Television – Two-way video and voice communication – User positioning
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-02
2001-02-13
Kuntz, Curtis A. (Department: 2743)
Television
Two-way video and voice communication
User positioning
C348S014090, C379S052000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188429
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to communication systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to video communication systems having teletype technology for individuals using a visual mode of communication.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, the only real-time means of communication for the hearing impaired and others who do not speak or understand speech was via electronic mail, facsimile, or teletype machines. Recently however, a significant effort has been made to use video-communication equipment to provide real-time visual communication that will support signed language over an analog telephone line. 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 for signed language has been inhibited largely due to unavailability of a common network interface, high costs, inconvenience and poor video quality. Improving video quality and increased convenience have proven to be costly considerations. For this reason, there have been pressures to develop certain more expensive systems with increased video quality and convenience and certain other systems that forego the convenience and quality criteria for the sake of reducing costs.
The benefits of video-conferencing equipment should be enjoyed by all. Existing systems provide video and audio capabilities with the emphasis on audio quality. The needs of those with verbal communication difficulties are significantly different. Until now, video-conferencing systems have not been designed in a way that readily accommodates individuals with these disabilities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods and arrangements for use in video- and teletype-conferencing. Certain aspects of the present invention are directed to a video communications device and method for use in connection with video-conferencing between communication terminals over a communications channel. Local images are captured and a set of video signals representing the images are generated. A teletype device captures user-input data and generates a set of data signals representing the user-generated data. The set of data signals, the video data and audio data signals are multiplexed and sent over the communications channel and a processor-based circuit executes a program to cause the processor-based circuit to provide various types of display functions.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a teletype communicator for communicating with a remote communication terminal over a communications channel, comprises: a keyed input device including user-engageable keys arranged to generate data over a wireless channel in response to a user engaging the keyed input device; and a teletype arrangement including a receiver constructed to receive the data over the wireless channel, an interface circuit for communicating over the communications channel, and a processor-based circuit having a program that, when executed, causes the processor-based circuit to communicate teletype information over the communications channel and to generate data for user display.
The teletype arrangement can further include a camera arranged to capture local images and, in response, generate a set of video signals representing the captured images. The processor-based circuit can also be configured and arranged to communicate video information over the communications channel and to generate within the teletype information both text data and video data for user display.
In a more particular embodiment, the teletype arrangement further includes a display having top support area and wherein the camera is configured in a housing that is arranged to capture local images while supported on the support area and wherein the processor-based circuit is further configured and arranged to cause the text data to be displayed above the video data, thereby directing a user that is reading the text data toward the camera.
Another aspect of the present invention involves connecting a conventional TTY type device directly into a videphone. In this video-teletype communication arrangement, a TTY device, including user-engageable keys, generates teletype data in response to a user engaging the keys; and a processor-based circuit has a program that, when executed, causes the processor-based circuit to communicate the video image data and the teletype data over a communications channel.
The above summary of the invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment of the present invention. An overview of other example aspects and implementations will be recognizable from the figures and of the detailed description that follows.
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International Telecommunication Union ITU-T Draft H. 324 Terminal for Low Bitrate Multimedia Communication, 1995.
International Telecommunication Union ITU-T Recommendation G.723.1 Dual Rate Speech Coder for Multimedia Communications Transmitting at 5.3 and 6.3 kbit/s, 1996.
International Telecommunication Union ITU-T Recommendation G.711 Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) of Voice Frequencies, 1988, 1993.
International Telecommunication Union ITU-T Recommendation G.728 Coding of Speech at 16 kbit/s Using Low-Delay Code Excited Linear Prediction, 1992.
Joe Truman
Martin Bryan R.
Medugno Richard
Kuntz Curtis A.
Netergy Networks, Inc
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
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