Remote electromechanical control of a video communications system

• US RE41,103 E1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Bryan R., Barraclough, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/403,898
• Time in Patent Office: 2,511 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 379/93.21, 379/93.17, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 709/204, 345/330, 345/332, 345/339, 345/340, 345/341
• US Class Current: 348/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

According to an example embodiment, the present invention is directed to a video communication system having a user-friendly, intuitive-like control for altering the video camera view at a remote terminal. The local terminal includes a display and a movement-responsive sensor arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement at the display. At least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to alter data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.

Claims

1. A video communication system, comprising:

a first video communication terminal including a first computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, that is communicated over a communications channel, and including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel; and

a second video communication terminal including a display, a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display, and a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel, wherein at least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to alter data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.

2. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the movement-responsive sensor includes one of a position transducer and a displacement transducer.

3. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the second video communication terminal further includes a camera being integral with the display, wherein data being sent to the display is altered to compensate for movement of the camera in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.

4. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the movement-responsive sensor includes a piezoelectric crystal.

5. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the movement-responsive sensor includes pressure-resistive material.

6. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the second computer arrangement is further configured and arranged to store video data received over the communications channel and to respond to the direction signal by changing data being sent to the display such that only a portion of the stored video data is displayed.

7. A video communication system, according to claim 6, wherein the first computer arrangement is further configured and arranged to transfer data, in response to a control signal received over the communications channel, representing an altered view being captured by the camera.

8. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the second video communication terminal includes a supporting member physically coupled to the display, and wherein the movement-responsive sensor generates a direction signal in response to movement of the supporting member relative to the display.

9. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the movement-responsive sensor engages a rigid member physically coupled to the display, and wherein the movement-responsive sensor generates a direction signal in response to movement of the rigid member relative to the display.

10. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein altering data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal includes panning.

11. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein altering data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal includes tilting.

12. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein altering data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal includes zooming.

13. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein altering data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal includes electronically altering the data.

14. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein altering data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal includes mechanically altering the view being captured.

15. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the first video communication terminal further includes a display, a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display, for communicatively coupling with the second video communication terminal over the communications channel.

16. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the second video communication terminal further includes a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed as data by the second computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel.

17. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the first video communication terminal further includes a microphone configured and arranged to capture audio, wherein the captured audio is processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel, and wherein the second computer arrangement processes audio data.

18. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the second video communication terminal further includes a microphone configured and arranged to capture audio, wherein the captured audio is processed as data by the second computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel, and wherein the first computer arrangement processes audio data.

19. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the communications channel includes wireless communication.

20. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the communications channel includes wired communication.

21. A video communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the communications channel includes a plain old telephone system (POTS).

22. A video communications system, according to claim 1, further comprising a third video communication terminal including a display, a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display, and a third computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communication channel, wherein the first computer arrangement is configured and arranged to electronically alter data being sent to the display at the third video communication terminal in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor at the third video communications terminal, and wherein the first computer arrangement is configured and arranged to electronically alter data being sent to the display at the second video communication terminal in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor at the second video communications terminal, and wherein electronically altering the data includes electronically altering the data in a different manner for each display.

23. A video communication system, comprising:

a first video communication terminal including a first computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, that is communicated over a communications channel, and including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel, the computer arrangement being configured and arranged to transfer data, in response to a control signal received over the communications channel, representing an altered view being captured by the camera;

a second video communication terminal including a display, a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display, and a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel, the second computer arrangement being configured and arranged to respond to the movement-responsive sensor by sending the control signal to the first video communication terminal over the communications channel.

24. A video communication system, according to the claim 23, wherein the second video communication terminal further includes a supporting member that is physically coupled to the movement-responsive sensor, wherein the movement-responsive sensor generates a first signal in response to movement of the movement-responsive sensor relative to the supportimg supporting member, and wherein the second computer arrangement is further configured and arranged to respond to the first signal by sending the control signal to the first video communication terminal over the communications channel.

25. A video communication system, comprising:

a first video communication terminal including a first computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, that is communicated over a communications channel, and including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel;

a second video communication terminal including a display, a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate direction signals in response to corresponding movement of the display, and a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel, the second computer arrangement being configured and arranged to store video data received over the communications channel and to respond to the movement-responsive sensor by changing data being sent to the display such that only a portion of the stored video data is displayed.

