AU4013297A - Transceiver for video, language and text information - Google Patents

Description

Device for Receiving and Transmitting Video Messages, Voice Messages and Text Messages The concern of the invention is a device for transmitting and receiving video messages, voice messages and text messages, which are transmitted via a telecommunications network. A video phone system is known from state of the art technology EP 0 666 693 Al, which comprises a PC workstation, a keyboard or mouse, a monitor, a camera and an interface circuit for matching. In such a system, an image is transmitted to the matching circuit via an ISDN line, from this it is transmitted to the PC, again via a corresponding matching line and then it is displayed on the monitor. A camera located on the monitor takes a picture of the user, passes this straight to the interface matching circuit and transmits this, once again via the ISDN line, to a further subscriber. Such a video telephone system therefore combines a video phone device with a standard PC. The disadvantage with such a system is that the whole PC has to be switched on, to be ready for operation and that the system has been implemented in a relatively expensive manner. Also, it is only posible to display the actual video telephone call without recording it. Furthermore, the state of the art technology also knows a patent application JP 3 201649, which explains a video answering machine. Such a video phone system is used to answer an incoming call, when the user is not present. A message received in this manner is recorded and at the same time the sending subscriber receives a message that his message is only being recorded. With such a system it is however necessary, that the sending, as well as the receiving subscriber, have equipment which is ready for reception. It is therefore the task of the present invention to create a device for transmitting and receiving video messages, which comprises simple means and is, in addition, able to process other messages of other formats. It is a further task of the invention to configure the device so that the messages can be recorded, even if the subscriber does not receive them personally. This is solved according to the invention by the instructions of claim 1. It is advantageous herewith, that other messages, for example those coming from the Internet, can be displayed on such a device for transmitting and receiving video messages. Different image standards can also be displayed by means of this device. It therefore follows from this, that such a system, in an advantageous form, is not only able to display images of one standard, but is also able to display images of a further standard. It is also advantageous that in its function as a video answering machine, a received image is stored in a data format and that it can be output in any other random data format via the monitor. Further advantageous configurations are given in the claims 2 to 10. The configuration as claimed in patent claim 4, where information can be added to a stored video message is a particular advantage. This means that a user, who retrieves ZPL/S-Mo/L8 110 321 18.07.96 the messages later finds out precisely when this message was recorded, its length and the day on which it was spoken. As claimed in patent claim 5, it is a particular advantage, that a subscriber can be informed at a particular, predetermined location about the reception of a video message on his device, which can be located e.g. at his home base. This enables him to retrieve his video messages at any time. The advantageous configuration of patent claim 8 shows that a video message can be edited and can be sent to ftirther subscribers, i.e. it can be supplemented with comments. These comments can be added in the form of a text message or an additional video message. As claimed in claim 9, it is given in advantageous manner, that a traditional television set can be connected and the video message can be played back on this. In the following the invention is explained in more detail by means of a practical example and with the aid of the figure. The figure shows the following: Figure: Schematic display of a device for receiving and transmitting video messages, voice messages and text messages. A device for receiving and transmitting video messages, voice messages and text messages comprises an interface S for matching the device to a telecommunications network. Such a telecommunications network N is, for example, the ISDN network. ZPL/S-Mo/L8 110 321 18.07.96 The device is connected to network N, in the following called ISDN network, via interface S. A standard interface S can be used for this purpose. This interface S is also connected with a network interface LI, to match the device to messages sent and received with different transmission rates. This network interface, for example, comprises a modem, which enables the device to process different data transmission rates, i.e. up to several Kbit/s. For example, such a modem is able to process transmission rates as they occur in the Internet. In a further configuration, this modem can be designed in the form of a digital interface according to the ISDN standard. Furthermore, an interface circuit 5 for voltage supply is provided in the device together with the interface S for matching the device and the network interface LI for matching the device. This circuit can, for example, be in the form of a battery, so that a device for receiving and transmitting video messages is always ready for operation. Furthermore, the device for receiving and transmitting can comprise a camera C for recording a video message, to directly record a video message itself This camera C can be integrated in the device. On the other hand, the camera can be a traditional camera and can be connected with the device for receiving and transmitting video messages by a plug-in device. Furthermore, the device for receiving and transmitting video messages comprises a monitor MON to playback a video message and for playback of a text message. Furthermore, the device for receiving and transmtting a video message comprises a loudspeaker L and a microphone M for recording and playing back a voice message, or the speech associated with a video or text message. ZPL/S-Mo/L8 110 321 18.07.96 This loudspeaker L and the microphone M can be implemented in the form of a handset. To store an incoming video message, which is to be replayed at a later date, storage means MEM are provided in the device for receiving and transmitting video messages to store the received video message. Also provided are means ZI for adding information to the stored video message. With these means, for example, time, date, length of message and further information are added to the stored video message. Also provided in the device are means MA for storing a location of the recipient. In these means MA for storing the location, the contact number of the current location of the recipient is stored or is available as a list from which the number is then selected, so that a voice or text message can be sent to the location of the recipient when a video message is received, to inform him about the presence of the video message. Therefore, a recipient always knows when a message has been sent for him. Furthermore, the device comprises a coder/decoder CO/DE for converting an image coded in H.261 into an MPEG coded image and vice versa. This coder/decoder CO/DE is generally designed in such a manner, that it conducts the conversion of a coded image of a first standard into a coded image of a further standard. Here, conversions of the H.320 standard into an MPEG standard, or similar standards, is also possible. The following procedure is feasible: a H.261-coded image is available, where the H.261-coded image can be available in two different image formats. This is put into a decoder, which retransforms the image onto the image platform. Then, the so decoded image is put into an MPEG coder, which codes the image into an MPEG ZPL/S-Mo/L8 110 321 18.07.96 format. MPEG has multiple image formats. Such a procedure is also possible in reverse direction. Attention must be paid, that the image repetition rate is firmly defined with MPEG. It is advantageous here, that the image format of a receiving device does not necessarily have to be compatible with the image fonnat of a transmitting device. The device comprises additional editing means ED to edit a video message. Here, for example, a text message is spoken and recorded in addition to the video message, or a comment is added by means of a text message. Parts of the message can also be cut and transmitted to other recipients. As it is possible- to guarantee a playback on a television set from the given means for converting an image of a first standard into another standard, the device also comprises an interface TV-S to connect the television set to playback the video message on the said TV. It is also important with the present invention, that the network interface LI conducts a match to text messages of the Internet type and to voice messages from the telecommunications network, the ISDN network. The network interface LI therefore enables the device for receiving and transmitting a video message, a voice message and a text message to send and receive text messages from the Internet as well as to send voice messages via the telecommunications network, or better said, the ISDN network. ZPL/S-Mo/L8 110 321 18.07.96 When applying the device for receiving and transmitting video messages, voice messages and text messages, the following application seems feasible: The device receives a video message, stores this and registers the presence of a video message. A receiver is informed about the presence of the message, by sending him an email via the Internet. In future it can also be feasible that the video message can be sent to the receiver in a follow-up transmission via the performance feature of the video transmission via the Internet. ZPL/S-Mo/L8 110321 18.07.96

