Television – Two-way video and voice communication – User positioning
Patent
1996-06-18
1999-09-21
Powell, Mark R.
Television
Two-way video and voice communication
User positioning
348 15, 348 16, 455 31, 455 42, H04N 701, H04N 716
Patent
active
059560762
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the provision of multimedia capabilities with a communications network.
BACKGROUND ART
The current trend in communications and computer network systems is to provide a broad functionality within an integrated network, capable of handling some or all of voice, text, data, video, and still images. Such systems may also access external or shared resources, (e.g. image databases or video on demand), while allowing for video telephony and collaborative working within the office. Such systems typically use a LAN network within premises and ISDN or similar links to other sites.
Current LAN systems, regardless of topology, generally deliver much less useable bandwidth than is theoretically promised, due to system overheads, compression/decompression at terminals, and other factors. Installation of video capabilities for some or all terminals on an already near capacity LAN is likely to further degrade performance, particularly given the bursty nature and high bandwidth requirements for video. Further, installation of compression/decompression facilities onto terminals requires either very high performance, expensive hardware, or the acceptance of a loss of computation power for other tasks. It is network performance which in current LAN arrangements will provide the ultimate limitation on effective performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,252 to Gear et al discloses a device for enabling the selective connection of video and audio signals to multiple terminals on a local network. The arrangement disclosed uses a specialised pipeline within the device to carry signals.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement allowing for existing LAN-based systems to cope with video and similar signals, without the need for customised hardware or cabling.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect the present invention comprises a system providing selective distribution within a network of video and/or audio data, control signals for said video and/or audio data, and further data, characterised in that the further data and control signals are carried on a first digital network, and the video and/or audio data is transmitted over a second, physically distinct cable network, said second network being responsive to said control signals via switching nodes communicating with both networks.
Preferably, the video and/or audio signals are carried in analog format. Preferably, the second network may comprises a series of unshielded twisted pair (UTP) connections, or an optical fibre connection Preferably, at least some of the terminals within said system are operatively connected to both the first and second networks.
According to the present invention, it has been determined that video and audio, or so-called multimedia capacity, can be provided without degrading LAN performance and without requiring purpose built cabling. The present invention uses an overlapping but physically distinct network to provide video and audio capacity, with the existing LAN left to carry digital data. The second network can be simply formed by UTP cabling of the type used for telephone connections, yet allow for fast, high quality video conferencing and video telephony. Indeed, in many office situations, four pairs of UTP are cabled, of which only two are required for the phone system. The other two can be used to implement the present invention. Control remains with the digital system, which via switching nodes and control of the peripheral devices and program sources retains control of the overall system, so as to allow for coordination and synchronisation of media.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
An illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates the overall arrangement according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic site arrangement in more detail;
FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a terminal arrangement suitable for use with the present inven
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Megavision International Pty. Ltd.
Powell Mark R.
Srivastavia Vivek
LandOfFree
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