Interactive video distribution systems – Video distribution system with upstream communication – Having link to external network
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-30
2001-02-06
Kostak, Victor R. (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Video distribution system with upstream communication
Having link to external network
C725S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185737
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for communication of audio and video information in digital form over a network.
2. Background Art
The internet can be used to transmit video and audio data. Typically this is accomplished by connecting a video camera and microphone to a computer system. The video and audio data is converted to a form that can be transmitted over a network. The computer system is used to make a connection to the internet, and the video and audio data is transmitted onto the internet. A disadvantage of the prior art schemes is the necessity to use a computer system to couple the input devices (camera, microphone) to the internet.
A number of cameras are sold as being particularly suited for connection to a computer system. For example, the “QuickCam” by Connectix is used to capture still and video images that can be manipulated by a computers system. Another product is the “Network Eye” from MicroPlex. Among the disadvantages of prior art camera systems is an inability to operate at a full video frame rate, inability to emit RTP Internet standard protocol streams, lack of support for the use of multicast data transport, and lack of audio.
Prior art camera functionality is accomplished by one or more add-in cards and a personal computer or workstation. This is necessary because hardware is needed for codecs and compression functions and a complete, TCP/IP-network-enabled computer is needed to run the protocols needed for the device to communicate data on the Internet.
A camera from Active Imaging, intended for use in security video applications, uses the MPEG video compression standard and purports to not require a computer system to operate on a network. This camera does not function well in unreliable environments (such as Local Area Networks), and it does not lend itself to multicast transmission. It also involves the use of costly encoding hardware.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a media interface unit that couples media input (e.g. cameras, microphones) to a network and can receive media input from a network and provide it to playback devices (e.g. monitors, speakers). The interface unit eliminates the need for a computer system when transmitting and receiving media data to and from the internet and other networks. The unit comprises analog audio and video inputs and outputs on one side, and a computer communications network interface on the other side. By coupling sources/sinks of audio/video to one side and by coupling the other side to a network, it is possible to send and receive audio and video data as though the digital communications network were the same as the cables typically used to transport analog audio and video. The invention functions as a multi-media network appliance.
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Butcher Lawrence L.
Hanko James G.
Northcutt J. Duane
Ruberg Alan T.
Wall Gerard A.
Kostak Victor R.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
The Hecker Law Group
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