Webcam-based interface for initiating two-way video communication
AssigneeDigeo, Inc.
InventorPaul G. Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of user-selectable video streams are displayed on a first terminal, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network. By selecting one of the displayed video streams, a user may establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
Claims57
A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
- simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- and
- establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
- combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream;
- sending the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream;
- and
- establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;
- simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- establishing a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;
- displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;
- capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;
- transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;
- receiving a second video stream from the second terminal;
- and
- displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;
- simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- and
- establishing two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.
A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
- simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- and
- establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
- combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream;
- sending the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream;
- and
- establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;
- simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- establishing a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;
- displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;
- capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;
- transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;
- receiving a second video stream from the second terminal;
- and
- displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;
- simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- and
- establishing two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.
A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:
- a stream reception component configured to receive at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
- a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- and
- a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:
- a stream reception component configured to receive at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
- a stream compositing component configured to combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;
- a stream transmission component configured to send the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon;
- a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream;
- and
- a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:
- a stream reception component configured to receive at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;
- a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- a video communication component configured to establish a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;
- display a video communication window on the first terminal;
- capture a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;
- transmit the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;
- receive a second video stream from the second terminal;
- and display the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the system comprising:
- a stream reception component configured to receive at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;
- a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
- a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
- and
- a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.