GB2597730A

GB2597730A - Consulation booth

Info

Publication number: GB2597730A
Application number: GB2011939.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ashley Sparks Tim
Original assignee: S B Worldwide Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: S B Worldwide Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2020-07-31
Publication date: 2022-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-31
Also published as: GB202011939D0; GB2597730B

Abstract

A consultation booth 1 comprises a plurality of separable parts 2, 4, 5, 6, 7. The separable parts include at least a door 4 and walls which when assembled together form an enclosed space. At least one of the separable parts comprises a transparent portion 8. The booth is configured for mounting video-conferencing equipment 12 to the exterior of the enclosure. The mounting of the conferencing equipment is such that the equipment is near the outer face of the transparent portion. The conference equipment may comprise a camera or cameras, a microphone, a speaker, and one or more displays. The videoconferencing equipment may be mounted in a cradle. The camera of the conferencing equipment may be configured to capture images from the interior of the booth through the transparent portion and the display may display images to the occupant of the booth through the transparent portion. A facilities panel may be mounted within the booth to provide lighting and air channels between the interior and exterior of the booth, in addition to a speaker and microphone for communication between the occupant and the outside of the booth.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No G1320119392 RTM Date:26 January 2021 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

LG

Eagle Eye Polycom Extron CISCO Keene Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

CONSULATION BOOTH

Technical field

The present invention relates to a booth for conducting consultations remotely and in a safe environment.

Background

There are many situations that require individuals to be interviewed or to provide evidence, for example as part of court hearings, tribunals, or investigations. This process is often inefficient, with legal representatives or investigators sometimes travelling long distances to discreet locations to visit detainees or witnesses. In some circumstances, the safety of the parties may be at risk, for example when violent, vulnerable or protected individuals are involved, or during an outbreak of infectious disease.

There are also many situations which call for individuals to be safely detained for short periods of time. GB2502041 teaches a modular holding facility for this purpose. The holding facility of GB2502041 comprises a top panel in a separable ceiling part, for concealing devices for air-conditioning, CCTV, lighting or an intercom.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a consultation booth comprising a plurality of separable parts including at least a door and walls, which when assembled together form an enclosed space, wherein at least one of the separable parts comprises a transparent portion, and the booth is configured for mounting video-conferencing equipment to the exterior of the booth in front of the transparent portion.

During use the videoconferencing equipment may be configured to capture video from the interior of the booth through the transparent portion.

The booth may be configured for mounting a speaker in communication with the interior of the booth.

The booth may be further configured for mounting a microphone in communication with the interior of the booth, which during use is configured to capture audio from the interior of the booth.

The consultation booth may comprise a facilities panel for mounting within the booth.

The facilities panel may comprise a microphone and speaker in acoustic communication with the interior of the booth when the facilities panel is mounted within the booth.

The facilities panel may be configured to provide lighting within the booth.

The facilities panel may provide air channels to allow air to flow between the interior and exterior of the booth.

The consultation booth may further comprise a cradle configured to accommodate the videoconferencing equipment for mounting the videoconferencing equipment to the exterior of the booth The cradle may be configured to accommodate in addition to the video conferencing equipment, an externally facing display for viewing externally of the booth.

The consultation booth may also comprise the video conferencing equipment for mounting to the exterior of the booth in front of the transparent portion.

The video conferencing equipment may comprise a display for displaying images for viewing by an occupant within the booth through the transparent portion.

The video conferencing equipment may comprise a camera for capturing video from the interior of the booth through the transparent portion.

The videoconferencing equipment may be connected to a speaker and microphone in acoustic communication with the inside of the booth.

The consultation booth may comprise a display for displaying images externally of the booth.

In an embodiment, during use the videoconferencing equipment is further configured to transmit the captured video and / or the captured audio via a network to one or more remote devices.

In an embodiment, the videoconferencing equipment is further configured to receive audio from the one or more remote devices and to play the received video to an occupant of the booth via the speaker.

In an embodiment, the videoconferencing equipment comprises a first display screen, and during use is further configured to receive video from the one or more remote devices and to display the received video to an occupant of the booth via the first display screen through the transparent portion.

In an embodiment, the videoconferencing equipment further comprises a second display screen, wherein during use the second display screen is configured to display the received video to an operator external to the booth.

In an embodiment, the consultation booth further comprises a videoconferencing cradle configured to accommodate the videoconferencing equipment and to be mounted to the exterior of the booth.

