Video-all call system and method for a facility

• US 7,840,982 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Owens, Steve B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks; Charles N
• Application Number:
  US10/951,740
• Time in Patent Office: 2,247 Days
• Field of Search: 725 74- 85, 725/109
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A system and method using digital technologies to deliver a live-video-all-call bulletin over a local area network (LAN) in a facility, e.g., a school. The live video overrides all the facility'"'"'s video-player devices by pausing them. Once the live-feed-video presentation is over, the system returns all of the facilities video players to the same state of operation each was in before the all-call presentation began.

Claims

1. An audio-visual system for a facility, comprising:

a video camera in one of a plurality of classrooms;

an encoder for receiving video content from said camera and encoding said video content into a digital stream, said encoder connected into said network in the one of the plurality of classrooms;

a decoder also connected into said network, said decoder adapted to receive said digital stream and transform said digital stream into an analog signal which is playable to a plurality of video display devices in said facility;

an override mechanism connected to said network that activates the video content for display on a predesignated number of the plurality of video display devices in said facility in response to a first selection of the override mechanism, the override mechanism being operable to activate the video camera and the encoder to capture the video content in real-time in response to the first selection; and

a controller adapted to determine a plurality of states for a plurality of ports communicating media content to a plurality of video display devices from a plurality of media players in said facility in response to the first selection of the override mechanism, store the plurality of states for each of the plurality of ports and the plurality of media players, pause playback for each of the plurality of ports, communicate the video content to each of the plurality of ports communicating with the plurality of video display devices, and return the plurality of ports and associated plurality of media players to the plurality of states in response to a second selection of the override mechanism, wherein the controller controls the plurality of media players utilizing infra red signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the override mechanism is a switch activated by a user utilizing a push button, the override mechanism being integrated with the encoder and the video camera.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of states indicates a playback status or blanked status for each of the plurality of media players and the plurality of video display devices.

4. The system of claim 3, comprising:

a termination component associated with said encoder for terminating said digital stream;

a data storage associated with said encoder, said storage adapted to receive said plurality of states from said controller and store said plurality of states for a transmission of said plurality of states back to said controller, said transmission being made for the purpose of returning said plurality of video devices back to said plurality of states after said termination component terminates said digital stream.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said system includes a plurality of video cameras each of the plurality of video cameras being associated with one of a plurality of override mechanisms.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said controller broadcasts the video content through the plurality of ports.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a desktop media player connected into said network, said desktop media player adapted to receive said digital stream and display said video content.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a digital video content massive storage device for maintaining a plurality of video files for streaming into said network.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one video device is a television, wherein the network is an Ethernet network, wherein the analog signal is played to the plurality of video display devices through a cable network, wherein the digital stream is an MPEG data stream, wherein the facility is a school, wherein the first selection activates a video-all-call signal to the system, and wherein the controller sends a signal to the plurality of video display devices indicating an all-call status associated with the first selection.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of media players are a server, DVD player, VCR, or networked media player located in the school, wherein each of the plurality of video cameras are positioned within a separate classroom of the school.

11. A method of enabling a live audio-visual presentation in a facility, comprising:

receiving a user selection of a switch in communication with a camera and a digital encoder;

determining a plurality of states of a plurality of ports communicating media content from a plurality of media players to a plurality of displays in the facility in response to the user selection;

storing the plurality of states for the plurality of ports;

pausing playback to the plurality of displays from the plurality of media players;

entering a video-all-call state on all of the plurality of ports in communication with the plurality of displays;

activating the camera and the digital encoder to capture video content in real-time in response to determining the plurality of states;

converting the video content received from the camera in real-time into a digital stream utilizing the digital encoder;

communicating the digital signal to a decoder;

converting the digital signal to an analog signal in the decoder for communication to the plurality of displays in the facility through a network;

displaying the analog signal on the plurality of displays; and

returning to the stored plurality of states for each of the plurality of ports communicating media content to the plurality of displays from the plurality of media players in response to another selection of the switch.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of cameras each associated with one of a plurality of switches, wherein the video content is received from one of the plurality of cameras in response to a user selection of the associated switch.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of cameras is located within a separate classroom of a school, and wherein each of the plurality of switches is integrated with each of an associated plurality of encoders.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling the media content displayed to the plurality of displays through a controller, said controller being adapted to manage a state of operation for the plurality of media players in said facility, the digital signal being communicated through an Ethernet network and the analog signal being communicated through a cable network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of states include playback states and a blanked state, and wherein the returning further comprises:

playing the media content to the plurality of displays that was playing before the selection of the switch, wherein the media content played to the plurality of displays is paused between the user selection and the another selection.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising:

receiving information regarding said at least one state of operation from said controller;

accessing a storage medium;

using said storage medium to record said state;

using said information to return said at least one video player device to said state of operation upon termination of said video content.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said controller manages the at least one video playing device utilizing infra red signaling.

18. A device for causing the display of a live audio-visual presentation in a school facility, comprising:

a digital encoder useable with a camera and includable in a facility computer network;

said encoder adapted to receive real-time video content from said camera in real-time and encode the real-time video content into a digital stream within one of a plurality of classrooms in the school facility;

a switch of said encoder, said encoder being adapted such that when said switch is activated, a video-all-call signal is transmitted which interrupts current media playing on the network and replace said media playing with the real-time video content included in said digital stream; and

a controller in communication with the encoder through the facility computer network, the controller being operable to manage a state of operation for a plurality of media players in the school facility, determine the state of operation for the plurality of media players in response to the switch being activated, provides the encoder a status of each port corresponding to the plurality of media players, pause playback of media content to the plurality of displays, store the status of each of a plurality of ports and commands the controller to return to the status including playback of the media content in response to another selection of the switch, the controller managing communication of the real-time video content to each of the plurality of displays in communication with the controller through the plurality of ports.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the switch is integrated with each of a plurality of video cameras in the school facility.

20. The device of claim 19, comprising:

a terminating mechanism associated with said encoder for terminating said digital stream upon completion of said live presentation.

21. The device of claim 20, comprising:

a storage medium used to receive information regarding said state of operation from said controller and later be accessed to use said information to return said plurality of media players to said state of operation upon completion of said real-time video content, wherein the state of operation includes a playback state or a blanked state.

22. An audio-visual control system for use in a facility comprising:

a video camera network throughout the facility;

a video-camera interface for communicating with a video camera over an IP network;

a switch component for activating the video camera;

an encoder component for converting video content received from the video camera to a digital signal communicated through the IP network of the facility;

a data storage medium for storing a state of operation of said media-player device for later retrieval in response to a first selection of a switch associated with the video camera and the encoder to enter a video-all-call mode, wherein media playback for the video output is paused during the video-all-call mode;

a transmitting component for transmitting commands to a plurality of media player device;

a decoder component for converting the digital signal to an analog signal;

a video output for playing the analog signal of video content received from said camera over at least one display device, the analog signal being communicated through a cable network; and

a state-return system for returning said media-player device to said state of operation in response to a second selection of the switch.

23. The system of claim 22, comprising:

a user-control interface enabling a user access to said media-player device over one of the computer network and a telephonic device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the switch is integrated with each of a plurality of video cameras included in the video-camera network.

25. The system of claim 24, comprising:

a state-return system for returning said media-player device to said state of operation in response to a second selection of the switch.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein said transmitting component comprises:

an infrared emitter being operable to control a plurality of media players.