E-mail system with a video e-mail player
First Claim
1. A video e-mail system which enables encoded video, audio, and text to be transmitted over a digital network and received by one or more addressed locations notwithstanding that said locations do not already have installed video e-mail player software comprising:
- a keyboard for entering text;
a video camera for creating video;
a microphone for creating audio;
a video e-mail encoder coupled to said video camera to generate encoded video data;
an audio encoder coupled to said microphone to generate encoded audio data;
a video/audio multiplexer in communication with said video encoder and said audio encoder and configured to generate multiplexed multimedia data comprising combined portions of said encoded audio data and said encoded video data;
a computer processor which provides control signals to said video encoder, said audio encoder, and said multiplexer so as to process video e-mail messages having a file header, audio data packets, and video data packets;
said file header comprising a video e-mail player transferrable in executable form, said player having a demultiplexer, an audio decoder, and a video decoder and configured so that execution of said file initiates execution of said player;
a display which selectively views current video data and stored video data; and
a virtual video cassette recorder which provides control for the storage of said current video data and the retrieval of said stored video data, said display and said virtual video cassette recorder being responsive to user inputs and providing visual information providing a graphical user interface to said computer processor, said graphical user interface including a plurality of virtual buttons each of which, when activated, initiate one of a plurality of specific operations to be performed by said video e-mail system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Video messages are created in a manner that allows transparent delivery over any electronic mail (e-mail) system. The audio and video components of the message are recorded, encoded, and synchronously combined into a video message file. A player is selectively attached to the video message file to create an executable file which can be delivered as a standard binary file over conventional communications networks. To view the received video e-mail, the recipient executes the received file and the attached player automatically plays the video and audio message or the recipient executes the previously installed player which plays the video message.
205 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A video e-mail system which enables encoded video, audio, and text to be transmitted over a digital network and received by one or more addressed locations notwithstanding that said locations do not already have installed video e-mail player software comprising:
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a keyboard for entering text; a video camera for creating video; a microphone for creating audio; a video e-mail encoder coupled to said video camera to generate encoded video data; an audio encoder coupled to said microphone to generate encoded audio data; a video/audio multiplexer in communication with said video encoder and said audio encoder and configured to generate multiplexed multimedia data comprising combined portions of said encoded audio data and said encoded video data; a computer processor which provides control signals to said video encoder, said audio encoder, and said multiplexer so as to process video e-mail messages having a file header, audio data packets, and video data packets; said file header comprising a video e-mail player transferrable in executable form, said player having a demultiplexer, an audio decoder, and a video decoder and configured so that execution of said file initiates execution of said player; a display which selectively views current video data and stored video data; and a virtual video cassette recorder which provides control for the storage of said current video data and the retrieval of said stored video data, said display and said virtual video cassette recorder being responsive to user inputs and providing visual information providing a graphical user interface to said computer processor, said graphical user interface including a plurality of virtual buttons each of which, when activated, initiate one of a plurality of specific operations to be performed by said video e-mail system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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2. A video e-mail system which enables encoded video and audio to be transmitted over a digital network and received by the addressed location notwithstanding that this location does not already have installed video e-mail player software comprising:
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a video camera; a microphone; a video e-mail encoder coupled to said video camera to generate encoded video data; an audio encoder coupled to said microphone to generate encoded audio data; a computer processor coupled to said video encoder and said audio encoder to combine video and audio into a data file; a video e-mail player transferrable in executable form as an appended portion of said data file, said player having a demultiplexer, an audio decoder, and a video decoder and configured so that execution of said file initiates execution of said player; a display which selectively views current video data and stored video data; and a virtual video cassette recorder which provides control for the storage of said current video data and the retrieval of said stored video data, said display and said virtual video cassette recorder being responsive to user inputs and providing visual information providing a graphical user interface to said computer processor, said graphical user interface including a plurality of virtual buttons each of which, when activated, initiate one of a plurality of specific operations to be performed by said video e-mail system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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3. A video e-mail system which enables encoded video and audio to be transmitted over a digital network system and received by the one or more addressed locations notwithstanding that said locations do not already have installed video e-mail player software comprising:
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a video camera for creating video; a microphone for creating audio; a video e-mail encoder coupled to said video camera to generate encoded video data; an audio encoder coupled to said microphone to generate encoded audio data; means in communication with said video encoder and said audio encoder for generating video e-mail messages which include a file header, audio data packets, and video data packets; said file header comprising a video e-mail player transferrable in executable form, said player having a demultiplexer, an audio decoder, and a video decoder and configured so that execution of said file initiates execution of said player. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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4. The method of sending and receiving video e-mail, comprising the steps of:
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generating a video message at a sending location; creating a message file from said video message; attaching an executable player to said file; transferring said executable file over a communications link to a receiving location; and executing said player at said receiving location to retrieve said video message from said file. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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5. An e-mail system comprising:
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a first subsystem comprising a first processor for capturing an image, a camera, a microphone, and a video e-mail recorder, said recorder executing on said first processor so as to combine the image from said camera and audio from said microphone into a message file, said message file incorporating a video e-mail player; and a second subsystem comprising a second processor, a speaker, and a monitor, said player being adapted to execute on said second processor so as to separate video from said message file to display on said monitor and separate audio from said message file to play on said speaker. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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6. An e-mail system which enables encoded images, audio, and text to be transmitted over a digital network system comprising:
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a keyboard; a camera for capturing images; a microphone for capturing audible information; a first encoder coupled to said camera to generate encoded image data corresponding to said images; a second encoder coupled to said microphone to generate encoded audio data corresponding to said audible information; a multiplexer in communication with first and second encoders and configured to generate multiplexed multimedia data files comprising combined portions of the encoded data received from said first and second encoders; and a computer processor which provides control signals to said encoders and said multiplexer so as to process executable e-mail files which include a file header embedding a video player. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification