture or video images over the UWB wireless signal to the UWB host using a UWB time-slot assigned by the UWB host;

storing the picture or video images in a host memory of the host display unit;

accessing the host memory;

displaying the picture or video images on the host display unit;

sensing a requesting cellular telephone;

transmitting an image download request to the host display from the requesting cellular telephone;

requesting a download of the picture or video images currently displayed on the host display unit;

waiting for an acknowledgement from the host display unit for the download;

transmitting to the requesting cellular telephone, the acknowledgement for the download;

downloading the picture or video images over the UWB wireless signal to the requesting cellular telephone using a UWB time-slot assigned by the UWB host; and

receiving and storing the picture or video images in a local memory of the requesting cellular telephone.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the downloading of the picture or video images from the host display unit is simultaneously downloaded to one or more requesting cellular telephones.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the receiving and storing of the picture or video images downloaded from the host display unit is simultaneously received and stored in the local memory of one or more requesting cellular telephones.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

capturing the picture or video images using a digital camera unit prior to transmitting the initial access request from the cellular telephone to the host display unit.