CN1155958A - Device and method for remote audio-visual communication using digital network - Google Patents

Abstract

A videoconferencing network of audiovisual communication terminals is interconnected by a telephone network. Each terminal is activated only when the balance in a user account has been read and the account has been made available for debiting. The terminal includes a monitor system for playing out and receiving voice and picture information, an interface system for conditioning signals passing between the monitor system and the telephone network, and a database which contains the locations and telephone numbers of other terminals of the videoconferencing network. The terminal further includes a display of information from the database, a pointing device by means of which a user can make a selection from the display by indicating the relevant position in the display, and a device for automatically dialing up the selected remote terminal.

Description

Device and method for remote audio-visual communication using digital network

The invention relates to a teleconference terminal and its network, in particular to an audio-visual teleconference terminal interconnected via an accessible public digital telephone network.

The public has long enjoyed the convenience of coin-operated phones and magnetic card phones, which allow users to make calls when they are away for work or travel, or when they do not have a phone at home.

The situation is different in video conferencing terminals. Although there is a great demand for video conferencing services, the terminal equipment for this purpose is limited to a narrow market today.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the AT&T PICTUREPHONE videophone provided an audiovisual communication service between accessible public equipment, but this service was not widely adopted because it largely lacked altitude. automation, and thus cannot be conveniently used. In the 1970s and 1980s, AT&T provided the PICTUREPHONE conferencing service, which was not widely accepted by the public due to some of the same shortcomings as the early videophone service.

These days, AT&T offers a standard conference calling service, primarily for business use. The service overcomes many of the deficiencies of earlier videophone services, but does not bring convenience to the general public and is beyond the financial means of most users.

The birth of the desktop video system made it possible for individuals to participate in conference calls. However, the service fee and equipment investment of products and services of personal video teleconferencing greatly exceed the general telephone service. Therefore, even the latest generation of desktop video systems still have difficulty attracting casual or occasional users of teleconferencing services.

Therefore, there is still a lack of video teleconferencing equipment generally available to the public so far, a two-way video teleconferencing equipment that is carried out between ordinary places that can be entered, and adopts a moderate price and a one-time charge.

We have provided such an apparatus. Broadly speaking, our invention relates to a video teleconferencing network in which audiovisual communication terminals are interconnected by a telephone network. Each terminal can only be activated when the balance on the user's bill has been read and the bill can be credited. The terminal includes a monitor system for playing and receiving sound and image information; an interface system for adjusting signals transmitted between the monitor system and the telephone network. The terminal also includes a database containing the locations and telephone numbers of other terminals of the videoconferencing network. The terminal also includes a database information display, a pointing device by which the user can make selections from the display by pointing to relevant positions on the display. The terminal also includes a means for automatically dialing a selected remote terminal.

Fig. 1 is the audio-visual telephone terminal network of the present invention connected by public switched telephone network (PSDN);

Figure 2 shows a card activation system according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the interface of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows information transfer according to the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a reservation system according to the invention.

Turning to FIG. 1 , an aspect of the invention is a network 5 having audiovisual teleconferencing terminals 10 interconnected by a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 20 . In order to ensure sufficient capacity to carry audio and video communication signals, it is desirable that the public network 20 provide ISDN services or equivalent services between each terminal and its local switching network.

For the convenience of managing telephones, it is very advantageous to configure the public network 20 to define a network 5 (hereinafter referred to as "T/C network") with teleconferencing terminals as a virtual private network (VPN), for example, a Software-defined digital network (SDDN).

The VPN network provides a bearer service. The network emulates a dedicated line network, but is logically set in the public network. The VPN service can be used commercially through the common carrier of the telecommunication industry. For example, AT&T offers a software-defined network initially intended to provide communications services for industries with many-site and specialized communications requirements. In this service, the information used to process the call is stored in a database that can be accessed during each call. This technique is briefly described in Newton's Correspondence Dictionary, Flatiron Publishing Company (1994) pp957-958, and 1123-1124. In the U.S. patent No. 4,348,554 granted to R. Asmuth on December 7, 1982, specific devices of the VPN technology were introduced.

The virtual private network is configured such that the bill for use of the PSTN is sent to a central service provider who may collect the fee by, for example, selling a debit card to the user. When these cards are used to activate the terminal 10, corresponding expenses are debited from the account held by the cards.

This card activation system is shown in FIG. 2 . As shown in the figure, the card reader 30 controls the component 40 to activate the terminals, make the terminals communicate with each other, and receive user instructions. In our presently preferred embodiment, the activation function of the component 40 is performed by software stored in the computer 50 .

