PC-based conferencing system

• US 5,506,954 A
• Filed: 11/24/1993
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Vrvilo, Ben, Mirashrafi, Mojtaba, Arshi, Taymoor, Tung, Peter, Skarbo, Rune, Gutmann, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): TUNG, KEE M
• Application Number:
  US08/157,694
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 395/162-164, 395/114, 395/200, 370/62, 379/202, 348/15, 348/16, 348/17, 348/18, 382/56, 382/232, 364/514 A, 364/514 C
• US Class Current: 345/501
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/16 involving adaptation to the client's capabilities
• 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: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/08 Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

A video subsystem resides partially on a host processor and partially on a video board. Audio and communications subsystems reside partially on the host processor and partially on a audio/communications board. The video subsystem generates and passes local compressed video signals corresponding to local analog video signals to the communications subsystem. The audio subsystem receives and generates local compressed audio signals corresponding to local analog audio signals to the communications subsystem. The communications subsystem transmits the local compressed video and audio signals over a communications link to a remote computer system. The communications subsystem also receives remote compressed video and audio signals over the communications link from the remote computer system, and passes the remote compressed video and audio signals to the video and audio subsystems, respectively. The video subsystem generates remote analog video signals corresponding to the remote compressed video signals for local playback. The audio subsystem generates remote analog audio signals corresponding to the remote compressed audio signals for local playback.

Claims

1. A conferencing system for a personal computer having a general-purpose host processor, comprising:

(a) a first computer plug-in board;

(b) a second computer plug-in board;

(c) a video subsystem adapted for residing partially in the host processor and partially in one of the first and second computer plug-in boards;

(d) an audio subsystem adapted for residing partially in the host processor and partially in one of the first and second computer plug-in boards; and

(e) a communications subsystem adapted for residing partially in the host processor and partially in one of the first and second computer plug-in boards, wherein;

the video subsystem is adapted to;

(1) receive local video signals;

(2) compress the local video signals to generate local compressed video signals;

(3) pass the local compressed video signals to the communications subsystem; and

(4) display the local video signals in a first window on a digital computer monitor;

the audio subsystem is adapted to;

(1) receive local audio signals;

(2) compress the local audio signals to generate local compressed audio signals; and

(3) pass the local compressed audio signals to the communications subsystem;

the communications subsystem is adapted to;

(1) transmit the local compressed video signals and the local compressed audio signals over a communications link to a remote computer system;

(2) receive remote compressed video signals and remote compressed audio signals over the communications link from the remote computer system;

(3) pass the remote compressed video signals to the video subsystem; and

(4) pass the remote compressed audio signals to the audio subsystem;

the video subsystem is further adapted to decompress the remote compressed video signals to generate remote decompressed video signals for local playback;

the video subsystem is further adapted to display the remote decompressed video signals in a second window on the digital computer monitor simultaneously with the display of the local video signals in the first window;

the audio subsystem is further adapted to decompress the remote compressed audio signals to generate remote decompressed audio signals for local playback, wherein portions of the video, audio, and communications subsystem that reside on the host processor operate under a window-based operating system running on the host processor;

the first computer plug-in board is a video board;

the second computer plug-in board is a combined audio and communications board;

the video subsystem is adapted for residing partially in the video board;

the audio subsystem is adapted for residing partially in the audio and communications board;

the communications subsystem is adapted for residing partially in the audio and communications board;

the video subsystem comprises;

(1) a video microcode adapted for residing in the video board and for compressing video signals;

(2) a video capture driver adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the compression of video signals by the video microcode;

(3) a video manager adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the operations of the video subsystem; and

(4) a video application programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between an application adapted for residing in the host processor and the video manager;

the audio subsystem comprises;

(1) an audio task adapted for residing in the audio and communications board and for compressing and decompressing audio signals;

(2) an audio manager adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the operations of the audio subsystem; and

(3) an audio application programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between the application and the audio manager; and

the communications subsystem comprises;

(1) a communications task adapted for residing in the audio and communications board and for transmitting and receiving digitized signals over the communications link;

