Videophone apparatus, method and system for audio and video conferencing and telephony

An audio and video conferencing system, the audio and video conferencing system coupleable to a communication channel for audio and video transmission and reception, the audio and video conferencing system comprising:

• a plurality of videophone apparatuses, and
• a video access apparatus coupled to at least one of the videophone apparatuses having a user audio interface for receiving one or more of a plurality of user selectable audio control signals from the videophone apparatus, the plurality of audio control signals including a first audio control signal for selection of an audio/video conferencing mode of the audio and video conferencing system, the video access apparatus responsive to receive a corresponding plurality of radio frequency input video signals from the plurality of videophone apparatuses, and wherein the video access apparatus is further responsive to separately demodulate and process the plurality of radio frequency input video signals as independent video signals.

A method, in a video access apparatus, including a video network interface coupled to a communication channel for communication with a remote apparatus, a processor arrangement coupled to the video network interface, a RF modulator and demodulator coupled to the processor arrangement, at least one video device coupled to the RF modulator and demodulator, and a telephone terminal coupled to the processor arrangement, the method comprising:

• receiving one or more predetermined user selectable input signals from the telephone terminal and selectively entering, at the processor arrangement, a video conferencing mode in response to the signals;
• and
• establishing, at the processor arrangement, a video connection between the video device and the remote apparatus through the video network interface, together with a two-way audio connection between the telephone terminal and the remote apparatus through the video network interface.

A method, in a video access apparatus, including a video network interface coupled to a communication channel for communication with a remote apparatus, a processor arrangement coupled to the video network interface, a plurality of RF modulators and demodulators coupled to the processor arrangement, at least one video device coupled to the plurality of RF modulators and demodulators, and a telephone terminal coupled to the processor arrangement, the method comprising:

• receiving one or more predetermined user selectable input signals from the telephone terminal and selectively entering, at the processor arrangement, a video conferencing mode in response to the one or more signals;
• selectively causing one of the plurality of RF modulators and demodulators to tune to a radio frequency corresponding to a selected channel and thereby to connect the at least one video device to the processor arrangement;
• establishing, at the processor arrangement, a video connection between the video device and the remote apparatus through the video network interface, together with a two-way telephone connection between the telephone terminal and the remote apparatus through the video network interface.