CA2185580A1 - Video-telephone apparatus - Google Patents
Video-telephone apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA2185580A1 CA2185580A1 CA 2185580 CA2185580A CA2185580A1 CA 2185580 A1 CA2185580 A1 CA 2185580A1 CA 2185580 CA2185580 CA 2185580 CA 2185580 A CA2185580 A CA 2185580A CA 2185580 A1 CA2185580 A1 CA 2185580A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- video
- interface
- pcmcia
- telephone apparatus
- cam
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/14—Systems for two-way working
- H04N7/141—Systems for two-way working between two video terminals, e.g. videophone
- H04N7/148—Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
- Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
Abstract
Provision of a video-telephone apparatus which can be assembled from simple means and is easy to install at any location.
A video-telephone apparatus is composed of a data-processing device (PC), a video/audio pickup device (CAM), and a PCMCIA
card (CC). Via the PCMCIA card, video/audio data compression and transmission over a telecommunications network (ISDN) to further subscribers are effected.
A video-telephone apparatus is composed of a data-processing device (PC), a video/audio pickup device (CAM), and a PCMCIA
card (CC). Via the PCMCIA card, video/audio data compression and transmission over a telecommunications network (ISDN) to further subscribers are effected.
Description
Video-Telephone Apparatus The present invention relates to video-telephone apparatus for transmitting and receiving video/audio signals.
In a prior-art video telephone, a video display unit, a camera, and a telephone unit are integrated in a concealable desk set. The camera is mounted behind a semitransparent mirror of the video display unit. A
received picture is directed from a screen to the mirror, which deflects it to the user ("Telefonieren von Angesicht zu Angesicht, Kommunikationstechnik von SEL", SEL Alcatel Gruppe, pages 1 to 8).
It is also known to use a PC as a video communication terminal. Since one cannot imagine a modern office without a personal computer, the latter, besides being used for conventional data processing, can also be employed for video communication, for example. In such a system, an additional camera is positioned on a conventional PC for taking pictures of a video-telephone user. Using an additional plug-in card in the PC, a picture thus taken is fed, for example, into a conventional telecommunciations network and transmitted to another video-telephone subscriber. It is also possible, of course, to use an object camera for transmitting documents (Blitz, A., Littmann, J., Niemeier, H., "Der PC als Endgerat fUr die 21 ~580 Videokommunikation", ntz Nachrichtentechnische Zeitschrift, Vol. 44 (1991), No. 6, Berlin, Germany).
It is an object of the invention to provide a video-telephone àpparatus which can be implemented at a great number of locations by simple means.
It is another object of the invention to provide a PCMCIA
card which is capable of implementing a video-telephone apparatus by simple means.
These objects are attained, according to the invention, by the teaching of claim 1 and by the teaching of claim 5.
The invention has the advantage that, by these means and further simple means, anyone who has a data-processing device both in the office and at home can implement a video telephone. To do this, no new interfaces need be provided at a data-processing device, but existing interfaces, such as the PCMCIA interface, can be used to combine conventional video/audio pickup devices and the data-processing device into a video-telephone apparatus. Transmission over a mobile-radio network is also possible.
Further advantageous features of the invention are defined in claims 2 to 4.
According to claim 4 it is advantageous to provide an additional power supply for the PCMCIA card if the latter has an increased power requirement.
- ~1 8~580 The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. la shows a video-telephone apparatus in ` accordance with the invention;
Fig. lb shows a further development of the video-telephone apparatus in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the data interface with an adapter; and Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a connecting device for insertion as claimed in claim 4.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figs. la and lb.
The video-telephone apparatus according to the invention comprises a data-processing device PC. This may be, for example, a conventional personal computer, a workstation of a mainframe, a laptop computer, or a so-called Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The data-processing device PC
includes a video/audio-reproducing device D, L. This video/audio-reproducing device consists, for example, of a conventional video display device and a conventional loudspeaker. The data-processing device PC further includes a PCMCIA interface PCMCIA-S. PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. Instead of the PCMCIA interface, a data interface, such as a V.24 interface or a printer interface, may be provided. Such a data ~ 85580 -interface is incorporated in all models of data-processing devices, also in older models. The data-processing device PC
must then be provided with an adapter for simulating a PCMCIA
interface.
