Tele-robotic videoconferencing in a corporate environment

• US 7,593,030 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teladoc Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Touch Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Southard, Jonathan, Wang, Yulun, Pinter, Marco, Jordan, Charles S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/966,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 348/14.12, 348/14.13, 709/203, 709/204, 700/13, 700/90, 700/245, 901/14, 901/19, 901/46
• US Class Current: 348/14.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A business to business mobile teleconferencing system. The system includes a mobile robot that can be remotely operated from a remote station. Both the robot and the remote station may have a camera, a screen, a microphone and a speaker to conduct a teleconference between a user at the remote station and personnel located in viewing proximity of the robot.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a business tele-conference, comprising:

moving a robot that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone, across a surface of a business facility with at least one signal from a first remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone;

transmitting images and sound between the first robot and the first remote station and displaying the image captured by the remote station camera on the robot screen;

moving the robot across the surface of the business facility with at least one signal from a second remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone;

transmitting images and sound between the robot and the second remote station; and

,

arbitrating to control access to the robot by either the first remote station or the second remote station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user at the first remote station gives a presentation through the robot to an audience within viewing distance of the robot.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a user at the remote station moves the robot into at least one office to conduct a teleconference with one or more occupants of the office.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user is a manager and the office occupants are employees.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user at the first remote station attends a meeting through the robot.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the meeting is unscheduled.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tele-conference occurs after the joining of a business entity at the first remote station and a business entity at the robot.

8. A method for assisting in the integration of a first business entity with a second business entity, comprising:

moving a robot that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone, across a surface of a business facility of the first business entity with at least one signal from a first remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone and is located at the second business entity;

moving the robot across the surface of the business facility with at least one signal from a second remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone;

transmitting images and sound between the robot and the first remote station and displaying the image captured by the remote station camera on the robot screen;

transmitting images and sound between the robot and the second remote station; and

,

arbitrating to control access to the robot by either the first remote station or the second remote station.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a user at the first remote station gives a presentation through the robot to an audience within viewing distance of the robot.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a user at the first remote station moves the robot into a plurality of offices to conduct a teleconference with one or more occupants of each office.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user is a manager and the office occupants are employees.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the user at the first remote station attends a meeting through the robot.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the meeting is unscheduled.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the tele-conference occurs after the joining of a business entity at the remote station and a business entity at the robot.