One type of card used here is a smart card, which contains a solid memory chip. The card is then ready to be sold to the user by retaining a record of the amount of currency units in a prepaid bill in memory at reduced cost. Preferably, each card also stores a serial number unique to that card.

As an example, the card remains in the card reader throughout the conference call (hereinafter referred to as "the call"). The monitor 60 includes a display screen, such as a CRT fluorescent screen, when the account on the card is about to be used up, an alarm will be sent to the user. or ongoing announcements. At the end of the call, the balance on the account is amended and recorded on the card, and the charge to the card depends on the type of call. For example, the database contained in the terminal stores the telephone numbers of the locations of the terminals in the network 5 (this database is also free to store the telephone numbers of terminals not part of the private network, these terminals are owned and controlled by the participants, and they express their wish to Subscribe to the database so that they can be dialed out and received automatically via the PSTN, such terminals are referred to herein as "off-net" terminals). In association with each stored telephone number, the charge price is also easily stored. For example, local, domestic long distance, and international calls can all be charged to the debit card at different rates.

Currently, for telephony, we envisage only charging the originator of the telephony, but as an optional feature of the invention, each participant could be required to insert their card into an external card reader to gain access to the terminal. Like entering a telephone booth by opening a door.

Other optional charging schemes are also obvious, and thus also belong to the scope of the present invention.

For example, the owner of the house where each terminal is located can charge the user for using the house, and this charge can be deducted from the cards at both ends.

As indicated, the computer 50 is in communication with the card reader 30, the computer 50 counts the calls for billing purposes, and controls the card reader to debit the corresponding card.

Each terminal 10 likewise includes a database 70 , typically located within computer 50 , which lists the locations and telephone numbers of other terminals of the T/C network 5 . Shown in the figure as component 80, its function is to retrieve data from and store data in the database.

In order to simplify the use of the terminal, it is very convenient to have an auto-dial function 90, which is generally also located in the computer.

This function will automatically dial to the specified terminal (that is, input the specified terminal phone number), connect the required call, and the user can display the location of the terminal selected by dialing through a simple manual operation.

For example, our presently preferred embodiment includes a touch-enabled surface that incorporates a computer-driven graphics display device, typically a VGA/SGA monitor, that can be used with the same display device as monitor 60. , In addition, also can provide an independent device with touch start function and display function, this independent device is represented by touch panel 100 in the figure, and this touch panel is more typically equipped with a liquid crystal display driven by computer 50 ( LCD).

In a touch-activated display device, a series of successive selection fields of progressively smaller size may be displayed. For example, select a continent, then select a country in the selected continent, then select a region, city, location, and display each area with a set of graphics or icons. He wants a graphic or icon to indicate its selection.

Alternatively, the different venues are displayed as a map that scales when the selection is zoomed out. Each sequential selection is displayed by touching an area on the map, or by touching an icon superimposed on the map.

It should be noted that both terminal locations that are part of the PN and non-network terminal locations can be displayed on these displays.

The first field also contains a touch symbol for "manual dial" selection, and if this touch symbol is selected, the next field displays a telephone keypad for receiving manually entered telephone numbers.

Ideally, each field after the first contains a "go back" (return) image.

More preferably, at least some of the fields also include a volume control (eg, represented by a bar or series of levels) and a Start Talk/Stop Talk button. Initially, this image shows a "Start" button that, when touched, initiates the autodial feature. Once the call is connected, the word "start" changes to "stop," and touching the icon again ends the ongoing call. These functions are performed by the computer 50, which, as indicated, is in communication with the touch pad.

The monitor 60 includes a camera and a microphone for receiving local audio-visual information; a display screen and a speaker for reproducing remote audio-visual information.

Input and output signals may be input to and output from the monitor by a data processing function represented by component 110 in the figure, which function is typically provided by computer 50 .

The data transmission between the terminal 10 and the telephone network 20 is completed by the communication interface 120, which adjusts the input and output signals carrying audio, video and digital data, so that these signals can be transmitted between the computer and the monitor on the one hand. Switching, on the other hand can switch between telephone networks.

The current preferred implementation of the interface (120) is shown in FIG. 3, which includes a BRI interface card 130 and an NT-1 network terminal interface device 140. As noted, in order to carry all signals through interface 120, the local facility network should provide ISDN service. Preferably the local facility network includes a BRI line 150 to the interface 120, because the capacity of this line can carry a 128Kbit/Sec video signal. As shown, the BRI line is connected to the NT-1 network, which performs the conversion of digital information to digital information. NT-1 is in turn connected to an interface card 130 .