The video-telephone apparatus further comprises a PCMCIA card CC, on which a further interface CAM-S is provided for connecting a video/audio pickup dévice CAM. The card further contains a communications interface KOM-S which provides the connection with a communications network ISDN for transmitting and receiving video/audio signals. The video-telephone apparatus further comprises the video/audio pickup device CAM, e.g., a special-purpose camera or a conventional camera, such as a camcorder.
In Fig. la, a wire link has been established between the video-telephone apparatus and an integrated services digital network (ISDN). Links can, of course, also be established to other communications networks, such as a broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) or other broadband or narrow-band digital networks or analog networks.
Fig. lb shows a video-telephone apparatus in which the communications interface KOM-S is used to establish a wireless link to a mobile-radio network, such as the GSM
network, or to any other radio network, such as the DECT
network.
The following gives a brief outline (without drawing) of a possible use of the claimed video-telephone apparatus. A
subscriber A is, for example, at his or her office at a location I. He or she wishes to make a video-telephone call to a subscriber B at a location II. At the workplace of -subscriber A, there is a personal computer. This personal computer is equipped with a PCMCIA interface. Furthermore, both subscriber A and subscriber B have a camera which is connected via a connecting line to a PCMCIA card. The card ~also contains an interface for interfacing to a telecommunications network. Subscriber A, wo wants to make a call to subscriber B, inserts the PCMCIA card into the personal computer. By means of the keyboard of the personal computer, subscriber A establishes a connection to subscriber B. The latter responds to the call and puts his or her video-telephone apparatus at location II on standby. After the two video-telephone apparatuses at location I and location II
have been switched to a standby state, the picture of subscriber A is taken by the camera, compressed by compressing means on the PCMCIA card, and transmitted over the link to the communications network to subscriber B at location II. At this location II, the received data is fed to the PCMCIA card, decompressed by decompressing means on the card, and presented on the display of the personal computer present there. At the same time, the picture of subscriber B
is recorded by the camera at location II, compressed by means of the PCMCIA card, and transmitted over the network to subscriber A, where it is decompressed by decompressing means on the PCMCIA card, and presented on the display of the personal computer. The display may also show the subscriber's own picture.
Another possible use of such a camera is for the transmission of documents ("object camera"). Pictures of documents can be taken by the camera and transmited to another subscriber B
over the path just described.
In the following it will be explained with the aid of an embodiment (without drawing) how a PCMCIA card as claimed in 2 1 8~580 _ claim 5 operates.
A PCMCIA card CC contains an interface for connecting a video/audio pickup device CAM, such as a camcorder.
This interface may also be so designed that a connecting cable is integrated therein, i.e., that the same video/audio pickup device must always be attached. The PCMCIA card CC
further contains a communications interface KOM-S for interfacing to a communications network ISDN or a GSM
network. Via this interface, video/audio signals are transmitted and received. Furthermore, the card contains means for compressing and sending video/audio signals.
Reference is made to CCITT Recommendations H.221 and H.261, which describe how compression and transmission have to take place.
The PCMCIA card must also contain corresponding means for decomp~essing the received video/audio signals.
The following describes with the aid of Fig. 2 how a video-telephone apparatus according to the invention operates if only a data interface is present. This data interface, e.g., a V.24 interface or a printer interface, is provided in any conventional data-processing device. Into the data interface provided in the PC, an adapter for simulating a PCMCIA
interface is inserted. This adapter may have, in addition to a port for a video/audio pickup device and in addition to the communications interface KOM-S, a port for connecting the adapter to a power supply. This serves to make additional power available independently of the PC if a PCMCIA card should have an increased power requirement. This is particularly advantageous if the data-processing terminal is a laptop computer or a PDA.
Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of the invention claimed in claim 4. To meet the aforementioned requirements, i.e., if the card has an increased power requirement, there is provided, in ~addition to the apparatus described so far, a connecting device Z for insertion into the PCMCIA interface PCMCIA-S and for reception of the PCMCIA card CC. The connecting device has an additional connection to a power supply, so that an increased power requirement can be covered.
In a prior-art video telephone, a video display unit, a camera, and a telephone unit are integrated in a concealable desk set. The camera is mounted behind a semitransparent mirror of the video display unit. A
received picture is directed from a screen to the mirror, which deflects it to the user ("Telefonieren von Angesicht zu Angesicht, Kommunikationstechnik von SEL", SEL Alcatel Gruppe, pages 1 to 8).
It is also known to use a PC as a video communication terminal. Since one cannot imagine a modern office without a personal computer, the latter, besides being used for conventional data processing, can also be employed for video communication, for example. In such a system, an additional camera is positioned on a conventional PC for taking pictures of a video-telephone user. Using an additional plug-in card in the PC, a picture thus taken is fed, for example, into a conventional telecommunciations network and transmitted to another video-telephone subscriber. It is also possible, of course, to use an object camera for transmitting documents (Blitz, A., Littmann, J., Niemeier, H., "Der PC als Endgerat fUr die 21 ~580 Videokommunikation", ntz Nachrichtentechnische Zeitschrift, Vol. 44 (1991), No. 6, Berlin, Germany).
It is an object of the invention to provide a video-telephone àpparatus which can be implemented at a great number of locations by simple means.
It is another object of the invention to provide a PCMCIA
card which is capable of implementing a video-telephone apparatus by simple means.
These objects are attained, according to the invention, by the teaching of claim 1 and by the teaching of claim 5.
The invention has the advantage that, by these means and further simple means, anyone who has a data-processing device both in the office and at home can implement a video telephone. To do this, no new interfaces need be provided at a data-processing device, but existing interfaces, such as the PCMCIA interface, can be used to combine conventional video/audio pickup devices and the data-processing device into a video-telephone apparatus. Transmission over a mobile-radio network is also possible.
Further advantageous features of the invention are defined in claims 2 to 4.
According to claim 4 it is advantageous to provide an additional power supply for the PCMCIA card if the latter has an increased power requirement.
- ~1 8~580 The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. la shows a video-telephone apparatus in ` accordance with the invention;
Fig. lb shows a further development of the video-telephone apparatus in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the data interface with an adapter; and Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a connecting device for insertion as claimed in claim 4.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figs. la and lb.
The video-telephone apparatus according to the invention comprises a data-processing device PC. This may be, for example, a conventional personal computer, a workstation of a mainframe, a laptop computer, or a so-called Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The data-processing device PC
includes a video/audio-reproducing device D, L. This video/audio-reproducing device consists, for example, of a conventional video display device and a conventional loudspeaker. The data-processing device PC further includes a PCMCIA interface PCMCIA-S. PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. Instead of the PCMCIA interface, a data interface, such as a V.24 interface or a printer interface, may be provided. Such a data ~ 85580 -interface is incorporated in all models of data-processing devices, also in older models. The data-processing device PC
must then be provided with an adapter for simulating a PCMCIA
interface.
The video-telephone apparatus further comprises a PCMCIA card CC, on which a further interface CAM-S is provided for connecting a video/audio pickup dévice CAM. The card further contains a communications interface KOM-S which provides the connection with a communications network ISDN for transmitting and receiving video/audio signals. The video-telephone apparatus further comprises the video/audio pickup device CAM, e.g., a special-purpose camera or a conventional camera, such as a camcorder.
In Fig. la, a wire link has been established between the video-telephone apparatus and an integrated services digital network (ISDN). Links can, of course, also be established to other communications networks, such as a broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) or other broadband or narrow-band digital networks or analog networks.
Fig. lb shows a video-telephone apparatus in which the communications interface KOM-S is used to establish a wireless link to a mobile-radio network, such as the GSM
network, or to any other radio network, such as the DECT
network.
