WO1995008245B1

WO1995008245B1 - Video communication controller

Info

Publication number: WO1995008245B1
Application number: PCT/US1994/010345
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1994-09-12
Publication date: 1995-04-13

Abstract

A module containing digital compression and decompression circuitry (320) is used in conjunction with a system whereby a video program may be communicated over a telephone line to an RF broadcaster to be received by individuals at remote locations equipped with one of the modules. In the preferred embodiment, the RF transmitter is an FM transmitter, and the video broadcasts are modulated onto a subcarrier, such as an SCA subcarrier. The module has various other inputs and outputs adapted for connection to other video-related devices and/or a personal computer which may be used for control or program production. A configuration is also described whereby multiple modules may be used in conjunction with a conference control module enabling multiple participants to view one another as part of a gathering such as classroom instruction situation.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 10 March 1995 (10.03.95); original claims 1, and 5 amended; original claims 6-8 cancelled; original claims 9-19 amended and renumbered as claims 6-16; new claims 17-19 added (6 pages)]

1. A video communications system, comprising: radio receiver circuitry operative to recover a digitally compressed video program from an RF carrier signal, including programs characterized in having a plurality of sequential frames representative of motion video; decompression circuitry operative to receive said digitally compressed video program and output a decompressed version of said program; and means for outputting said decompressed program to a display device for viewing of said program.

2. The video communications system of claim 1 wherein said carrier signal is frequency-modulated;

3. The video communications system of claim 2 wherein said carrier signal is an FM subcarrier.

4. The video communications system of claim 1, further including an interface in communication with said decompression circuitry, operative to send and receive a digitally compressed video program over a telephone line.

5. The video communications system of claim 1, further including: an input to receive a non-compressed video program from an external source; digital data-compression circuitry operative to generate a compressed version of said program; and an output to transmit said externally sourced program in digitally compressed form over a telephone line.

6. The video communication system of claim 5, further including a plurality of said inputs and image- integration means whereby programs received through said inputs may be arranged in separate windows of a single frame of said program prior to transmission.

7. The method of delivering a video program, comprising the steps of: producing a digitally compressed motion video program; modulating said motion video program onto an RF carrier; broadcasting said modulated program via radio transmission; recovering said video program from said RF carrier at a remote location; decompressing said video program,- and viewing said motion video program on a display device.

8. The method of claim 7, including the step of broadcasting said digitally compressed video program on an FM subcarrier.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of producing a digitally compressed motion video program includes: receiving a plurality of such programs from one or more program providers; and scheduling the broadcast of said programs on an RF carrier.

10. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of encrypting at least one of said scheduled video programs prior to the broadcasting thereof; and providing remote locations authorized to receive said video program with a key which may be used to decrypt said program.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of receiving said digitally compressed video programs from said program providers includes receiving such programs over a phone line.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of receiving said video program over a phone line includes the steps of: receiving a video program in the form of a plurality of segments over a plurality of phone lines; and reconstructing said video program by reassembling said segments.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of digitally compressing each of said segments.

14. A video communications controller, comprising: an enclosure; a first connector disposed on said enclosure for connection to a source of an outgoing video program,- a digital data compressor disposed within said enclosure to receive and digitally compress said outgoing video program; a second connecter disposed on said enclosure for attachment to a telephone line; circuitry connected between said digital data compressor and said second connector whereby said digitally compressed video program may be transmitted over said phone line,- an antenna; a radio receiver disposed within said enclosure and connected to the antenna, said receiver being operative to tune an RF broadcast; a digital decompressor disposed within said enclosure to receive and decompress a digitally compressed incoming video program,- a digital-to-analog converter disposed within said enclosure to receive said decompressed incoming digital video program and output said program in analog form; and a third connector disposed on said enclosure and connected to the output of said digital-to-analog converter, whereby said incoming video program may be displayed on a video monitor connected to said third connector.

15. The video communications controller of claim 14, further comprising: an SCA adapter disposed within said enclosure and connected to the F radio receiver, said adapted being operative to detect and demodulate a digitally compressed incoming video program transmitted on an FM SCA sideband. ^■c

16. The video communications controller of claim 15, further comprising an A-D converter disposed within said enclosure to receive and digitize said outgoing video program.

5 17. A video communications controller, comprising: a first input to receive an outgoing video program,- a digital data compressor to digitally compress 10 said outgoing video program,- an output for delivery of said compressed program to a telephone line; a radio receiver operative to tune an RF broadcast containing a digitally compressed incoming video 15 program; a digital decompressor to receive and decompress said incoming video program; and a digital-to-analog converter to receive said decompressed incoming digital video program and output said 20 program in analog form for display on an attached video monitor.

18. The video communications controller of claim 20, further comprising: an SCA adapter connected to said radio receiver, 25 said adapted being operative to detect and demodulate a digitally compressed incoming video program transmitted on an FM SCA sideband.

19. The video communications controller of claim 20, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter to receive and digitize said outgoing video program.