Method and apparatus for having video in a two-way radio
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving an audio signal and/or a video signal with a two-way radio. The two-way radio comprises a transmitter system and a receiver system. The transmitter system is adapted to transmit a digitized video signal and a digitized audio signal. The receiver system is adapted to receive a second digitized video signal and a second digitized audio signal.
1. A device, comprising:
a two-way radio comprising a transmitter system and a receiver system, wherein the transmitter system is adapted to transmit an outgoing digitized video signal, wherein the transmitter system is adapted to transmit an outgoing digitized audio signal, wherein the receiver system is adapted to receive an incoming digitized video signal, and wherein the receiver system is adapted to receive an incoming digitized audio signal,
wherein the transmitter system comprises an encoder block adapted to compress an input digitized video signal, an input digitized audio signal, or both the input digitized video signal and the input digitized audio signal to produce the outgoing digitized video signal, the outgoing digitized audio signal, or both the outgoing digitized video signal and the outgoing digitized audio signal, the encoder block comprising:
a video encoder for compressing the input digitized video signal;
an audio encoder for compressing the input digitized audio signal;
a multiplexer coupled to the video encoder and the audio encoder to receive output signals of the video encoder and the audio encoder; and
a first switching means including multiple inputs to receive one or both of the input digitized video signal and the input digitized audio signal, the first switching means including multiple outputs connected to the video encoder and the audio encoder to transmit one or both of the input digitized video signal and the input digitized audio signal to the video encoder and the audio encoder.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system comprises a decoder block adapted to decompress the incoming digitized video signal, the incoming digitized audio signal, or both the incoming digitized video signal and the incoming digitized audio signal, the encoder block comprising:
a video decoder for decompressing the incoming video signal;
an audio decoder for decompressing the incoming audio signal;
a demultiplexer to demultiplex incoming signals into the incoming video signal and the incoming audio signal; and
a second switching means including multiple inputs to receive one or both of the incoming digitized video signal and the incoming digitized audio signal from the demultiplexer, the first switching means including multiple outputs connected to the video decoder and the audio decoder to transmit one or both of the incoming digitized video signal and the incoming digitized audio signal to the video decoder and the audio decoder.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the encoder block comprises a hardware encoder block.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the encoder block comprises a software encoder block.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter system further comprises a video input device for accepting a video signal, an audio input device for accepting an audio signal, an analog to digital (A/D) convertor block for digitizing the video signal and the audio signal, a modulator for modulating at least one of the digitized video and audio signals so as to generate at least one modulated signal, a transmitter for transmitting the at least one modulated signal, and an antenna coupled to the transmitter, and wherein the receiver system comprises a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving a second modulated signal, a demodulator for demodulating the second modulated signal, a digital to analog (D/A) convertor block for converting the incoming digitized video signal into an analog video signal and the incoming digitized audio signal into an analog audio signal, a video output device for displaying the analog video signal, and an audio output device for outputting the analog audio signal.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the video input device comprises a video camera, and wherein the video output device comprises a monitor.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the monitor is selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor and a cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor.
8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the monitor is selected from the group consisting of a color monitor and a monochrome monitor.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the two-way radio is adapted to transmit and receive audio and video signals over a service selected from the group consisting of Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the input digitized video signal and the input digitized audio signal are both digitally compressed using a digital compression standard selected from the group consisting of Moving Pictures Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4) and H.263, and wherein the incoming digitized video signal and the incoming digitized audio signal are both digitally decompressed using a digital decompression standard selected from the group consisting of MPEG-4 and H.263.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the digitally compressed video signal and the digitally compressed audio signal are both transmitted in a bandwidth that is in a range of about 10 Kilobits per second (Kbps) to about 20 Kbps.
12. A method, comprising:
providing a two-way radio comprising a transmitter system, wherein the transmitter system comprises a video input device, an audio input device, an analog to digital A/D converter block, an encoder block, a modulator, and a transmitter;
receiving and digitizing, by the A/D converter block, a video signal from the video input device and an audio signal from the audio input device;
digitally compressing, by the encoder block, the digitized audio signal, the digitized video signal, or both the digitized audio signal and the digitized video signal;
modulating, by the modulator, the digitally compressed audio signal, the digitally compressed video signal, or both the digitally compressed audio signal and the digitally compressed video signal so as to generate a digitally compressed modulated signal; and
transmitting, by the transmitter, the digitally compressed modulated signal,
wherein the encoder block comprises a video encoder, an audio encoder, and a multiplexer coupled to the video encoder and the audio encoder, wherein the video encoder digitally compresses the video signal, and wherein the audio encoder digitally compresses the audio signal, the method further comprising:
switching by a switching means for switching the digitized audio signal to the audio encoder, the digitized video signal to the video encoder, or both the digitized audio signal to the audio encoder and the digitized video signal to the video encoder, the switching means including multiple inputs to receive one or both of the digitized video signal and the digitized audio signal from the A/D converter block, the switching means including multiple outputs connected to the video encoder and the audio encoder to transmit one or both of the digitized video signal and the digitized audio signal to the video encoder and the audio encoder.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the encoder block comprises a hardware encoder block.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the encoder block comprises a software encoder block.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the video input device comprises a video camera.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting the digitally compressed modulated signal over a service selected from the group consisting of Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein digitally compressing the digitized audio signal and the digitized video signal uses a digital compression standard selected from the group consisting of Moving Pictures Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4).
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting the digitally compressed modulated signal in a bandwidth that is in a range of about 10 Kilobits per second (K/bs) to about 20 K/bs.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
wherein the two way radio further comprises a receiver system, wherein the receiver system comprises, a receiver, a demodulator, a decoder block, a digital to analog D/A converter block, a video output device and an audio output device;
receiving, by the receiver, a second digitally compressed modulated signal from a second two-way radio;
demodulating, by the demodulator, the second digitally compressed modulated signal;
decompressing, by the decoder block, the second digitally compressed signal comprising a second digitally compressed audio signal, a second digitally compressed video signal, or both the second digitally compressed audio signal and the second digitally compressed video signal;
converting, by the D/A converter block, any of said decompressed digitized signals into analog signals; and outputting the analog signals to the audio output device, the video output device, or both the audio output device and the video output device,
wherein the decoder block comprises a video decoder, an audio decoder, and a demultiplexer coupled to the video decoder and the audio decoder, wherein the video decoder decompresses the second digitally compressed video signal, and wherein the audio decoder decompresses the second digitally compressed audio signal, the method further comprising:
switching by a second switching means for switching the second digitally compressed audio signal to the audio decoder, the second digitally compressed video signal to the video decoder, or both the second digitally compressed audio signal to the audio decoder and the second digitally compressed video signal to the video decoder, the second switching means including multiple inputs to receive one or both of the second digitally compressed audio signal and the second digitally compressed video signal, the second switching means including multiple outputs connected to the video decoder and the audio decoder to transmit one or both of the second digitally compressed audio signal and the second digitally compressed video signal to the video decoder and the audio decoder.
20. The method of claim 19 , the decoder block comprises a hardware decoder block.
21. The method of claim 19 , the decoder block comprises a software decoder block.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the video output device comprises a monitor, and wherein audio output device comprises an amplifier and a speaker.
23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising receiving the second digitally compressed modulated signal over a service selected from the group consisting of Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second digitally compressed signal is compressed using a digital compression standard selected from the group consisting of Moving Pictures Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4).
25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising receiving the second digitally compressed signal in a bandwidth that is in a range of about 10 Kilobits per second (K/bs) to about 20 K/bs.