The following gives a brief outline (without drawing) of a possible use of the claimed video-telephone apparatus. A
subscriber A is, for example, at his or her office at a location I. He or she wishes to make a video-telephone call to a subscriber B at a location II. At the workplace of -subscriber A, there is a personal computer. This personal computer is equipped with a PCMCIA interface. Furthermore, both subscriber A and subscriber B have a camera which is connected via a connecting line to a PCMCIA card. The card ~also contains an interface for interfacing to a telecommunications network. Subscriber A, wo wants to make a call to subscriber B, inserts the PCMCIA card into the personal computer. By means of the keyboard of the personal computer, subscriber A establishes a connection to subscriber B. The latter responds to the call and puts his or her video-telephone apparatus at location II on standby. After the two video-telephone apparatuses at location I and location II
have been switched to a standby state, the picture of subscriber A is taken by the camera, compressed by compressing means on the PCMCIA card, and transmitted over the link to the communications network to subscriber B at location II. At this location II, the received data is fed to the PCMCIA card, decompressed by decompressing means on the card, and presented on the display of the personal computer present there. At the same time, the picture of subscriber B
is recorded by the camera at location II, compressed by means of the PCMCIA card, and transmitted over the network to subscriber A, where it is decompressed by decompressing means on the PCMCIA card, and presented on the display of the personal computer. The display may also show the subscriber's own picture.
Another possible use of such a camera is for the transmission of documents ("object camera"). Pictures of documents can be taken by the camera and transmited to another subscriber B
over the path just described.
In the following it will be explained with the aid of an embodiment (without drawing) how a PCMCIA card as claimed in 2 1 8~580 _ claim 5 operates.
A PCMCIA card CC contains an interface for connecting a video/audio pickup device CAM, such as a camcorder.
This interface may also be so designed that a connecting cable is integrated therein, i.e., that the same video/audio pickup device must always be attached. The PCMCIA card CC
further contains a communications interface KOM-S for interfacing to a communications network ISDN or a GSM
network. Via this interface, video/audio signals are transmitted and received. Furthermore, the card contains means for compressing and sending video/audio signals.
Reference is made to CCITT Recommendations H.221 and H.261, which describe how compression and transmission have to take place.
The PCMCIA card must also contain corresponding means for decomp~essing the received video/audio signals.
The following describes with the aid of Fig. 2 how a video-telephone apparatus according to the invention operates if only a data interface is present. This data interface, e.g., a V.24 interface or a printer interface, is provided in any conventional data-processing device. Into the data interface provided in the PC, an adapter for simulating a PCMCIA
interface is inserted. This adapter may have, in addition to a port for a video/audio pickup device and in addition to the communications interface KOM-S, a port for connecting the adapter to a power supply. This serves to make additional power available independently of the PC if a PCMCIA card should have an increased power requirement. This is particularly advantageous if the data-processing terminal is a laptop computer or a PDA.
Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of the invention claimed in claim 4. To meet the aforementioned requirements, i.e., if the card has an increased power requirement, there is provided, in ~addition to the apparatus described so far, a connecting device Z for insertion into the PCMCIA interface PCMCIA-S and for reception of the PCMCIA card CC. The connecting device has an additional connection to a power supply, so that an increased power requirement can be covered.
Claims (5)
1. Video-telephone apparatus comprising:
- a video/audio pickup device (CAM);
- a data-processing device (PC) with a video/audio-reproducing device (D, L) and a PCMCIA interface (PCMCIA-S) or a data interface and an adapter for simulating a PCMCIA interface; and - a PCMCIA card (CC) having an interface (CAM-S) providing the connection with the video/audio pickup device (CAM) and a communications interface (KOM-S) providing the connection with a communications network (ISDN).
- a video/audio pickup device (CAM);
- a data-processing device (PC) with a video/audio-reproducing device (D, L) and a PCMCIA interface (PCMCIA-S) or a data interface and an adapter for simulating a PCMCIA interface; and - a PCMCIA card (CC) having an interface (CAM-S) providing the connection with the video/audio pickup device (CAM) and a communications interface (KOM-S) providing the connection with a communications network (ISDN).
