Multipoint teleconference system employing H. 221 frames
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsYoji Shibata, Masaaki Takizawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multipoint teleconference system dispensing with an MCU, in which terminals are connected into a loop configuration through an ISDN in such a way that each terminal is coupled with each of the adjacent terminals by a single B channel. Thus, a communication frame is revolved through a looped communication channel. Each terminal enters control information for controlling a multipoint teleconference, into a predetermined area within the communication frame, and it relays the resulting communication frame to the next terminal.
Claims46
An end terminal in a teleconferencing system for communicating data along a network, said end terminal comprising:
- an interface unit for receiving a first communication frame from said network, said first communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing, respectively, video data from a predetermined number of end terminals in said teleconferencing system;
- a display unit for displaying the video data stored in said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame;
- a video input circuit for acquiring video data;
- a video replacement circuit for replacing video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of said first communication frame with the video data acquired by said video input circuit to generate a second communication frame;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting said second communication frame to said network.
An end terminal in a teleconferencing system for communicating data along a network, said end terminal receiving from said network a first communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing video data from respective ones of a predetermined number of end terminals in said teleconferencing system, said end terminal comprising:
- a display for displaying the video data stored in at least one of said predetermined number of sections of said first communication frame;
- a video input circuit for acquiring video data;
- a video replacement circuit for replacing video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of said first communication frame with the video data acquired by said video input unit to form a first updated communication frame;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting said first updated communication frame to said network.
A teleconferencing system for communicating video information among a plurality of terminals connected to a network, said system comprising:
- a first terminal for transmitting a first communication frame to said network, said first communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing video data from respective ones of a predetermined number of said plurality of terminals;
- and
- a second terminal including:
- an interface unit for receiving the first communication frame transmitted by said first terminal,
- a display for displaying the video data stored in at least one of said predetermined number of sections of the first communication frame,
- a video input circuit for acquiring video data,
- a video replacement circuit for replacing video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of the first communication frame with the video data acquired by said video input circuit to generate a first updated communication frame, and
- a transmitter for transmitting said first updated communication frame to one of said plurality of terminals.
A method for communicating data within a teleconferencing system containing a plurality of end terminals connected to a network, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at one end terminal, a first communication frame from said network, said first communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing video data from respective ones of a predetermined number of said plurality of end terminals;
- displaying the video data stored in at least one of said predetermined number of sections of said first communication frame;
- obtaining video data at said one end terminal;
- replacing the video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of said first communication frame with the video data obtained at said one end terminal to generate a first updated communication frame;
- and
- transmitting said first updated communication frame to said network.
An end terminal in a teleconferencing system for communicating data along a network, said end terminal comprising:
- an interface unit for receiving a communication frame from said network, said communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing, respectively, video data from a predetermined number of end terminals in said teleconferencing system;
- a video input/output unit for displaying video data and for acquiring video data;
- a controller for causing said display to operate in at least one of a plurality of selectable modes, said plurality of selectable modes includes:
- a first mode wherein said controller generates control signals for transmitting the video data in all of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame to said video input/output unit for display,
- a second mode wherein said controller generates control signals for transmitting to said video input/output unit the video data in at least one of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame for display along with the video data acquired by said video input/output unit, and
- a third mode wherein said controller generates control signals for causing said display to display only said video data acquired by said video input/output unit;
- a video replacement circuit for replacing video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame with the video data acquired by said video input/output unit to generate an updated communication frame;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting said updated communication frame to said network.
An end terminal in a teleconferencing system for communicating data along a network, said end terminal receiving from said network a communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing video data from respective ones of a predetermined number of end terminals in said teleconferencing system, said end terminal comprising:
- a video input/output unit for displaying the video data and for acquiring video data;
- a controller for causing said display to operate in at least one of a plurality of selectable modes, said plurality of selectable modes includes:
- a first mode wherein said controller generates control signals for transmitting the video data in all of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame to said video input/output unit for display,
- a second mode wherein said controller generates control signals for transmitting to said video input/output unit the video data in at least one of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame for display along with the video data acquired by said video input/output unit, and
- a third mode wherein said controller generates control signals for causing said display to display only said video data acquired by said video input/output unit;
- a video replacement circuit for replacing video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame with the video data acquired by said video input/output unit to form an updated communication frame;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting said updated communication frame to said network.
A teleconferencing system for communicating video information among a plurality of terminals connected to a network, said system comprising:
- a first terminal for transmitting a communication frame to said network, said communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing video data from respective ones of a predetermined number of said plurality of terminals;
- and
- a second terminal including:
- an interface unit for receiving the communication frame transmitted by said first terminal,
- a video input/output unit for displaying the video data and for acquiring video data,
- a controller for causing said display to operate in at least one of a plurality of selectable modes, said plurality of selectable modes includes:
- a first mode wherein said controller generates control signals for transmitting the video data in all of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame to said video input/output unit for display,
- a second mode wherein said controller generates control signals for transmitting to said video input/output unit the video data in at least one of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame for display along with the video data acquired by said video input/output unit, and
- a third mode wherein said controller generates control signals for causing said display to display only said video data acquired by said video input/output unit;
- a video replacement circuit for replacing video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of the communication frame with the video data acquired by said video input/output circuit to generate an updated communication frame;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting said updated communication frame to one of said plurality of terminals.
A method for communicating data within a teleconferencing system containing a plurality of end terminals connected to a network, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at one end terminal, a communication frame from said network, said communication frame having a predetermined number of sections for storing video data from respective ones of a predetermined number of said plurality of end terminals;
- obtaining video data at said one end terminal;
- displaying the video data in at least one of a plurality of selectable modes, said plurality of selectable modes includes:
- a first mode wherein the video data in all of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame are displayed,
- a second mode wherein at least one of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame are displayed along with the obtained video data, and
- a third mode wherein only said obtained video data is displayed;
- replacing the video data in one of said predetermined number of sections of said communication frame with the obtained video data to generate an updated communication frame;
- and
- transmitting said updated communication frame to said network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.