Webcam-based interface for initiating two-way video communication
View Patent ↗A plurality of user-selectable video streams are displayed on a first terminal, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network. By selecting one of the displayed video streams, a user may establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
1. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and
establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a pre-recorded video stream in response to the video camera associated with the selected video stream being currently inactive.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying comprises:
arranging the plurality of video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
moving the video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving comprises:
selectively receiving video streams corresponding to entries in a video phonebook.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting comprises:
moving a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device; and
detecting user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for establishing two-way video communication.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing comprises:
displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;
capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;
transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;
receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and
displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
enlarging the selected video stream as displayed on the first terminal relative to the non-selected video streams, wherein the enlarged video stream comprises the video communication window.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
caching at least one video stream generated by a video camera.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one video stream is cached at a location selected from the group consisting of the terminal from which the video stream originated, the first terminal, a satellite broadcast center, and a cable head-end.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
retrieving a cached copy of an earlier-in-time segment of the selected video stream; and
displaying the cached copy of the earlier-in-time segment on the first terminal.
14. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream;
sending the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream; and
establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises a cable head-end.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises a satellite broadcast center.
17. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;
simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
establishing a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;
displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;
capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;
transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;
receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and
displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.
19. A method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;
simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and
establishing two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.
20. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and
establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
21. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.
22. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a pre-recorded video stream in response to the video camera associated with the selected video stream being currently inactive.
23. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein displaying comprises:
arranging the plurality of video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.
24. The computer program product of claim 20 , the method further comprising:
moving the video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.
25. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.
26. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein receiving comprises:
selectively receiving video streams corresponding to entries in a video phonebook.
27. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein detecting comprises:
moving a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device; and
detecting user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for establishing two-way video communication.
28. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein establishing comprises:
displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;
capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;
transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;
receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and
displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
29. The computer program product of claim 28 , the method further comprising:
enlarging the selected video stream as displayed on the first terminal relative to the non-selected video streams, wherein the enlarged video stream comprises the video communication window.
30. The computer program product of claim 20 , the method further comprising:
caching at least one video stream generated by a video camera.
31. The computer program product of claim 30 , wherein the at least one video stream is cached at a location selected from the group consisting of the terminal from which the video stream originated, the first terminal, a satellite broadcast center, and a cable head-end.
32. The computer program product of claim 30 , the method further comprising:
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
retrieving a cached copy of an earlier-in-time segment of the selected video stream; and
displaying the cached copy of the earlier-in-time segment on the first terminal.
33. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream;
sending the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream; and
establishing two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
34. The computer program product of claim 33 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises a cable head-end.
35. The computer program product of claim 33 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises a satellite broadcast center.
36. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;
simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
establishing a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream;
displaying a video communication window on the first terminal;
capturing a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal;
transmitting the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon;
receiving a second video stream from the second terminal; and
displaying the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
37. The computer program product of claim 36 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.
38. A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the method comprising:
receiving at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;
simultaneously displaying the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
detecting a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and
establishing two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.
39. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:
a stream reception component configured to receive at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and
a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
40. The system of claim 39 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.
41. The system of claim 39 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a pre-recorded video stream in response to the video camera associated with the selected video stream being currently inactive.
42. The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream display component is further configured to arrange the plurality of video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.
43. The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream display component is further configured to move the video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.
44. The system of claim 39 , wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.
45. The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream reception component is further configured to selectively receive video streams corresponding to entries in a video phonebook.
46. The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream selection component is further configured to move a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device and
detect user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for establishing two-way video communication.
47. The system of claim 39 , wherein the video communication component is further configured to display a video communication window on the first terminal; capture a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal; transmit the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon; receive a second video stream from the second terminal; and display the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
48. The system of claim 47 , wherein the video communication component is further configured to enlarge the selected video stream as displayed on the first terminal relative to the non-selected video streams, wherein the enlarged video stream comprises the video communication window.
49. The system of claim 39 , further comprising:
a stream caching component configured to cache at least one video stream generated by a video camera.
50. The system of claim 49 , wherein the at least one video stream is cached at a location selected from the group consisting of the terminal from which the video stream originated, the first terminal, a satellite broadcast center, and a cable head-end.
51. The system of claim 49 , wherein the stream selection component is further configured to detect another user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; wherein the stream caching component is further configured to retrieve a cached copy of an earlier-in-time segment of the selected video stream; and wherein the stream display component is further configured to display the cached copy of the earlier-in-time segment on the first terminal.
52. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:
a stream reception component configured to receive at an intermediate network node a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal;
a stream compositing component configured to combining the plurality of video streams into a composite video stream, wherein the plurality of video streams within the composite video stream are arranged in a ticker format;
a stream transmission component configured to send the composite video stream to a first terminal for display thereon;
a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the plurality of video streams being displayed within the composite video stream; and
a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first terminal and the terminal associated with the selected video stream.
53. The system of claim 52 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises a cable head-end.
54. The system of claim 52 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises a satellite broadcast center.
55. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of terminals connected by a network, the system comprising:
a stream reception component configured to receive at a first terminal a plurality of video streams, each video stream being associated with a different terminal;
a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first terminal, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed;
a video communication component configured to establish a two-way video communication channel between the first terminal and a second terminal associated with the selected video stream; display a video communication window on the first terminal; capture a first video stream using a video camera associated with the first terminal; transmit the first video stream to the second terminal for display thereon; receive a second video stream from the second terminal; and display the second video stream in the video communication window on the first terminal.
56. The system of claim 55 , wherein at least one video stream comprises a live video stream generated by a webcam.
57. A system for establishing two-way video communication between a plurality of interactive television systems connected by a network, the system comprising:
a stream reception component configured to receive at a first interactive television system a plurality of video streams, each video stream being generated by webcam associated with a different interactive television system;
a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of video streams on the first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of video streams are arranged in a ticker format;
a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the video streams being displayed; and
a video communication component configured to establish two-way video communication between the first interactive television system and the interactive televisions system associated with the selected video stream.