2. Video-telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein by means of the communications interface (KOM-S) a wire link to an ISDN network or to a broadband digital network is established.
3. Video-telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein by means of the communications interface (KOM-S) a wireless link to a mobile-radio network is established.
4. Video-telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a connecting device (Z) for insertion into the PCMCIA interface (PCMCIA-S) and for reception of the PCMCIA card (CC), said connecting device (Z) having a port for an additional power supply for the PCMCIA card.
5. A PCMCIA card (CC) having an interface ( CAM-S) providing the connection with a video/audio pickup device (CAM) and a communications interface (KOM-S) providing the connection with a communications network (ISDN), wherein video/audio signals are transmitted and received via the communications interface (KOM-S), wherein means are provided for compressing and transmitting the video/audio signals picked up by the video/audio pickup device (CAM), and wherein means are provided for receiving and decompressing the video/
audio signals received via the communications interface (KOM-S).
audio signals received via the communications interface (KOM-S).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE1995134450 DE19534450A1 (en) | 1995-09-16 | 1995-09-16 | Video phone device |
| DE19534450.2 | 1995-09-16 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2185580A1 true CA2185580A1 (en) | 1997-03-17 |
Family
ID=7772395
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2185580 Abandoned CA2185580A1 (en) | 1995-09-16 | 1996-09-13 | Video-telephone apparatus |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0763939A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH09191451A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU714263B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2185580A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE19534450A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH09265731A (en) * | 1996-01-24 | 1997-10-07 | Sony Corp | Speech reproducing device and its method, speech recording device and its method, speech recording and reproducing system, speech data transfer method, information receiving device, and reproducing device |
| KR19990043560A (en) * | 1997-11-29 | 1999-06-15 | 윤종용 | Video communication device and video communication method |
| DE19757246A1 (en) * | 1997-12-22 | 1999-06-24 | Thomson Brandt Gmbh | Digital image transmission method for portable reception device |
| DE29805046U1 (en) | 1998-03-19 | 1998-07-23 | Scm Microsystems Gmbh | Interface device between a semiconductor storage medium for multimedia content and a standard video connection |
| CN1203805A (en) * | 1998-06-04 | 1999-01-06 | 李胤良 | Health-care drink capable of preventing and curing menopathy |
| FI116957B (en) | 1998-10-29 | 2006-04-13 | Nokia Corp | The method of communication between the wireless device and the electronic device and the communication device |
| DE19961575A1 (en) * | 1999-12-21 | 2001-07-05 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Mobile phone with extended functionality |
| DE20014406U1 (en) * | 2000-08-21 | 2000-10-26 | Siemens AG, 80333 München | Transmission device for the transmission of video and audio data |
| AUPR300301A0 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2001-03-08 | Cagemaker Equipment Pty Ltd | A former associated with an apparatus for making cages |
| DE10131959A1 (en) | 2001-07-02 | 2003-01-23 | Siemens Ag | Resource-saving and fee-based establishment of a broadband connection |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5475441A (en) * | 1992-12-10 | 1995-12-12 | Eastman Kodak Company | Electronic camera with memory card interface to a computer |
| JPH0935032A (en) * | 1995-07-24 | 1997-02-07 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Ic card and information equipment terminal |
-
1995
- 1995-09-16 DE DE1995134450 patent/DE19534450A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1996
- 1996-08-20 EP EP96113286A patent/EP0763939A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1996-09-03 AU AU64426/96A patent/AU714263B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1996-09-13 CA CA 2185580 patent/CA2185580A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-09-17 JP JP8245310A patent/JPH09191451A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0763939A2 (en) | 1997-03-19 |
| DE19534450A1 (en) | 1997-03-20 |
| AU714263B2 (en) | 1999-12-23 |
| JPH09191451A (en) | 1997-07-22 |
| AU6442696A (en) | 1997-03-20 |
| EP0763939A3 (en) | 1997-11-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 20020913 |