Claims (11)

1. Device for receiving and transmitting video messages, voice messages and text messages - with an interface (S) for matching the device to a telecommunications network (N), - with a network interface (LI) for matching the device to messages to be sent and received with different transmission speeds, - with a monitor (MON) for playback of a video message and for the playback of a text message, - with a loudspeaker (L) and a microphone (M) for receiving and playing back a voice message or the speech allocated to a video or text message.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1 with a camera (C) for recording a video message.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, with storage means (MEM) for storing a received video message for later playback of the video message.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, with means (ZI) for adding information to the stored video message.

5. Device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, with means (MA) for storing a place of residence or location of the recipient, with which, after receiving a video message, a voice or text message is sent to the residence or location of the recipient, to inform him about the presence of the video message.

6. Device as claimed in any one of the claims I to 5, with a coder/decoder (CO/DE) to convert a coded image of a first standard into a coded image of a further standard.

7. Device as claimed in claim 6, where the coder/decoder (CO/DE) converts an image coded in H.261 into an MPEG coded image, or where the coder/decoder (CO/DE) converts an MPEG coded image into an H.261 coded image.

8. Device as claimed in any one of the claims I to 7, where editing means (ED) are provided, to edit a video message.

9. Device as claimed in any one of the claims I to 8, with an interface (TV-S) to connect a television set, to playback a video message on the same.

10. Device as claimed in claim 1, where the network interface (LI) conducts a matching to text messages of the Internet type or to voice messages from the telecommunications network. ZPL/S-Mo/L8 110 321

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