26. A video communication system, according to claim 25, wherein the second video communication terminal further includes a supporting member that is physically coupled to the movement-responsive sensor, wherein the movement-responsive sensor generates a first signal in response to movement of the movement-responsive sensor relative to the supporting member, and wherein the second computer arrangement is further configured and arranged to respond to the first signal by changing data being sent to the display such that only the portion of the stored video data is displayed.

27. A video communication system, according to claim 25, wherein the first computer arrangement is further configured and arranged to transfer data, in response to a control signal received over the communications channel, representing an altered view being captured by the camera.

28. For use in a video communication system having a first video communication terminal that processes data including video data, the first video communication terminal including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view and to transfer the captured images in the form of data over a communications channel, a second video communication terminal comprising:

a movement-responsive sensor;

a display physically coupled to a movement-responsive sensor, wherein the movement-responsive sensor is configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display; and

a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel, wherein at least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to alter data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.

29. A method for communication, comprising:

gathering video data via a first communication terminal having a first computer arrangement for processing data including video data;

transferring video data over a communications channel;

receiving the video data via a second communication terminal having a display, having a second computer arrangement for processing data including video data, and coupled communicatively with the first communication terminal over the communications channel;

detecting movement of the display via a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display;

generating a direction signal in response to the movement of the display; and

altering the video data responsive to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.

30. A method for communication, according to claim 29, wherein altering the video data includes altering at least one of the pan, tilt, and zoom aspects of the video data.

31. A method for communication, according to claim 29, wherein altering the video data includes altering the video data at the first communication terminal.

32. A method for communication, according to claim 29, wherein altering the video data includes altering the video data at the second communication terminal.

33. A video communication system, comprising:

a first video communication terminal including a first computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, that is communicated over a communications channel, and including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel; and

a second video communication terminal including a display, means for sensing configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display, and a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel, wherein at least one of the first and second computer arrangements includes means for altering data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal.

34. A video communication system, according to claim 33, wherein the second computer arrangement is further configured and arranged to store video data received over the communications channel and to respond to the means for sensing by changing data being sent to the display such that only a portion of the stored video data is displayed.

35. A video communication system, according to claim 33, wherein the first computer arrangement is further configured and arranged to transfer data, in response to a control signal received over the communications channel, representing an altered view being captured by the camera.

36. A video communication system, according to claim 33, wherein the second video communication terminal includes means for supporting physically coupled to the display, and wherein the means for sensing generates a direction signal in response to movement of the means for supporting relative to the display.

37. A video communication system, according to claim 33, wherein the means for sensing engages a rigid member physically coupled to the display, and wherein the means for sensing generates a direction signal in response to movement of the rigid member relative to the display.

38. A video communication system, according to claim 33, wherein the first video communication terminal further includes a display, means for sensing configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display, for communicatively coupling with the second video communication terminal over the communications channel.

39. A video communication system, according to claim 33, wherein the second video communication terminal further includes a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed as data by the second computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel.

40. For use in a video communication system having a first video communication terminal that processes data including video data, the first video communication terminal including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view and to transfer the captured images in the form of data over a communications channel, a second video communication terminal comprising:

means for sensing;

a display physically coupled to the means for sensing, wherein the means for sensing is configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display; and

a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel, wherein at least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to alter data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal from the means for sensing.

41. A video communication system, comprising:

a first video communication terminal including a first computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, that is communicated over a communications channel, and including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel; and

a second video communication terminal including a display, a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to respond to corresponding movement of the second video communication terminal, and a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel, wherein at least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to electronically alter data being sent to the display by electronically panning, tilting or zooming in response to the movement-responsive sensor.

42. The video communication system of claim 41, wherein the communications channel includes a wireless communications channel.

43. The video communication system of claim 41, wherein at least one of the first and second video communication terminals is a wireless communication terminal adapted to send a wireless communication over the communications channel.

44. The video communication system of claim 41, wherein the second video communication terminal is adapted to send wireless communications, and wherein the communications channel includes a wireless communications channel and a POTS line.

45. In a video communication system having a video communication terminal including a data processing arrangement for processing data, including video data, that is communicated over a communications channel, and including a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view, wherein the captured images are processed by the data processing arrangement for transfer over the communications channel, a telephony terminal comprising:

a display;

a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to respond to movement of the telephony terminal; and

a computer arrangement for processing data, including a general-purpose processor and including a digital signal processor for processing video data, the computer arrangement adapted for communicatively coupling with the video communication terminal over a wireless portion of the communications channel, wherein at least one of the data processing arrangement and the computer arrangement is configured and arranged to electronically alter data being sent to the display by electronically panning, tilting or zooming in response to the movement-responsive sensor.