Video transmitting apparatus

• US 6,215,781 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Hitoshi, Horikami, Shugo, Inoue, Akino, Nojima, Shinji, Kageyu, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US09/007,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 370/335, 370/342, 370/343, 370/345, 370/350, 370/441, 370/442, 370/479, 370/480, 370/487, 370/498, 340/825.49, 340/825.79, 340/825.83, 348/705, 348/706, 348/720, 364/918, 380/5
• US Class Current: 370/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A video transmitting apparatus having a plurality of transmission medium for transmitting multiplexed video information, a plurality of video information receiving units each connected to a corresponding transmission medium to receive specific video information on the corresponding transmission medium, a video displaying unit for displaying video information, a switcher for connecting the video displaying unit to any one of the video information receiving units to supply video information to the video displaying unit, and a video display requesting unit for communicating with each of the video information receiving units and the switcher to request to display specific video information on the video displaying unit by giving instructions to a relevant video information receiving unit which can receive the specific video information and the switcher.

Claims

1. A video transmitting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmission media over each of which multiplexed video information is transmitted;

a plurality of video information receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to receive, through demultiplexing, specific video information among said multiplexed video information transmitted on a corresponding transmission medium;

a switcher connected to said plural video information receiving units to select one or more pieces of video information among plural pieces of video information outputted from said video information receiving units;

a video displaying unit connected to said switcher to display said video information selected by said switcher; and

a video display requesting unit connected to said switcher and each of said plural video information receiving units to request to display specific video information on said video displaying unit by sending a signal to one of said plural video information receiving units to select said specific video information through demultiplexing and by sending another signal to said switcher to select one of outputs of said plural video information receiving units.

2. The video transmitting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a synchronization signal generating unit for supplying a synchronization signal to said transmission media in order to synchronize said video information multiplexed and transmitted on said transmission media; and

a synchronization signal detecting unit for detecting said synchronization signal on said transmission media;

wherein said switcher switched said video information at a timing of said synchronization signal detected by said synchronization signal detecting unit.

3. A video transmitting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmission media over each of which multiplexed video information is transmitted;

a plurality of video information receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to receive, through demultiplexing, specific video information among said multiplexed video information transmitted on a corresponding transmission medium;

a switcher connected to said plural video information receiving units to select one or more pieces of video information among plural pieces of video information outputted from said video information receiving units;

a video displaying unit connected to said switcher to display said video information selected by said switcher;

a plurality of control information transmitting-receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to transmit and receive control information enabling a control through said corresponding transmission medium; and

a video display requesting unit connected to said switcher to request to display specific video information on said video displaying unit by sending a signal to said switcher to select one of outputs of said plural video information receiving units;

wherein when a user of said video transmitting apparatus requests to display specific video information on said video displaying unit through said video display requesting unit, said video display requesting unit requests a relevant video information receiving unit that can receive said specific video information through a corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said corresponding transmission medium connected to said corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said relevant video information receiving unit to receive said specific video information, and said video display requesting unit also requests said switcher to select said specific video information.

4. The video transmitting apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:

a synchronization signal generating unit for supplying a synchronization signal to said transmission media in order to synchronize said video information multiplexed and transmitted said transmission media; and

a synchronization signal detecting unit for detecting said synchronization signal on said transmission media;

wherein said switcher switches said video information at a timing of said synchronization signal detected by said synchronization signal detecting unit.

5. A video transmitting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmission media over each of which multiplexed video information is transmitted;

a plurality of video information receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to receive, through demultiplexing, specific video information among said multiplexed video information transmitted on a corresponding transmission medium;

a switcher connected to said plural video information receiving units to select one or more pieces of video information among plural pieces of video information outputted from said video information receiving units, said switcher being connected to each of said video information receiving units through control information outputting lines to receive control information;

a video displaying unit connected to said switcher to display said video information selected by said switcher;

a plurality of control information transmitting-receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to transmit and receive control information enabling a control through said corresponding transmission medium; and

a video display requesting unit connected to each of said plural control information transmitting-receiving units to request to display specific video information on said video displaying unit;

wherein when a user of said video transmitting apparatus requests to display specific video information on said video displaying unit through said video display requesting unit, said video display requesting unit requests a relevant video information receiving unit that can receive said specific video information through a corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said corresponding transmission medium connected to said corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said relevant video information receiving unit to receive said specific video information, and said video display requesting unit also requests said switcher through said corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit, said corresponding transmission medium, said relevant video information receiving unit and at least one control information outputting line connecting said relevant video information receiving unit to said switcher to select said specific video information.

6. The video transmitting apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:

a synchronization signal generating unit for supplying a synchronization signal to said transmission media in order to synchronize said video information multiplexed and transmitted on said transmission media; and

a synchronization signal detecting unit for detecting said synchronization signal on said transmission media;

wherein said switcher switches said video information at a timing of said synchronization signal detected by said synchronization signal detecting unit.

7. A video transmitting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmission media over each of which multiplexed video information is transmitted;

a plurality of video information receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to receive, through demultiplexing, specific video information among said multiplexed video information on a corresponding transmission medium, said plural video information receiving units being connected by through lines to one another to transmit video information from one to another;

a video displaying unit connected to any of said plural video information receiving units to display said video information outputted from said connected video information receiving unit; and

a video display requesting unit connected to each of said plural video information receiving units to request to display specific video information on said video displaying unit;

wherein when any one of said video information receiving units other than said video information receiving unit connected to said video displaying unit receives video information through a corresponding transmission medium, said video information receiving unit supplies said received video information to said video displaying unit through one or more of said through lines and one or more of said video information receiving units;

and said video displaying requesting unit instructs each of said video information receiving units to select whether said video information is received through said corresponding transmission medium or through said through line.

