Two-way mobile video/audio/data interactive companion (MVIC) system
A roaming videoconferencing (VTC) system incorporates a portable VTC device with client bridge wireless connectivity that couples to the closest access point (AP) assembly with FCC compliant, enhanced range. Use of APs in combination with amplified directional antennas is successfully demonstrated for two-way VTC, even given their generally-known low Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and half-duplex broadcasting. Optional video, audio and data wireless and capabilities are incorporated into the portable VTC device. Facilities that have a connection to Internet or an ISDN public switched telephone network may thus flexibly provide high-quality VTC to widely spaced parts of the facilities, grounds or work site without the inconvenience or expense of placement of ISDN lines.
1. A remote videoconferencing system, comprising: first and second diversity antennas; a wireless access point in communication with a digital data network having a transmit channel in communication with the first diversity antenna and a receive channel in communication with the second diversity antenna; an amplifier coupled to a selected one of the transmit and receive channels of the wireless access point to the respective one of the first and second diversity antenna to increase transmission range to the portable videoconferencing unit; and a portable videoconferencing unit, comprising: a carrier, an antenna in communication with the wireless access point, a digital bridge coupled to the antenna, a group videoconferencing system connected to the digital bridge, a portable power supply, and a display wherein the amplifier further comprises a combination solid state amplifier coupled to the transmit channel and a low noise amplifier coupled to the receive channel, the amplifier further comprising switching circuitry responsive to a transmit/receive status of the wireless access point to actively switch between operation of the solid state amplifier and the low noise amplifier.
2. A remote videoconferencing system, comprising: a plurality of directional antennas, each antenna having directional antenna gain, each of the plurality of directional antennas aimed differently in azimuth; a wireless access point in communication with a digital data network and with the plurality of directional antennas; and a portable videoconferencing unit, comprising: a carrier, an antenna in communication with the wireless access point, a digital bridge coupled to the antenna, a group videoconferencing system connected to the digital bridge, a portable power supply, and a display, wherein said remote videoconferencing system wherein further comprising increased transmission and reception at the access point is achieved by incorporating a bandpass filter channel selector, a programmable antenna selector having a plurality of selectable channels corresponding to and coupled via a bandpass filter and low noise amplifier to a selected one of the plurality of directional antennas.