Method and apparatus for communicating video information in a communication system

A method for a first communication device to provide video information to a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a first video device of a plurality of video devices coupled to the first communication device to produce a first selected video device;
• selecting a second video device of the plurality of video devices coupled to the first communication device to produce a second selected video device;
• receiving video information from the first selected video device to produce first video information;
• receiving video information from the second selected video device to produce second video information;
• selecting a first transmission frame rate for the first video information based on a priority between transmission frame rate and resolution per frame;
• selecting a second transmission frame rate for the second video information based on the first transmission rate;
• and
• transmitting the first video information at the first transmission frame rate and the second video information at the second transmission frame rate via a single communication resource.

A method for a video control server to provide video information to at least one communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from a first communication device, first video information at a first transmission frame rate via a first communication resource, the first transmission frame rate corresponding to a first resolution per frame;
• receiving, from a second communication device, second video information at a second transmission frame rate via a second communication resource, the second transmission frame rate corresponding to a second resolution per frame;
• combining the first video information and the second video information to produce third video information;
• and
• transmitting the third video information at a third transmission frame rate to the at least one communication device, the third transmission frame rate corresponding to a third resolution per frame.

A method for a video control server to provide video information to at least one communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from a communication device of the at least one communication device, video information at a first transmission frame rate via a first communication resource;
• converting the first transmission frame rate to a second transmission frame rate that is less than the first transmission frame rate, wherein at least some of the conversion is achieved by discarding a part of the video information;
• and
• transmitting the video information at the second transmission frame rate to the at least one communication device via a second communication resource.

A method for a first communication device to obtain video information from a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a priority between transmission frame rate and resolution per frame;
• when transmission frame rate is of a higher priority than resolution per frame, receiving the video information at a first transmission frame rate via a communication resource;
• and
• when resolution per frame is of a higher priority than transmission frame rate, receiving the video information at a second transmission frame rate via the communication resource, wherein the second transmission frame rate is less than the first transmission frame rate.

A communication device for transmitting video information, the communication device comprising:

• a video compressor having an input to receive digitized video information from a video device and an output to provide a compressed video output signal;
• a memory device having stored therein a computer program that, when executed, performs the following functions:
• determines a priority between transmission frame rate and resolution per frame;
• selects a first transmission frame rate to produce a selected transmission frame rate when transmission frame rate is of a higher priority than resolution per frame;
• and
• selects a second transmission frame rate to produce the selected transmission frame rate when resolution per frame is of a higher priority than transmission frame rate, wherein the second transmission frame rate is less than the first transmission frame rate;
• and
• a radio frequency modem having a first input coupled to the output of the video compressor, a second input coupled to the memory device, and an output to transmit the compressed video output signal at the selected transmission frame rate via a radio communication resource.

A radio frequency video communication system comprising:

• a plurality of video devices;
• a plurality of mobile radio communication devices, each of the plurality of mobile radio communication devices being coupled to at least one of the plurality of video devices and having two modes of operation,
• in a first mode of operation, receiving video information from at least one video device and transmitting the video information via a radio communication resource at a first transmission frame rate;
• in a second mode of operation, receiving video information from the at least one video device and transmitting the video information via a radio communication resource at a second transmission frame rate, wherein the second transmission frame rate is less than the first transmission frame rate;
• a radio system infrastructure that provides the radio communication resource;
• and
• a video control server, coupled to the plurality of mobile radio communication devices via the radio system infrastructure, that (i) selects a mode of operation of the two modes of operation for at least one mobile radio communication device of the plurality of mobile radio communication devices based on a priority between transmission frame rate and resolution per frame, and (ii) communicates the mode of operation to the at least one mobile radio communication device via the radio system infrastructure.