Interactive video distribution systems – Video distribution system with upstream communication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2003-09-23
Kelley, Chris (Department: 2613)
Interactive video distribution systems
Video distribution system with upstream communication
C348S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06625812
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telepresence systems and computer networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for communicating live views of a remote physical location over a computer network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Exchanging picture images is an important and effective method of communicating experiences and information. People exchange photographs and postcards to share images and experiences of remote physical locations and events. Accordingly, a variety of technologies have made the communication of images possible. For example, traditional postcards provide a high-quality image and a space to include a small message and a recipient address. U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,780 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,325 disclose methods for converting personal photographs into postcards. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,740 discloses a kiosk equipped with a digital camera that takes a picture of those inside the kiosk and generates a postcard of the picture overlaid on a scenic background.
In the on-line world, electronic postcards have become a popular way to share one's on-line browsing experience with another. U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,771 discloses a structured tour of hypertext files in which a user may e-mail an electronic postcard containing a hypertext page or a link thereto to another user connected to the network. For example, certain on-line store web sites allow users to transmit a link to a catalog entry to friends or colleagues via e-mail. In addition, multimedia elements, including music and animation, can also be sent as electronic postcards. U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,276 discloses a system that provides a simulated video tour of a physical location through a low-bandwidth connection to a computer network.
Telepresence systems have also emerged as a powerful tool for acquiring images of remote physical locations. “Telepresence” refers to techniques and systems for acquiring, processing and delivering live, interactively-controlled, digital video and/or still images of a remote physical location over a computer network. Typically, visual telepresence systems involve the use of computer-controlled camera systems which are controlled remotely by users across a computer network. Users aim the camera by adjusting the pan, tilt and zoom to select regions of interest in a remote physical location via a user interface. Many conventional telepresence systems allow multiple users to share control of a live video source. Typically, telepresence gives every user the feeling of independent control of the image acquisition system, even though other users are concurrently using the system. Telepresence systems can be found, for example, at various scenic locations, manufacturing plants, construction sites, retail stores, and media events.
The sharing of images generated by such telepresence systems can be an effective tool for collaboration. For example, a construction contractor may want to share a live image of a construction site with management as a means of reporting on the status of a project. Prior art telepresence systems, however, do not allow users a convenient and efficient way to collaborate by sharing live views of remote physical locations. Accordingly, a need exists for methods and systems for communicating live views of remote physical locations over a computer network. The present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides methods and systems for preserving and communicating live views of a remote physical location over a computer network. The present invention integrates so-called “telepresence” systems with a novel user interface that allows the user to visually navigate a remote physical location, select live views of the remote physical location, and preserve the live views. According to the invention, preserved live views can be saved for later use or communicated to others. In one embodiment, the live views preserved by the present invention provide an automatic connection to the live image source.
The present invention provides an easy-to-use mechanism that allows users to share views of a remote physical location. In one embodiment, users navigate a remote physical location by viewing images captured by cameras in the remote location and remotely controlling the cameras by means of a user interface to capture more images of other selected regions within the space. The user interface allows the user to preserve views of the remote physical location as the user navigates. A user can then opt for the user interface to construct a transmittable page containing the live view, referred to here as a “view card.” In one embodiment, the electronically transmittable view card comprises a user interface with the preserved live view, a message from the sender, and communication information such as email addresses. The present invention also provides the recipient of the view with a fluid connection to the live image source such that the recipient can activate the connection to the original image source and independently explore the remote physical location in more detail. Therefore, in effect, the present invention allows a user of a computer network to view and navigate a location, live, anywhere in the world, and send a kind of electronic postcard (a view card) of what he sees to another user. Moreover, the present invention allows the view card recipient to seamlessly connect to the live remote source and visually navigate the space himself.
For example, a user views a page-based user interface that shows him a live view of a remote physical location. From this “live view selection page” the user can control a camera at the remote location simply by clicking on the presented image or by using other controls on the page. In this manner, the user visually navigates the remote space (panning, zooming, etc.) and selects various live views. The live view selection page allows the user to preserve any live view. To communicate a preserved view to another user, the user clicks the “Create View Card” button. A view card construction page appears and the user enters the recipient's email address and a message about the preserved view. To communicate the view card to the designated recipient, the user clicks “Send View Card.” The recipient, when viewing the page-based view card, sees the preserved live view, the message from the other user, and the communication information. By clicking on the image in the view card, the recipient can activate the preserved view such that the view card page is replaced by a live view selection page showing the current, live image captured by the camera at the remote location. Now the recipient can visually navigate the remote location in exactly the same way as the sender of the view card. By means of the present invention's easy-to-use page-based interfaces, users can share live views and collaborate with respect to real-time events at a remote location.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for preserving live views of a remote physical location over a computer network comprising a user interface and an image acquisition system, both coupled to the computer network. The image acquisition system transmits an image of the remote physical location over the computer network to the user interface. The user interface displays images received over the computer network and facilitates the generation of an image parameter set. According to one embodiment of the invention, the image parameter set defines a selected region in the remote physical location. In one embodiment, the user interface allows the user to generate a link, wherein the link is operable to transmit control signals to the image acquisition system. In one embodiment, the link designates a selected region in the remote physical location.
The present invention also provides methods for preserving live views of a remote physical location. In one aspect, the method of the present invention contemplates a computer network including at least one client computer a
Abrams David Hardin
Prokopowicz Peter Nicholas
Kelley Chris
Vo Tung
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