(2) a communications manager adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the operations of the communications subsystem; and

(3) a communications application programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between the application and the communications manager.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the communications subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board is adapted to pass the remote compressed audio signals directly to the portion of the audio subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board for decompression and playback processing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the audio subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board is adapted to pass the local compressed audio signals directly to the portion of the communications subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board for transmission over the communications link.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) a conferencing application adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing a user interface; and

(g) a conferencing applications programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between the conferencing application and the video, audio, and communications subsystems.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the video subsystem adapted for residing in the host processor is adapted to decompress the remote compressed video signals.

6. A personal computer conferencing system, comprising:

(a) a general-purpose host processor;

(b) a first computer plug-in board;

(c) a second computer plug-in board;

(d) a video subsystem adapted for residing partially in the host processor and partially in one of the first and second computer plug-in boards;

(e) an audio subsystem adapted for residing partially in the host processor and partially in one of the first and second computer plug-in boards; and

(f) a communications subsystem adapted for residing partially in the host processor and partially in one of the first and second computer plug-in boards, wherein;

the video subsystem is adapted to;

(1) receive local video signals;

(2) compress the local video signals to generate local compressed video signals;

(3) pass the local compressed video signals to the communications subsystem; and

(4) display the local video signals in a first window on a digital computer monitor;

the audio subsystem is adapted to;

(1) receive local audio signals;

(2) compress the local audio signals to generate local compressed audio signals; and

(3) pass the local compressed audio signals to the communications subsystem;

the communications subsystem is adapted to;

(1) transmit the local compressed video signals and the local compressed audio signals over a communications link to a remote computer system;

(2) receive remote compressed video signals and remote compressed audio signals over the communications link from the remote computer system;

(3) pass the remote compressed video signals to the video subsystem; and

(4) pass the remote compressed audio signals to the audio subsystem;

the video subsystem is further adapted to decompress the remote compressed video signals to generate remote decompressed video signals for local playback;

the video subsystem is further adapted to display the remote decompressed video signals in a second window on the digital computer monitor simultaneously with the display of the local video signals in the first window;

the audio subsystem is further adapted to decompress the remote compressed audio signals to generate remote decompressed audio signals for local playback, wherein portions of the video, audio, and communications subsystem that reside on the host processor operate under a window-based operating system running on the host processor;

the first computer plug-in board is a video board;

the second computer plug-in board is a combined audio and communications board;

the video subsystem is adapted for residing partially in the video board;

the audio subsystem is adapted for residing partially in the audio and communications board;

the communications subsystem is adapted for residing partially in the audio and communications board;

the video subsystem comprises;

(1) a video microcode adapted for residing in the video board and for compressing video signals;

(2) a video capture driver adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the compression of video signals by the video microcode;

(3) a video manager adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the operations of the video subsystem; and

(4) a video application programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between an application adapted for residing in the host processor and the video manager;

the audio subsystem comprises;

(1) an audio task adapted for residing in the audio and communications board and for compressing and decompressing audio signals;

(2) an audio manager adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the operations of the audio subsystem; and

(3) an audio application programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between the application and the audio manager; and

the communications subsystem comprises;

(1) a communications task adapted for residing in the audio and communications board and for transmitting and receiving digitized signals over the communications link;

(2) a communications manager adapted for residing in the host processor and for controlling the operations of the communications subsystem; and

(3) a communications application programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between the application and the communications manager.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the portion of the communications subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board is adapted to pass the remote compressed audio signals directly to the portion of the audio subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board for decompression and playback processing.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the portion of the audio subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board is adapted to pass the local compressed audio signals directly to the portion of the communications subsystem adapted for residing in the audio and communications board for transmission over the communications link.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

(g) a conferencing application adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing a user interface; and

(h) a conferencing applications programming interface adapted for residing in the host processor and for providing an interface between the conferencing application and the video, audio, and communications subsystems.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the portion of the video subsystem adapted for residing in the host processor is adapted to decompress the remote compressed video signals.