In an embodiment, the consultation booth further comprises a facilities panel configured to accommodate at least one of the speaker and the microphone, wherein the facilities panels is configured to be mounted at a join between two or more panels forming the interior of the booth.

In another aspect the invention provides the facilities panel. Thus another aspect provides a booth comprising a plurality of separable parts including at least a door and walls, which when assembled together form an enclosed space, and a facilities panel configured to be mounted within the booth. Specifically the facilities panel is configured to be mounted on an internal surface of at least one of the walls or door of the booth. The facilities panel provided as a separable component makes providing a bespoke booth convenient by switching the facilities panels including different combinations of components. Typically the facilities panel provides lighting. In accordance with the above aspects of the invention the facilities panel may include various other components, including one or more of CCTV cameras, microphones, speakers, fans, air conditioning, heating.

Brief description of the drawings

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of an assembled consultation booth; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the assembled consultation booth; Figure 3 shows a cut-away view of the assembled consultation booth; Figure 4 shows an assembled video-conferencing cradle in an open configuration: Figure 5 shows an inner surface of an upper portion of a rear panel of the videoconferencing cradle; Figure 6 shows an inner surface of a front panel of the video-conferencing cradle; Figure 7 shows an inner surface of a lower portion of the rear panel of the videoconferencing cradle; Figure 8 shows an outer surface of the rear panel of the video-conferencing cradle; Figure 9 shows an outer surface of the front panel of the video-conferencing cradle; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an assembled facilities panel; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of an inner surface of a housing of the facilities panel; and Figure 12 shows a perspective view of an inner surface of a cover of the facilities panel.

Detailed description

Embodiments will now be described, with reference to the figures, which provide a structure which allows for the performance of remote consultations, in a robust, compassionate and safe environment.

Figure 1 shows a front view of an assembled consultation booth 1. In the context of the present disclosure, a booth may be considered to be a self-contained construction providing an enclosed space, suitable for accommodating a small number of occupants (e.g. one to five), and which may be installed in any location, for example inside a room. Similarly, a consultation booth may be considered to be a booth which is configured to facilitate consultations, in particular remote consultations by videoconferencing, preferably in an environment which is robust and safe, for example ligature-free. In an embodiment of the present invention, the assembled booth 1 is formed from a number of separate parts, including two sidewalls 2, a rear wall 3 (not shown), a door 4, a door frame or front wall 5 into which the door fits, a ceiling 6 and a floor 7. Each of the separate parts 2, 3, 4, and 5 may include one or more panels that combine to form a sidewall, rear wall, door or ceiling. These parts of the booth may be configured to interlock or to be fastened together simply, allowing the booth to be quickly and easily assembled from "flat pack". The door 4 comprises safety glass window(s) 8 and a lock 9. The door frame 5 comprises safety glass windows 10, and vents 11 which may be used in conjunction with built-in fans to provide air circulation within the booth 1. The booth 1 further comprises a video-conferencing equipment cradle 12. The video-conferencing equipment cradle 12 is configured to accommodate electronic components to facilitate a remote consultation between an occupant of the booth 1 and a person at a remote location, that is, anywhere outside of the booth. The video-conferencing equipment cradle 12 is mounted on the exterior of the booth to protect the electronic components from wilful damage by the occupant of the booth. In this embodiment, the cradle 12 is mounted on the door 4, which has the transparent portion in the form of the window 8.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the term cradle may be considered to refer to any suitable means for mounting object(s) in a desired position, and includes for example, brackets, housings, supports and other mountings.

As shown in the perspective view of Figure 2, the booth 1 further comprises cable conduits 13, 14a, 14b along one or more of the top, front, and rear edges of one of the side walls. The cable conduits 13, 14a, 14b are configured to protect and guide cabling such as power cables and Ethernet cables supplying the electronic components of the booth 1. Also shown is a hollow steel delivery platform 15, configured to enable delivery of a pre-assembled product, for example by a forklift. The delivery platform 15 may remain in place, or be removed upon delivery.

Figure 3 shows a cut-away view of the assembled booth 1. The interior of the booth 1 is provided with a bench 16. The bench 16 comprises, a top panel 17 for sitting, supporting struts 18, and front panel 19. The front panel 19 is configured to block access to the struts, and makes the bench 16 more resilient to wilful damage. When installed, edges of the bench 16 are flush with the rear wall 3, the side walls 2 and the floor 7 to avoid the formation of ligature points. The top panel 17 and the front panel of the bench 16 may be formed from single pieces of rolled 4mm steel, and the top panel 17 may be provided with robust cushioning for the comfort of the occupant.

