System for conducting videoconferencing session over television network
View Patent ↗A videoconferencing system includes a camera, a microphone, and an interface module. The module is coupled a modem connected to a television network and is coupled to a television set and a set-top box. The module decodes encoded audio video signals received from the modem that are part of a videoconferencing session. The module also encodes audio and video signals received from the camera and the microphone and sends the encoded audio video signals to the modem to be part of the videoconferencing session. The module can selectively send decoded audio signals to the television set or can selectively send video received from the set-top box to the television display. In addition, the module can send compressed audio and video signals received from the microphone and camera to the set-top box for processing and delivery to the television display.
1. A videoconferencing system, comprising:
a camera transmitting video signals;
a microphone transmitting audio signals; and
a controller coupled to the camera, the microphone, a television set, a set-top box, and a modem, the modem connected to a television network, the set-top box connected to the television network, the controller configured to:
receive video signals from the modem and from the set-top box;
decode the video signals received from the modem,
selectively send uncompressed video signals to the television set with a video selector, the uncompressed video signals including the video signals received at the modem in a first selected mode, at the set-top box in a second selected mode, and at both the modem and the set-top box in a third selected mode,
send compressed video signals to the modem, the compressed video signals including video signals received from the camera,
decode encoded audio signals received from the modem,
selectively send uncompressed audio signals to the television set,
encode audio signals received from the microphone, and
send encoded audio signals to the modem.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the television network comprises a cable television network.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the video signals received from the camera comprise compressed or uncompressed video signals from the camera.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a control module controlling operation of the video selector to selectively send the uncompressed video signals including the video signals received at the modem, at the set-top box, and at both the modem and the set-top box to the television set.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein to selectively send uncompressed audio signals to the television set, the controller is configured to:
receive audio signals from the modem and from the set-top box; and
selectively send the uncompressed audio signals including the audio signal received at the modem in the first selected mode, at the set-top box in the second selected mode, and at both the modem and the set-top box in the third selected mode to the television set.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the system comprises an audio selector, and wherein the controller comprises a control module controlling operation of the audio selector to selectively send the uncompressed audio signals including the audio signals received at the modem, at the set-top box, and at both the modem and the set-top box to the television set.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprise a video module having a decoder to decode encoded video signals received from the modem and having an encoder to encode video signals received from the camera.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller comprise an audio module having a decoder to decode encoded audio signals received from the modem and having an encoder to encode audio signals received from the microphone.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a network interface module coupled to the modem, the network interface module establishing a videoconference session using H.323 protocol, Session Initiation Protocol, Internet Protocol, or an intermediate server.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the network interface module establishes a videoconference session with another videoconferencing device using the intermediate server.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises circuitry for compressing video, whereby the circuitry transmits compressed video signals to the controller.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller sends compressed video signals to the set-top box via a channel available on the set-top box for processing and delivery to the television set.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microphone comprises circuitry for compressing audio, whereby the circuitry transmits compressed audio signals to the controller.
14. A videoconferencing system, comprising:
a modem connected to a television network;
a camera transmitting video signals;
a microphone transmitting audio signals; and
an interface module coupled to a television set and a set-top box, the interface module comprising:
a video input coupled to the camera to receive video signals;
an audio input coupled to the microphone to receive audio signals;
a network interface module coupled to the modem to conduct a videoconference session;
a video module coupled to the network interface module, the video module having a video decoder for decoding encoded video signals received from the modem as part of the videoconference session and having a video encoder for encoding video signals received from the camera, the network interface sending encoded video signals to the modem as part of the videoconference session;
an audio module coupled to the network interface module, the audio module having an audio decoder decoding encoded audio signals received from the modem as part of the videoconference session and having an audio encoder encoding audio signals received from the microphone, the network interface sending encoded audio signals to the modem as part of the videoconference session; and
a control module selectively controlling a video selector to send uncompressed video signals to the television set, the uncompressed video signals including the video signals received at the modem in a first selected mode, at the set-top box in a second selected mode, and at both the modem and the set-top box in a third selected mode, the control module selectively controlling an audio selector to send uncompressed audio signals to the television set, the uncompressed audio signals including the audio signals received at the modem in the first selected mode, at the set-top box in the second selected mode, and at both the modem and the set-top box in the third selected mode.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the television network comprises a cable television network.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the camera comprises circuitry for compressing video, whereby the circuitry transmits compressed video signals to the interface module.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the interface module sends compressed video and compressed audio to the set-top box via a channel available on the set-top box for processing and delivery to the television set.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the microphone comprises circuitry for compressing audio, whereby the circuitry transmits compressed audio signals to the interface module.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the network interface module establishes a videoconference session with another videoconferencing system using H.323 protocol, Session Initiation Protocol, or Internet Protocol.
20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the network interface module establishes a videoconference session with another videoconferencing system using an intermediate server.
21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control module comprises a user interface module receiving user selections used to control the video selector and the audio selector.