Home videoconferencing system
AssigneePolycom, Inc.
InventorsPaul G. Nietfeld, Krishna Sai, Edward W. Brakus, Jr., Edward Gonen, Shai Toren, Boris Rakhlin
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Abstract
A home videoconferencing system interfaces with traditional set-top boxes and typical home A/V equipment. The system includes a camera, a microphone, and a codec module. The module can couple to a modem connected to a television network and can couple to a display and a set-top box. Alternatively, the module can connect to a network for exchanging videoconference data and can connect between the set-top box and the display. The set-top box can connect to the television network on its own.
Claims39
A home videoconferencing apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality interfaces for communicating content;
- and
- one or more processors operatively coupled to the interfaces, the one or more processors operable to:
- selectively output program content to a display component via at least one of the interfaces, the program content received from one or more networks via at least one of the interfaces,
- selectively output far-end videoconference content to the display component during a video call, the far-end videoconference content received from the one or more networks during the video call via at least one of the interfaces,
- selectively output near-end videoconference content over the one or more networks during the video call via at least one of the interfaces, and
- selectively send uncompressed video signals to the display component via at least one of the interfaces, the uncompressed video signals including video signals received via a first of the one or more networks in a first selected mode, via a second of the one or more networks in a second selected mode, and via both the first and second networks in a third selected mode.
A home videoconferencing method, comprising:
- receiving program content from one or more networks via at least one of a plurality of interface;
- selectively outputting the program content to a display component for display via at least one of the interfaces;
- participating in a video call via one or more networks;
- receiving far-end videoconference content from the one or more networks during the video call via at least one of the interfaces;
- receiving near-end videoconference content during the video call;
- selectively outputting the far-end videoconference content to the display component for display during the video call;
- selectively outputting the near-end videoconference content over the one or more networks during the video call;
- and
- selectively sending uncompressed video signals to the display component via at least one of the interfaces, the uncompressed video signals including video signals received via a first of the one or more networks in a first selected mode, via a second of the one or more networks in a second selected mode, and via both the first and second networks in a third selected mode.
A programmable storage device having program instructions stored thereon for causing a programmable control device to perform a home videoconferencing method, the method comprising:
- receiving program content from one or more networks via at least one of a plurality of interface;
- selectively outputting the program content to a display component for display via at least one of the interfaces;
- participating in a video call via the one or more networks;
- receiving far-end videoconference content from the one or more networks during the video call via at least one of the interfaces;
- receiving near-end videoconference content during the video call;
- selectively outputting the far-end videoconference content to the display component for display during the video call;
- selectively outputting the near-end videoconference content over the one or more networks during the video call;
- and
- selectively sending uncompressed video signals to the display component via at least one of the interfaces, the uncompressed video signals including video signals received via a first of the one or more networks in a first selected mode, via a second of the one or more networks in a second selected mode, and via both the first and second networks in a third selected mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.