8. The video transmitting apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising:

a synchronization signal generating unit for supplying a synchronization signal to said transmission media in order to synchronize said video information multiplexed and transmitted on said transmission media; and

a synchronization signal detecting unit for detecting said synchronization signal on said transmission media;

wherein said video information receiving units switch said video information at a timing of said synchronization signal detected by said synchronization signal detecting unit.

9. A video transmitting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmission media over each of which multiplexed video information is transmitted;

a plurality of video information receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to receive, through demultiplexing, specific video information among said multiplexed video information on a corresponding transmission medium, said video information receiving units being connected by through lines to one another so as to transmit video information from one to another;

a video displaying unit connected to any one of said video information receiving units to display video information outputted from said connected video information receiving unit; and

a plurality of control information transmitting-receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to transmit and receive control information enabling a control through said corresponding transmission medium; and

a video display requesting unit connected to each of said plural control information transmitting-receiving units to request to display specific video information on said video displaying unit;

wherein when a user of said video transmitting apparatus requests to display specific video information on said video displaying unit through said video display requesting unit, said video display requesting unit requests a relevant video information receiving unit which can receive said specific video information through a corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said corresponding transmission medium connected to said corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said relevant video information receiving unit to receive said specific video information;

said relevant video information receiving unit outputs said specific video information to said video displaying unit if being directly connected to said video displaying unit, or outputs said specific video information to said video displaying unit through one or more of said through lines and one or more of said video information receiving units if not being directly connected to said video displaying unit.

10. The video transmitting apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising:

a synchronization signal generating unit for supplying a synchronization signal to said transmission media in order to synchronize said video information multiplexed and transmitted on said transmission media; and

a synchronization signal detecting unit for detecting said synchronization signal on said transmission media;

wherein said video information receiving units switch said video information at a timing of said synchronization signal detected by said synchronization signal detecting unit.

11. A video transmitting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmission media over each of which multiplexed video information is transmitted;

a video inputting unit for obtaining said video information by photographing video or regenerating accumulated video;

a switcher connected to said video inputting unit to output video information from said video inputting unit to a selected route;

a plurality of video information transmitting units each for connecting said switcher to a corresponding transmission medium to multiplex video information outputted from said switcher on said corresponding transmission medium to transmit multiplexed video information, each of said video information transmitting units also being connected to said switcher through a control information outputting line to supply control information to said switcher;

a plurality of control information transmitting-receiving units, one or more of which is connected to each of said transmission media to transmit and receive control information enabling a control through said corresponding transmission medium; and

a video display requesting unit connected to each of said plural control information transmitting-receiving units to request to transmit specific video information through a corresponding transmission medium;

wherein when a user of said video transmitting apparatus requests to display specific video information through said video display requesting unit, said video display requesting unit requests a relevant video information transmitting unit through a corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said corresponding transmission medium connected to said corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said relevant video information transmitting unit to transmit said specific video information, and said video display requesting unit also requests said switcher through said corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit, said corresponding transmission medium, said relevant video information transmitting unit and at least one control information outputting line connecting said relevant video information transmitting unit to said switcher to select said relevant video information transmitting unit so as to transmit said specific video information from said relevant video information transmitting unit.

12. The video transmitting apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising:

a synchronization signal generating unit for supplying a synchronization signal to said transmission media in order to synchronize said video information multiplexed and transmitted on said transmission media; and

a synchronization signal detecting unit for detecting said synchronization signal on said transmission media;

wherein said switcher switches said video information at a timing of said synchronization signal detected by said synchronization signal detecting unit.

13. A video transmitting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmission media over each of which multiplexed video information is transmitted;

a video inputting unit for obtaining video information by photographing video or regenerating accumulated video;

a plurality of video information transmitting units, one or more of which is connected to a corresponding transmission medium to multiplex said video information inputted from said video inputting unit on said corresponding transmission medium and transmit multiplexed video information, said video information transmitting units being connected by through lines to one another to transmit video information from one to another, and any one of said video information transmitting unit being directly connected to said video inputting unit;

a plurality of control information transmitting-receiving units, one or more of which is connected to a corresponding transmission media to transmit and receive control information enabling a control through said corresponding transmission medium; and

a video display requesting unit connected to each of said plural control information transmitting-receiving units to request to transmit specific video information through a corresponding transmission medium;

wherein when a user of said video transmitting apparatus requests to transmit specific video information through said video display requesting unit, said video display requesting unit requests a relevant video information transmitting unit through a corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said corresponding transmission medium connected to said corresponding control information transmitting-receiving unit and said relevant video information transmitting unit to transmit said specific video information, and said relevant video transmitting unit receives said specific video information from said video inputting unit if being directly connected to said video inputting unit and outputs said specific information to said corresponding transmission medium, or receives said specific video information from said video inputting unit through one or more of said video information transmitting units and one or more of said through lines if not being directly connected to said video inputting unit and outputs said specific video information to said corresponding transmission medium.

14. The video transmitting apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising:

a synchronization signal generating unit for supplying a synchronization signal to said transmission media in order to synchronize said video information multiplexed and transmitted on said transmission media; and

a synchronization signal detecting unit for detecting said synchronization signal on said transmission media;

wherein said video information transmitting units switch said video information at a timing of said synchronization signal detected by said synchronization signal detecting unit.