The video-conferencing cradle 12 will now be discussed in more detail, with reference to Figures 4 to 9. The cradle 12 comprises a rear panel 20 configured to be mountable to the booth 1 and comprising an upper portion 20a and a lower portion 20b, and a front panel 21. The upper portion 20a of the rear panel 20 and the front panel 21 are connectable at a hinge 22, which allows the cradle 12 to adopt a closed configuration during use (as shown in Figure 2), as well as an open configuration for maintenance (as shown in Figure 4). The inner surface of the rear panel 20 is provided with a tab 23 extending towards the front panel 21, with a slot 24 provided at the free end. The inner surface of the front panel 21 is provided with a latch 25, rotatable by a handle 26 on the outer surface of the front panel, so as to engage and disengage with the tab 23 via the slot 24. The handle 26 may be a lockable handle comprising a key barrel. When the latch 25 is engaged with the tab 23, the rear and front panels 20, 21 are secured in the closed configuration. The upper and lower portions 20a, 20b of the rear panel 20 form a substantially rectangular shape, with a cut-away portion to accommodate the door lock.

The upper portion 20a of the rear panel 20 and the front panel 21 are provided with inwardly lipped edges 27a, 27b, such that when the cradle 12 is in a closed configuration, the upper portion 20a of the rear panel 20 and the front panel 21 define an enclosed space configured to accommodate video-conferencing components. The lipped edges 27a, 27b are provided with ventilation slots 28 to provide air-circulation to the electrical components in the accommodating space. The lower portion 20b of the rear panel 20 is also provided will lipped edges 27c, which extend away from the main surface of the rear panel 20 and form short return portions 29 running parallel to the main surface of the rear panel 20. The return portions 29 are configured to be attached to a lid (not shown) at fixing points 30. Together, the main surface of the lower portion 20b of the rear panel of the cradle 12, its lipped edges 28, and the lid, define a second accommodating space for housing further components. This second accommodating space is in communication with the first accommodating space, via an opening in a lipped edge of the rear panel 20 opposing lipped edge 27a and separating the two accommodating spaces. This opening allows the passage of cables between the first accommodating space and the second accommodating space. The cradle 12 further comprises one or more cable entry points 31, configured to allow cables to pass from the exterior of the cradle 12 to the components in the accommodating spaces.

The inner surfaces of the upper portion 20b of the rear panel 20 and the front panel 21 of the cradle 12 are shown in Figures 5 and 6 respectively, and are provided with brackets configured to accommodate the electronic components. Each panel 20, 21 is provided with display brackets 32a, 32b, configured in this embodiment to accommodate rear and front display screens 33a, 33b respectively. In alternative embodiments, only one of the display brackets 32a, 32b may be provided. The display brackets 32a, 32b may comprise access holes 34 to allow for cable access e.g. power and Ethernet, to ports of the display screens 33a, 33b when installed. The display screens 33a, 33b may comprise any suitable display such as a standard or generic LG LCD display, for example with a screen size of up to 27" (68.58 cm), for example 24" (60.96 cm). The front display screen in particular may comprise a touchscreen interface, for use by an operator outside of the booth. The rear panel 20 further comprises a camera bracket 35, configured to accommodate a suitable video recording device 36, for example a dedicated videoconferencing camera such as the Poly Eagle Eye Cube. The upper portion 20a of the rear panel 20 may also comprise plug sockets 37 to provide power to the components.

The lower portion 20b of the rear panel 20 is shown in Figure 7. Further brackets may be provided, configured to accommodate further components such as a controlling device 38 configured to coordinate, the display, the recording device 36, and to communication with a remote device for video-conferencing. An example of a suitable controlling device 38 is the Polycom G7500 4k Video Conference Codec. Further components to be accommodated within the second accommodating portion may include a distribution amplifier 39 such as an Extron DA HD 4K Series HDMI distribution amplifier, and one or more power transformers 40. Alternatively, the display screens 33a, 33b may be dedicated video-conferencing devices such as the CISCO DX 80 with built-in recording devices and components for controlling video-conferencing. In which case, the dedicated recording device 36 accommodated within the first accommodating space, the dedicated controlling device 38, and their corresponding brackets, may not be required. The cradle 12 may also be configured to accommodate a wireless transceiver to enable a wireless network connection. One of the return portions 29 may comprise a flange 41 which is not covered by the lid when in place. The flange may be provided with an infra-red receiver 42, wired through a hole in the flange to the second accommodating space. To support the use of the infra-red receiver 42, the second accommodating space may further accommodate an infra-red distribution amplifier 43 such as a Keene IRBKITPB IR distribution amplifier.

