Graphical user interface apparatus and connection method in two-way communication system

• US 9,219,882 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Uchide, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): SISON, JUNE Y
• Application Number:
  US14/049,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827

Abstract

A GUI (graphical user interface) apparatus for connecting with a location of a participant by a two-way communication system such as a video conference system. The apparatus includes a display processing device for arranging a plurality of display frames to display still pictures representing specific nominated connection destinations on a screen of display device, a plurality of operation devices arranged on the display frames in a one-to-one relation and a connection processing device for connecting with a particular nominated participant through the network when the operation device arranged corresponding to the display frame, on which the still picture representing the particular nominated participant is displayed, is operated.

Claims

1. A video communication apparatus for connecting with a plurality of apparatuses of participants comprising:

circuitry configured to;

store address information of the participants being communicated and registered;

determine a participant among the address information to communicate with another apparatus of the participants;

establish video communication with the another apparatus of the participants;

arrange a plurality of display frames to represent a plurality of still pictures of the participants, each of the plurality of display frames displaying a still picture representing each participant in order of the participants being frequently communicated; and

capture an image of the participant for selection to be communicated and to be registered for video communication, wherein

when the plurality of still pictures of the participants being frequently communicated exceeds the plurality of display frames, the circuitry is further configured to;

arrange the plurality of still pictures into sub-sets where a first sub-set includes a number of the plurality of the still pictures of the participants equal to a number of the plurality of display frames and each subsequent sub-set includes a number of the plurality of still pictures of the participants equal to or less than the number of the plurality of display frames, and

display an identifier of each of the sub-sets while displaying still pictures of one of the sub-sets.

2. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to accept input of address information of a participant when the address information of the participant is not stored.

3. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to display a self image shot by a video camera.

4. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to allow the captured image and the address information to be edited.

5. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform a multi-point video communication with more than two apparatuses by determining respective participants of the more than two apparatuses to communicate with when still pictures of the respective participants of the more than two apparatuses are sequentially operated.

6. A video communication method for connecting with a plurality of apparatuses of participants comprising:

storing, via circuitry of a video communication apparatus, address information of the participants being communicated and registered;

determining, via the circuitry, a participant among the address information to communicate with another apparatus of the participants;

establishing, via the circuitry, video communication with the another apparatus of the participants;

arranging, via the circuitry, a plurality of display frames to represent a plurality of still pictures of the participants, each of the plurality of display frames displaying a still picture representing each participant in order of the participants being frequently communicated; and

capturing, via the circuitry, an image of the participant for selection to be communicated and to be registered for video communication, wherein

when the plurality of still pictures of the participants being frequently communicated exceeds the plurality of display frames, arranging includes

arranging the plurality of still pictures into sub-sets where a first sub-set includes a number of the plurality of the still pictures of the participants equal to a number of the plurality of display frames and each subsequent sub-set includes a number of the plurality of still pictures of the participants equal to or less than the number of the plurality of display frames, and

displaying an identifier of each of the sub-sets while displaying still pictures of one of the sub-sets.

7. The video communication method according to claim 6, further comprising:

accepting, via the circuitry, input of address information of a participant when the address information of the participant is not stored.

8. The video communication method according to claim 6, further comprising:

displaying, via the circuitry, a self image shot by a video camera.

9. The video communication method according to claim 6, further comprising:

displaying, via the circuitry, an area that allows the captured image and the address information to be edited.

10. The video communication method according to claim 6, further comprising:

performing, via the circuitry, a multi-point video communication with more than two apparatuses by determining respective participants of the more than two apparatuses to communicate with when still pictures of the respective participants of the more than two apparatuses are sequentially operated.