US 6,288,739 B1Granted

Distributed video communications system

AssigneeIntelect Systems Corporation

InventorsJon Benedict Hales, Michael David Mills, Nancy Elizabeth Hendrick Miracle

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Abstract

The distributed video communications system includes a plurality of nodes (10). Each of the nodes interfaces with a network that is comprised of a messaging layer (16) and a data transmission layer (14). Data is transmitted from each of the nodes to the data transmission layer in a multicast protocol such that all of the other nodes have access to the information transmitted thereto. Each of the nodes has configuration information stored in a conference configuration block (22) which is received through the messaging layer (16). A conference can be initiated by any of the nodes (10) by transmitting information as to the conferees in a conference to the other of the nodes in the conference. Each of the nodes (10) independently determines from the configuration information associated therewith the manner in which data is to be extracted from the messaging layer (14) and the manner in which it is displayed. The information consists of video and audio information which is compressed and/or decompressed utilizing a wavelet algorithm. The operation of each of the nodes (10) is independent from the operation of the other nodes with the configuration information also being determined solely by the associated node.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A video communication system, comprising:

a data communications network:
and
a plurality of nodes disposed about said data communications network, each of said nodes having:
a video source for generating digital video data,
a data transmitter for transmitting said digital video data to said data communications network on a defined address in a message protocol, which digital video data at said defined address is accessible from said data communications network by substantially all of said nodes on said data communications network,
a data receiver for receiving from said data communications network digital video data at said defined addresses,
a configuration table for storing information as to select ones of said defined addresses on said data communications network to define a local group of said select ones of said defined addresses for said associated node,
a configuration device for configuring said configuration table to define said local group for said associated node and to control said data receiver to receive only video data from ones of said defined addresses within said local group, and
a display device for processing and displaying digital video data received from said data communications network at select ones of said defined addresses within said local group, said configuration device determining which of said ones of said defined addresses in said local group constitute said select ones for displaying said associated digital video data by said display device;
wherein said configuration table is operable to store information as to select ones of said defined addresses on said data communications network that define more than a single local group, with each of said local groups comprised of select ones of said defined addresses and which defined addresses in each of said local groups can be different for said associated node, and wherein said configuration device is operable to select between ones of said local groups.

7 more elements

A video communication system, comprising:

a data communications network;
and
a plurality of nodes disposed about said data communications network, each of said nodes having:
a video source for generating digital video data,
a data transmitter for transmitting said digital video data to said data communications network on a defined address in a message protocol, which digital video data at said defined address is accessible from said data communications network by substantially all of said nodes on said data communications network,
a data receiver for receiving from said data communications network digital video data at said defined addresses,
a configuration table for storing information as to select ones of said defined addresses on said data communications network to define a local group of said select ones of said defined addresses for said associated node,
a configuration device for configuring said configuration table to define said local group for said associated node and to control said data receiver to receive only video data from ones of said defined addresses within said local group, and
a display device for processing and displaying digital video data received from said data communications network at select ones of said defined addresses within said local group, said configuration device determining which of said ones of said defined addresses in said local group constitute said select ones for displaying said associated digital video data by said display device;
where said data communications network comprises a message portion and a command portion, said command portion carrying command information between said nodes in a command protocol and said message portion carrying said transmitted digital video data on said defined addresses from all of said nodes in said message protocol, each of said nodes having:
a command generator for generating command information for transmission to at least one other of said nodes;
a command transmitter for transmitting said generated command information over said command portion of said data communications network in said command protocol;
a command receiver for receiving command information from other of said nodes over said command portion of said data communications network;
a command decoder for decoding said received command information from said command receiver;
and
said command information utilized by said configuration device to generate said information stored in said configuration table.

13 more elements

A video communication system, comprising:

a data communications network;
and
a plurality of nodes disposed about said data communications network, each of said nodes having:
a video source for generating digital video data,
a data transmitter for transmitting said digital video data to said data communications network on a defined address in a message protocol, which digital video data at said defined address is accessible from said data communications network by substantially all of said nodes on said data communications network,
a data receiver for receiving from said data communications network digital video data at said defined addresses,
wherein said data transmitter operates independently of said data receiver on the other of said nodes and said data receivers on each of said nodes operate independently from said data receivers on the other of said nodes;
a configuration table for storing information as to select ones of said defined addresses on said data communications network to define a local group of said select ones of said defined addresses for said associated node, and
a display device for processing and displaying digital video data received from said data communications network at select ones of said defined addresses within said local group
wherein said data communications network comprises a message portion and a command portion, said command portion carrying command information between said nodes in a command protocol and said message portion carrying said transmitted digital video data on said defined addresses from all of said nodes in said message protocol, each of said nodes having:
a command generator for generating command information for transmission to at least one other of said nodes;
a command transmitter for transmitting said generated command information over said command portion of said data communications network in said command protocol;
a command receiver for receiving command information from other of said nodes over said command portion of said data communications network;
a command decoder for decoding said received command information from said command receiver;
and
said command information utilized by said configuration device to generate said information stored in said configuration table.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.