In general, the first accommodating space may be used to house components with higher maintenance requirements, which therefore require easy access, provided by the opening of the cradle. The second accommodating space may be used to accommodate components which require less, or specialised maintenance, which may therefore be sealed in the second accommodating space.

The outer surfaces of the rear 20 and front panels 21 are shown in Figures 8 and 9 respectively, and comprise transparent portions 44a, 44b. The transparent portion 44a of the rear panel comprises a region of transparent material such as safety glass. The transparent portion 44b of the front panel may comprise a region of transparent material such as toughened safety glass, or may be an empty cut-out in particular when the front display screen is a touchscreen. When the display screens 33a, 33b are accommodated within the display brackets 32a, 32b, the display screens 33a, 33b are aligned with their respective transparent portions 44a, 44b, such that they can be viewed through the rear and front panels 20, 21 respectively. The rear panel 20 further comprises an aperture or transparent region 45, configured to be aligned with the dedicated recording device 36, or with a built-in recording device where a dedicated video-conferencing device is used.

The booth 1 also includes a facilities panel 46 as shown in Figures 10 to 12. The facilities panel 46 comprises a housing 47 and a cover 48, which when assembled are configured to accommodate electrical components including lighting components, for use within the interior of the booth. The assembled facilities panel 46 has a right-angled triangular cross-section. This shape allows for the facilities panel 46 to be mounted to the interior of the booth, at a corner formed by the juxtaposition of two or more panels of the booth 1. In the embodiment, the facilities panel 46 is mounted inside the booth, with the apex of the housing 47 opposed to the cover 48 along the edge between the ceiling 6 and the door frame 5. When mounted, the right-angled triangular cross-section of the housing 47 may also result in the lighting components being angled substantially towards the centre of the booth interior. The length of the facilities panel 46 may also be only fractionally shorter than the interior width of the booth. When the facilities panel 46 is installed this way, only the cover 48 of the facilities panel 46 is exposed to the interior of the booth 1. The facilities panel 46 of this embodiment simplifies the fabrication and assembly of the booth 1, as the various components do not need to be concealed within one of the structural panels, whilst at the same time avoiding the formation of interior ligature points. The lighting components may comprise any suitable form of lighting such as LEDs for illuminating the interior of the booth and the occupant to ensure that a good quality image is captured by the recording device. The facilities panel cover 48 also comprises transparent portions 49 through which light can pass from the lighting components accommodated within.

In an embodiment, a microphone and a speaker are included in the facilities panel for use with a videoconferencing unit, to be used in conjunction with the booth 1. By this means, all of the functional equipment is contained in the facilities panel and no further means are required to communicate sound through the booth walls. The microphone and speaker may be integrated into a single device located behind a protrusion 50 in the cover 48. In the example illustrated, the microphone and speaker are accommodated in a space between the protrusion 50 and a back-plate 51. The microphone and speaker may form part of an intercom system between the interior and the exterior of the booth, and/or may be used for the remote consultation as described below. Microphones and speakers may also be located elsewhere within the booth, in addition to, or instead of those provided in the facilities panel. For example, microphones and speakers may be provided in one of the constituent panels of the booth, or within the video-conferencing cradle 12. In which case, the devices may be in acoustic communication with the interior of the booth via perforations (which are typically less than 2mm in size to ensure the absence of ligature points) provided in the one or more panels or windows. The facilities panel may also accommodate a CCTV camera for example a 360-degree camera, in order to enhance observation, or a motion-sensor configured to detect when the booth 1 is occupied and to control the lighting accordingly. These components may also be accommodated within the protrusion 50. Where required by one or more of the speaker, microphone or camera, the protrusion 50 comprises a hole (<2mm) from the interior of the facilities panel through to the interior of the booth 1.

In the embodiment illustrated, the ends of the housing 47 form ventilation channels 52, which are partitioned from a central compartment 53 by partitions 54. The ventilation channels 52 comprise vent portions 55, which when the facilities panel is mounted as described, communicate with the vents 11 in the door frame 5. The cover 48 is provided with perforations 56, which allow for air to exchange between the interior of the booth 1 and the outside, via the ventilation channels 52, the vent portions 55, and the vents 11.

The vent portions 55 and vents 11 will, under normal conditions, provide sufficient ventilation and temperature regulation alone, however, fans and air-conditioning, can also be provided.