Returning to Fig. 2, at present our terminal equipment 10 is manufactured around the commercial AT&T VIS-TIUM ^® system, and the basic system includes: a P-5 computer system, an audio system, a keyboard, an NT-1, a 14.4 modem, A 1300 system board, a BRI card and other peripherals. The touch sheet 100 is similar to a touch-sensitive LCD fluorescent screen and is commercially available, manufactured by Phoenix Group, and corresponding cards and card readers are also commercially available, typically manufactured by GEMPLUS International Card Company, 656 Quince.Orchard Rd, Suite 610, Gaithersburg. Maryland 20878.

The video display portion of monitor 60 is preferably an NTSC formatted video monitor, which can be run at a lower resolution if desired, so that the same data is displayed on a (lower resolution) LCD touch panel. rate, the monitor can be controlled.

When using the P-5 computer system, both the video monitor and the touchpad can be conveniently controlled by a single controller card, which can be modified, if desired, to provide a compatible channel for interfacing with the touchpad.

For privacy and for isolation from distracting audiovisual interference, it is desirable to enclose the terminal 10 in the communication room, both of which can be conveniently done, for example, in the form of fiberglass panels with lighting and ventilation. Through the additional icons displayed in at least several areas of the touch panel 100, the brightness can be controlled arbitrarily.

Returning to FIG. 1 , it is required that the network 5 also includes a management office ( 160 ), which generally includes at least some equipment identical or similar to the terminal 10 , such as a computer 50 , a database 70 and an interface 120 . In the management office's database, information about the condition, location and telephone number of each terminal 10 is stored initially, and optionally a series of known counterfeit numbers about the card.

As shown in Figure 4, this information is sent to each terminal through the network 5 together with a sequence that can identify the information as management information, and when the sequence is recognized, the information is stored in the database 70 of each terminal .

Instead, each terminal stores only limited information about the use of that terminal, this "usage" information including the serial number of each card that initiated the call, the duration of each call, and the destination of each call. When the application is initiated by a corresponding code sequence from the management office, the terminal computer that has spoken reads the "used" information from its local database and transmits it to the management office.

Another function which may optionally be performed by the management office 160 is that of an appointment system whereby a user contacts the management office by telephone 170 or other suitable communication facility in order to schedule an appointment. A human customer representative (human customer representative) or suitably through the office computer 160 designate a time period and two or more terminal positions to be connected, so the office 160 transmits these time periods as management information to the reserved terminal, A list of additional charges for this service is also attached.

At each local terminal, when the reserved period is approaching, use this management information to create a schedule and communicate it to the local computer. To complete this work, for example, the computer can query the local Appointment time slot records.

In fact, if the user tries to start the terminal within a period close to the appointment, for example an hour, before the agreed period begins, the monitor will display a warning signal that the usage time is limited. Nevertheless, if the user continues to make calls, the monitor will at least once again issue an alert signal before the call is terminated by the local computer.

It is advantageous for the person who made the reservation to provide his own card serial number when making the appointment, so that this serial number information is transmitted to the local terminal together with other information about the reservation, and this identification number is actually used to activate the terminal connection. The serial numbers of the phone call are compared, and only when these serial numbers are consistent, the call is allowed.

A similar authorization process can be performed based on the serial number on the billing card held by the user receiving the call. In many cases, however, it may not be necessary for the receiving user to use a card.

Optionally, at the beginning of the agreed time period, the phone user does not need to manually select his destination, the call will be connected automatically. At the beginning of the agreed time period, the above-mentioned schedule may, for example, trigger an instruction to load the prearranged receiving telephone numbers into the automatic dialing means of the terminal.

The above discussion has focused on two-user telephony, however it should be noted that multi-user telephony can also be easily implemented using the network of the present invention, using suitable transmission equipment at the local terminal 10. In addition, multi-user telephony is possible through a business teleconferencing service with multi-port video bridging, which is AT&T Video Go Center.

