Video phone system
A system allocates channel bandwidth based on the data received from a plurality of remote sources. A de-multiplexer/priority circuit separates two or more different data streams into their components parts. A stream modification driver modifies one or more characteristics of the data received from the de-multiplexer/priority circuit based on a priority assigned to the data by the de-multiplexer/priority circuit. The de-multiplexer/priority circuit determines the data transfer rates for each of the different data streams based on the assigned priority.
1. A computer implemented method of facilitating a user's interaction with a communication device having a display comprising:
detecting a plurality of inputs to the communication device when the communication device is processing a telephone call;
assigning a priority to each of a plurality of virtual frames rendered on the display of the communication device based on a bandwidth allocated to each of the plurality of inputs to the communication device; and
adjusting at least one of the plurality of virtual frames rendered on the display of the communication device based on the assigned priority;
where the adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames rendered on the display of the communication device comprises highlighting the appearance of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames based on the bandwidth allocated to at least one of the plurality of inputs.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 where the display simulates a physical motion by rendering the plurality of virtual frames as moving images on the display of the communication device.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 where the movement associated with the images is rendered locally.
4. The computer implemented method of claim 2 where the movement associated with the images is distributed to local and the geographically separate remote users so that the remote users may view a customized display or share a common display.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 where the plurality of inputs comprise a plurality of channels and the adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames is associated with at least one of the plurality of channels that is active.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 where the communication device comprises an audio system that routes multiple audio streams through panning.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising disposing customized graphical images or skins near the plurality of virtual frames.
8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 where the customized graphical images or skins comprise a plurality of advertising messages.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 where the adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames is based on input from a local user and a remote user.
10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 where the adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames is shared with a plurality of users through a network.
11. The computer implemented method of claim 10 where the display comprises a common interactive display that renders the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames in real time.
12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising a stream modification driver resident to a server or a server cluster that adjusts the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames.
13. The computer implemented method of claim 1 where the communication device comprises a portable electronic device.
14. A computer implemented method that facilitates a user's interaction with a portable communication device having a display comprising:
detecting a plurality of channels to the portable communication device when the portable communication device is converting electrical signals into sound;
assigning a priority to each one of a plurality of virtual frames rendered on the display based on a bandwidth allocated to each of the plurality of channels to the portable communication device; and
adjusting at least one of the plurality of virtual frames rendered on the display based on the assigned priority;
where the adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames comprises altering the appearance of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames based on the bandwidth allocated to one of the plurality of channels.
15. The computer implemented method of claim 14 where the adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames is based on input from a local user and a remote source.
16. The computer implemented method of claim 14 where the adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of virtual frames is shared with a plurality of users through a network.