In various embodiments, the housing 47 of the facilities panel is provided with one or more cable entry points, which allow cables to access components accommodated within the facilities panel. For example, cables may be allowed to pass from the interior of the facilities panel 46 through one or more holes provided in the rear or the endplates of the housing 47, through a hole or space in (or between) the door frame 5 or one of the side walls 2, and into the cable conduit 14a. From here, the cables may proceed along the cable conduits 13, 14b to a power supply or network connection, or into the video-conferencing cradle 12 via the cable entry point 31 to transmit signals to and from the video-conferencing components. Inside the facilities panel, further holes 57, 58 may also be provided in the backing-plate 51, or in any brackets 59 in the central compartment 53 used for mounting the lighting components next to the transparent portions 49 of the cover 48. These holes 57, 58 allow cabling to access the components within the protrusion 50.

For illustrative purposes, the booth 1 will now be discussed in the context of an exemplary use for conducting a virtual court hearing or consultation. Prior to use, the booth structure is assembled in the desired location, and the video-conferencing components are accommodated within the cradle 12, which is mounted to the exterior of the booth 1. Any further elements such as the bench 16 and facilities panel 46 are also installed. Some parts may be provided to the installation location pre-assembled. The videoconferencing components are connected to a power supply and a network connection via power and Ethernet cables. Cables for the video-conferencing components are routed along the cable conduits 13, 14a, 14b and through the access point 31. Alternatively, a network connection may be obtained wirelessly.

During use, the recording device 36 provided in the video-conferencing cradle 12 captures video of the interior of the booth through the transparent portion 44a and the window 8. The cradle 12 is positioned such that the recording device 36 is suitable for capturing a close-up "head and shoulders" image of the occupant, for example when the occupant is seated on the bench 16. The microphone provided in the facilities panel 46 captures audio from the interior of the booth 1, which is relayed to the dedicated video-conferencing device or the controlling device within the cradle 12. Any suitable secure video-conferencing platform may be used to support the exchange of audio and video captured from within the booth with audio and video received from one or more remote devices. The video-conferencing platform may have "split-screen" functionality, allowing multiple parties such as solicitors and interpreters to partake in the consultation. Video received from the remote device may then be displayed to the occupant via the rear display screen viewable from the inside of the booth, through the transparent portion 44a and the window 8. Corresponding audio may be played to the occupant via the speaker provided in the facilities panel. Meanwhile, the front display screen if present may mirror the content displayed on the rear display screen for an operator to monitor the consultation. The operator may also interact with the front display screen via one or more of a touchscreen interface through the cut-away portion 44b in the front panel of the cradle, or via infra-red remote control via the infra-red receiver 42. Through these interfaces, the operator can initiate, terminate, or otherwise control the video-consultation without the need to open or enter the booth Various design modifications can be made to the booth depending upon the intended application. In the arrangements described above, by providing the video-conferencing components in the cradle mounted on the outside of the booth, the electronic components are protected from wilful damage, and the creation of potential ligature points may also be avoided. The front display also allows observation to be enhanced by mirroring what is shown on the rear display in real time. Furthermore, the booth 1 may be provided with a number of transparent, safety glass windows in addition to the window 8 through which the occupant views the rear display screen, thus allowing staff to observe the occupant to ensure their safety. These features may be particularly suited to high-risk applications, where observation and safety are critical. The booth 1 may also be used for lower risk applications however, or applications where high levels of privacy may be required for the occupant, for example for witnesses providing evidence to a court or tribunal. For these applications, the cradle 12 may be configured to accommodate a rear display only, for example where it is not required or appropriate for operators to observe the remote consultation via a mirror screen. Alternatively, the video-conferencing equipment may be mounted on the inside of the booth, either with or without a cradle. For example, a single video-conferencing device such as a CISCO DX80 touch screen PC with built-in recording device may be provided on the inside of the booth. This may allow for a subject within the booth to operate a touch screen user interface. One or more of the windows of the booth may be also be opaque, covered, or omitted altogether. The booth may also be used to support remote monitoring of detention conditions by regulatory authorities. In such cases, one or more of the microphone, the speaker, or even the rear display may not be required.

Also depending on the intended application of the booth, various locking options are available for the door. For high risk applications, the lock may be a slam-shut keyless lock openable only from the outside. To prevent picking of the lock, the lock may be provided without a keyhole accessible from the interior of the booth. To avoid the creation of ligature points, the door may be provided without a handle on the interior-side. For lower risk applications however, the door may be openable from both the outside and the inside of the booth, for example with standard door handle. Alternatively, a card reader entry system may be provided for both entry and exit.

