Television – Two-way video and voice communication – User positioning
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2001-03-27
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Television
Two-way video and voice communication
User positioning
C348S014050, C348S014080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208372
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to video communication systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to configuring and controlling the displayed view of a video communication system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An increasing number of communication applications are realizing the benefits of video-conferencing equipment. Such equipment generally includes two or more communication terminals participating in the transmission and/or reception of data representing captured video images, typically along with signals representing speech. One type of conventional video-conferencing arrangement includes at least one communication terminal set up with a camera, an image processor, and a transmission device transmitting captured video images for display at the other terminal(s).
While the benefits of video-conferencing equipment are widely recognized, extensive use of video-conferencing equipment has been inhibited largely due to cost, inconvenience and video quality. Increased video quality and convenience have proven to be costly considerations. For this reason, there have been opposing pressures to develop certain more inexpensive systems with increased video quality and convenience and certain other systems that forego the convenience and quality criteria for the sake of reducing costs. Other factors inhibiting extensive use of such equipment include equipment size and maintenance requirements.
As an example, there have been significant efforts to develop the convenience aspect of video conferencing technology by controlling a video conferencing camera for camera adjustment features, such as pan, tilt or zoom. Because the camera is at a location remote from the displayed image, controlling the camera must be coordinated between the two locations. Heretofore, controlling the camera has required methods that are non-intuitive and often difficult to learn. Consequently, the potential to expand the uses of such equipment has been impeded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is exemplified in a number of implementations and applications, some of which are summarized below. In one example embodiment, the present invention permits a user of a local video communication (e.g., video-conferencing or video-monitoring) terminal to ostensibly or actually control the camera view at the remote terminal. This is achieved by the user physically moving (e.g., exerting a slight force to engage a pressure sensitive device or perceptibly displacing from a position for a time) the local display screen so that the displayed view changes as desired. An electromechanical device is used to sense and report the movement for subsequent video-image processing. In one more particular embodiment, the reported information is transmitted to the remote terminal and used to control the far-end camera at the remote terminal, for example, to adjust the image captured by the far-end camera and/or to maintain view of user at local terminal as viewed at the remote terminal. In another particular embodiment, this information is used at the local terminal, via digital manipulation of the received picture, to adjust the image locally and/or to transmit a different image for the remote terminal.
According to another example embodiment, the present invention is directed to a video communication system having a user-friendly control for altering video data. The system includes a first video communication terminal having a first computer arrangement for processing data including video data. The data is communicated over a communications channel. The first video communication terminal further includes a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view. The captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel. The system further includes a second video communication terminal including a display and a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display. The second terminal further includes a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel. At least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to alter data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.
According to another example embodiment, the present invention is directed to a video communication system having a remotely-controlled camera. The system includes a first video communication terminal having a first computer arrangement for processing data including video data. The data is communicated over a communications channel. The first video communication terminal further includes a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view. The captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel. The first computer arrangement is configured and arranged to transfer data, in response to a control signal received over the communications channel, representing an altered view being captured by the camera. The system further includes a second video communication terminal including a display and a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display. The second terminal further includes a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel. The second computer arrangement is configured and arranged to respond to the movement-responsive sensor by sending the control signal to the first video communication terminal over the communications channel.
According to another embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a video communication system having a camera that is ostensibly remotely controlled with data manipulation at a remote terminal. The system includes a first video communication terminal having a first computer arrangement for processing data including video data. The data is communicated over a communications channel. The first video communication terminal further includes a camera configured and arranged to capture images of a view. The captured images are processed as data by the first computer arrangement for transfer over the communications channel. The system further includes a second video communication terminal including a display and a movement-responsive sensor configured and arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display. The second terminal further includes a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel. The second computer arrangement is configured and arranged to store video data received over the communications channel and to respond to the movement-responsive sensor by changing data being sent to the display such that only a portion of the stored video data is displayed.
According to other, more specific, example embodiments, the present invention is directed to the second video communication terminal including a movement-responsive sensor and a display physically coupled to the movement-responsive sensor. The movement-responsive sensor generates a direction signal in response to corresponding movement of the display. The second video communication terminal further includes a second computer arrangement for processing data, including video data, for communicatively coupling with the first video communication terminal over the communications channel. At least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to alter data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.
According to another example embodiment, the present invention i
Kuntz Curtis
Netergy Networks, Inc.
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
LandOfFree
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