Video conference recorder

• US 20060146124A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codian Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Codian Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holloway, David John, Pepperell, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A Video Conference Recorder (VCR) provided with integral input transcoders which convert received video call data into an intermediate format. Once the input transcoder has processed the data it passes it to a memory in the VCR where it is stored until a user requires it to be played back. If required the data can be converted into more than one output format using multiple input transcoders. On receiving a request to play back a recording the VCR locates the data in its memory and sends it to an output transcoder, integral to the VCR. If the stored data format is one that the endpoint can receive then the output transcoder transmits the data across the network to the endpoint. If, however, the endpoint cannot receive the stored data format then the output transcoder converts the data into a format which the endpoint can receive before onward transmission.

Claims

1. A video conference recorder connectable to a communications network having at least one video enabled endpoint comprising:

(i) an input for receiving data produced by said endpoint from said network;

(ii) an input transcoder for converting the format of said data into an intermediate format;

(iii) a memory for storing said converted data; and

(iv) an output for sending said stored data across said network to an endpoint.

2. A video conference recorder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output transcoder is adapted to convert said stored data into an output format for sending across said network.

3. A videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said output transcoder is a digital signal processor.

4. A video conference recorder as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an input for receiving signals from said endpoint and a processor for interpreting said signals and moving through keyframes in said stored data according to said signals.

5. A videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signals comprises one of the group including fast forward, rewind, pause and skip.

6. A videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intermediate format is suitable for generating regular keyframes.

7. A videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intermediate format is one of the group of formats comprising MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.

8. A videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a processor for relaying data between two endpoints connected to said network.

9. A video conference recorder as claimed in claim 1 adapted to seek backwards through the stored data.

10. A video conference recorder as claimed in claim 1 adapted to seek forwards through the stored data.

11. A video conference recorder as claimed in claim 1 adapted to skip through the stored data.

17. A method of retrieving recorded data from a videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data is stored in said memory of said videoconference recorder in a format suitable for generating regular keyframes.

12. A method of recording data sent across a communications network by a video enabled endpoint comprising the steps of:

(i) receiving data from said video enabled endpoint by said network;

(ii) generating formatted data by encoding said data into a second format; and

(iii) storing said formatted data.

13. A method of recording data as claimed in claim 12 wherein said data is received in one of the formats selected from the group comprising H.320, H.323, 3G and SIP.

14. A method of recording data as claimed in claim 12 wherein said intermediate format is suitable for generating regular keyframes.

15. A method of recording data as claimed in claim 13 wherein said data is encoded into one of the group of formats comprising MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.

19. A method of retrieving recorded data from a videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 15 wherein said decoded data is in one of the group of formats comprising H.320, H.323, 3G and SIP.

16. A method of transmitting data stored on a videoconference recorder in a communications network having multiple endpoints comprising the steps of:

(i) receiving a request for transmission of said data to an endpoint;

(ii) decoding said data stored in the memory of said video conference recorder; and

(iii) outputting said decoded data across said communications network to said endpoint.

18. A method of retrieving recorded data from a videoconference recorder as claimed in claim 16 wherein said format is one of the group of formats comprising MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WM9, QuickTime and Real.