The constituent parts of the booth can be secured together in a number of ways, for example parts may be bolted together, secured together using fastenings, but preferably are latched together without fastenings to remove the possibility of ligature points. In some situations it may be desirable to be able to deploy the booth very quickly, and also to dismantle and rebuild the booth. In these situations, bolts or latches may be more desirable than, for example, rivets. Anti-pick mastic may also be provided at joints between panels. Depending on the requirements of the booth, and the location in which it is to be installed, some of the parts described above may not be required. The roof panels may be designed to provide "tightening" of the side panels to the floor and to the roof panels. The booth may also be provided with anchor or fixing points that enable the booth to be anchored to the floor and/or a wall at the location in which it is being installed.

The materials used for the constructions of the separate parts of the booth are not particularly limited. It may be advantageous however to form the constituent panels from powder-coated steel (for example, with an anti-bacterial powder-coating), unpainted stainless steel, or aluminium. These choices of material may have benefits for easy and effective disinfection of the booth in between uses, for example using standard disinfectants. In particular, when there is a high risk of transmission of an infectious disease, the use of these materials for the booth may allow for shorter time gaps between uses of the booth than would be required for a standard room. Alternatively, other metals, high-impact plastics such as polycarbonate, or wood shrouded with metal such as 2mm steel may be used in any combination. In particular, the floor of the booth may be made from 12 mm aluminium, covered with an anti-bacterial floor covering.

The dimensions of the assembled booth are also not particularly limited. It may be advantageous however for the weight of the booth to be 1,000kg or lighter, for example 600kg. It may also be advantageous for the dimensions of the booth to be such that the booth may be installed in most standard rooms, offices or cells. For example, the exterior of the assembled booth may measure approximately 2,250cm tall, 1,500cm wide, and 1,200cm deep. The interior of the booth may measure approximately 2,215 cm tall, 1,412 cm wide, and 1,112 cm deep. In some applications, it may also be advantageous for the internal dimensions to be suitable for accommodating up to 5 persons, for example a subject, an interpreter, a dock officer and escorts. In this case, the dimensions of the assembled booth may be approximately 2,250cm tall, 2,100cm wide and 2,100cm deep. The dimensions of the door are not particular limited, although the door may be, for example, at least 900cm wide.

The consultation booth described herein has been devised with the regulations requirements of the UK Home Office and UK Ministry of Justice in mind, but it will be understood that a holding cell may include some modifications in order to pass regulations in other jurisdictions. Each feature disclosed or illustrated in the present specification may be incorporated in the invention, whether alone or in any appropriate combination with any other feature disclosed or illustrated herein.

An embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to the drawings. Modifications may be made without departing form the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A consultation booth comprising a plurality of separable parts including at least a door and walls, which when assembled together form an enclosed space, wherein at least one of the separable parts comprises a transparent portion, and the booth is configured for mounting video-conferencing equipment to the exterior of the booth in front of the transparent portion.
2. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 1, wherein during use the videoconferencing equipment is configured to capture video from the interior of the booth through the transparent portion.
3. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the booth is configured for mounting a speaker in communication with the interior of the booth.
4. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the booth is further configured for mounting a microphone in communication with the interior of the booth, which during use is configured to capture audio from the interior of the booth.
5. The consultation booth as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a facilities panel for mounting within the booth.
6. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 5, wherein the facilities panel comprises a microphone and speaker in acoustic communication with the interior of the booth when the facilities panel is mounted within the booth.
7. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the facilities panel is configured to provide lighting within the booth.
8. The consultation booth as claimed in any one of claimed 5, 6 or 7, wherein the facilities panel provides air channels to allow air to flow between the interior and exterior of the booth.
9. The consultation booth as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a cradle configured to accommodate the videoconferencing equipment for mounting the videoconferencing equipment to the exterior of the booth.
10. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cradle is configured to accommodate in addition to the video conferencing equipment, an externally facing display for viewing externally of the booth.
11. The consultation booth as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 and comprising the video conferencing equipment for mounting to the exterior of the booth in front of the transparent portion.
12. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 11, wherein the video conferencing equipment comprises a display for displaying images for viewing by an occupant within the booth through the transparent portion.
13. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the video conferencing equipment comprises a camera for capturing video from the interior of the booth through the transparent portion.
14. The consultation booth as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the videoconferencing equipment is connected to a speaker and microphone in acoustic communication with the inside of the booth.
15. The consultation booth as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the video conferencing equipment comprises a display for displaying images externally of the booth.