System and method for transferring objects in a video conferencing session

• US 8,040,369 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Alemany, Juan, Cantrell, Robert, Solomon, Mark C., Derocher, Michael D., Gargan, Garrett Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Zoobi; Maria
• Application Number:
  US11/701,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• 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 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A system and method of virtually passing an object in near real time between separated participants in a remote conference session is disclosed. The method includes providing a video screen at first and second locations. An object can be inserted into a scanning device coupled to a scanner opening located proximate to the video conference screen in the first location to form a scanned object file. Video imaging of the insertion of the object can be transmitted and displayed at the second location. The scanned object file can be received and printed at the second location in near real time and output through a printer opening positioned proximate the video screen at the second location to create an illusion of virtually passing the object between locations.

Claims

1. A method of virtually passing an object in near real time between separated participants in a video conferencing session, comprising:

a. providing a first video conference screen located at a first location;

b. inserting an object into a scanning device coupled to a scanner opening located proximate to the first video conference screen to scan the object to form a digital data file;

c. video imaging the insertion of the object to form a video data file;

d. transmitting the video data file to be displayed on a second video conference screen located at a second location separate from the first location;

e. transferring the digital data file to the second location over a high speed data connection;

f. printing the object from the digital data file to be output through a printer opening positioned proximate to the second video conference screen to create an illusion of virtually passing the object between locations in near real time.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising scanning the object at the second location by inserting the object into a scanning device coupled to a scanner opening located proximate to the second video conference screen.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising printing the object to be output through the printer opening positioned proximate to the first video conference screen to create the illusion of virtually passing the object from the second location to the first location.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, further comprising printing the object from the digital data file, wherein the object is a business card and the business card can be printed in one of widthwise and lengthwise directions.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting the video data file and transferring the digital data file over a dedicated high speed digital connection between the first and second locations.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising transmitting the video data file and transferring the digital data file over a dedicated high speed digital connection between the first and second locations, wherein the high speed digital connection can transmit greater than 30 megabits per second.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting the video data file and transferring the digital data file over a high speed digital connection configured to send the video data file and the digital data file using packetized data with prioritized packets to enable the video data file and the digital data file to be sent between locations such that latency between the locations is not noticeably perceived by the separated participants.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning the scanner opening for insertion of the object at a corresponding position at the first video conference screen with the printer opening for delivering the object at the second video conference screen, thereby enhancing the illusion of virtually passing the object from the first location to the second location in near real time.

9. A system for virtually transferring an object in near real time between separated participants in a remote conferencing session, comprising:

a. A plurality of video conference settings, each setting including a display screen and audiovisual monitoring system for capturing audiovisual information of each participant;

b. a scanning device positioned proximate to a first display screen in a first video conference setting and configured to receive the object through a scanning input opening proximate to the display screen and create a digital data file of the object to be transferred between separated participants;

c. a high speed data connection configured to transmit the audiovisual information to enable the separated participants to view the object being placed in the scanning input in at least one separate video conference setting; and

d. a printing device positioned proximate to a second display screen at the at least one separate conference setting and configured to receive and print the digital data file and output the object through a printer output opening positioned proximate to the second display screen in near real time to create an illusion of passing the object between locations.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the object is selected from at least one of the group consisting of a printed item and a three dimensional item capable of being scanned.

11. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the scanning device is configured to scan a three dimensional object to form a three dimensional digital data file.

12. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the printing device is a rapid prototyping device configured to construct the three dimensional object from the three dimensional digital data file.

13. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the scanning input opening and the printer output opening are positioned within the display screen.

14. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the scanning input opening and the printer output opening are positioned adjacent the display screen.

15. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein each display screen in each of the plurality of video conference settings is coupled to a printing device and a scanning device to enable each video conference setting to send and receive the object.

16. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the scanning input opening and the printer output opening are positioned in substantially similar locations in each display screen at each of the video conference settings to enhance the illusion of virtually passing the object between conference settings in near real time.

17. A system as defined in claim 9, further comprising placing a plurality of display screens in each video conference setting, wherein each display screen is associated with a scanner, a printer, and an audiovisual monitoring system for capturing audiovisual information of participants in the video conference setting, the plurality of display screens enabling a participant to more easily virtually pass the object between conference settings in near real time.

18. A method of making a system for transferring an object in near real time between separated participants in a video conferencing session, comprising:

a. providing at least first and second networked conference rooms;

b. locating a first video conference screen in the first networked conference room;

c. positioning a scanner opening proximate to the first video conference screen coupled to a scanning device, wherein the opening enables an offering participant to insert the object to be scanned;

d. providing a video recorder configured to record the insertion of the object to be scanned by the offering participant in the first conference room to form a video data file;

e. locating a second video conference screen in the second networked conference room to enable a receiving participant to view the video data file of the insertion of the object by the offering participant; and

f. positioning a printer opening proximate to the second video conference screen coupled to a printing device to enable the scanned object to be printed and output through the printer opening to provide a virtual simulation of the offering participant located in the first networked conference room transferring the object to the receiving participant located in the second networked conference room.

19. A method of making as defined in claim 18, wherein positioning the scanner further comprises positioning the scanner capable of scanning an object selected from the group consisting of hand written items, printed items, and three dimensional items.

20. A method of making as defined in claim 19, wherein positioning the printer further comprises positioning a rapid prototyping printer that is a rapid prototyping device capable of constructing the three dimensional items.

21. A method of making as defined in claim 18, wherein positioning the printer further comprises positioning a document printer that is capable of printing different sized documents with the document printed in one of widthwise and lengthwise positions.

22. A method of virtually transferring an object at a first location in near real time to a separated participant at a second location in a video conferencing session, comprising:

a. creating a digital data stream from the scanning of an object inserted into a scanning device coupled to a scanner opening located proximate to a first video conference screen;

b. communicating the digital data stream to an object replication device at the second location over a high speed data connection;

c. creating a first video data stream of the object being inserted into the scanning device;

d. transmitting the first video data stream to a second video conference screen to a second location; and

e. receiving a second video data stream on the first video conference screen of the creation of a replica of the object, the creation occurring proximate to the second video conference screen at the second location thereby creating an illusion of virtually transferring the object in near real time.

23. A method of virtually receiving a replicated object a first location from a separated participant at a second location in a video conferencing session in near real time, comprising:

a. receiving a first video data stream of the separated participant inserting an object into a scanning device coupled to a scanner opening located proximate to a first video conference screen;

b. receiving a digital data stream representing a scanned copy of the object;

c. replicating the object from the digital data stream on an object replication device located proximate to a second video conference screen thereby creating an illusion of receiving the replicated object from the second location in near real time;

d. creating a second video data stream of the object being replicated; and

e. communicating the second video data stream over a high speed data connection to the first video conference screen to enable a meeting participant at the second location to view the object being created.