Claims (28)

1. A network of audiovisual communication terminals interconnected by a communication medium, each of which includes: a) a monitor system for playing and receiving sound and image information, the monitor system including a display screen; b) a card reader which can be used to activate the terminal only after the billing balance on the billing card has been read; c) a communication interface device for conditioning signals transmitted by the communication medium to the monitor system, and signals from said system to said medium; d) a dialing device for connecting with other terminals of the designated network; e) a target database for other terminals in the network; f) a retrieval and display device for retrieving information about said other terminals in the target database, and displaying on a fluorescent screen a selectable list of other terminals that can be connected in response to said information; and g) A user-activated selection device that automatically directs the dialing device to a terminal selected by the user from a displayed list. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the card reader is further adapted to reduce said balance, recording the reduced balance on the card after at least two calls between said terminals. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication medium is the public telephone network. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user activated selection means comprises a touch sensitive display means. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object database includes information about the location of other terminals of the network, and the selectable list, in the form of at least one map, is displayed on the screen. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the retrieving and displaying means is adapted to display the list as a map at a larger scale, and in response to the selection means, at least one selected from a plurality of maps at a smaller scale will be displayed map. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein a) The medium of communication is the public telephone network; and b) The public telephone network includes means for defining said Internet of terminals as a private network. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the private network is a software defined network. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the personal network is a digital network. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein each terminal is enclosed in a communication room, the communication room comprising: a light source and a dimmer for adjusting the light source; a user-activated selection device, suitable for the terminal user to arbitrarily turn on the brightness adjustment device. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each debit card has a serial number and each terminal further comprises: databases containing invalid serial numbers; and A comparison means for comparing the serial number of each user's card with said information base before activating the terminal, thereby verifying that said card is valid. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target database includes information about the location of other terminals in the network, the selectable list being displayed on the screen in the form of a plurality of icons. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is a Software Defined Digital Network, and the object database contains information of terminals that are not part of said network but have access to the network via dial-up means. 14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the network is a software-defined digital network, and the target database also includes information about terminals that are not part of said network, but that can be selected using user-activated selection means, and terminal locations that can enter the network by dialing means Information. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a management office interconnected with each of said terminals, and a management database included in the management office, and a transmission and storage device for transmitting data from the management office to each of the terminals, and store the data in each of the terminals. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said management database comprises an object storehouse scheduled to be accessed by dialing means of each terminal, and a storage means adapted to store information about said object storehouse in each said object storehouse. in the target database of the terminal described above. 17. The device of claim 15, wherein Each debit card has a serial number, Each terminal includes a search library of invalid serial numbers, and comparing means for comparing the serial number of each user card with said library, thereby verifying said cards as valid before the terminal is activated; said management database includes a central repository of invalid numbers; and The transmission and storage device is suitable for transmitting invalid card information from the central database to each search database. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said management database includes a reservation slot table for a selected terminal, and said transmission and storage means are adapted to be used to place reservations related to corresponding time slots reserved by that terminal Information is transmitted from said schedule to each selected terminal. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each selected terminal may be a call-originating terminal, or a destination terminal, and the information sent to each selected, call-originating terminal includes a telephone number that may be automatically dialed . 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each terminal further comprises a means, responsive to the transmitted reservation information, for refusing to use any calls other than those identified by said transmitted information during the agreed time period. the terminal. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said refusal means is also applicable to during the agreed period of time, for any initiator of the call, except the serial number of its billing card coincides with the number provided by said transmission information , denying use of the terminal. 22. At the request of the user holding a debit card, the methods of connecting audio-visual calls from the sending place to the receiving place include: a) Read the card's bill balance, and if there is sufficient positive balance, allow phone use. b) receiving the user's selection of a receiving location, and in response to said selection, retrieving the delivery location database for rates and destination telephone numbers. c) Automatically dialing the retrieved destination telephone number, so that at least part of the software defined digital network is connected between the sending place and the receiving place. d) If automatic dialing is used to connect the sending and receiving places, digital audio-visual information can be transmitted bidirectionally between said places during any call. e) debiting to said card according to said rate and said time. 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising, before allowing the call: read the serial number of the debit card, and The card is verified as valid by comparing the number with a list of serial numbers in the sender's database. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein: The call is made by appointment to select the time slot and send and receive locations. The method also includes a comparing step of comparing the current time and date with the reservation information in the database at the originating location before allowing the call, thereby verifying that the reservation period has started, and The rate and destination telephone number are retrieved from a database at the destination where reservation information is stored. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the method of receiving the selected receiving location is performed by the following steps: displaying a selection of geographic locations on a touch-sensitive graphic display; A signal generated by the user by touching a selected location on the geolocation display is received. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of displaying includes: displaying a list of fields, each area containing more detailed geographic information than the previous area, displaying the first one based on a selection made by the user by touching a portion of the previous area Each region after region. 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the displaying method includes displaying the geographic information in the form of at least one user-selectable icon. 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the displaying method includes displaying geographic information as at least one map with at least one user-selectable location.

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