US5896128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for associating multimedia objects for use in a video conferencing system
Assignee: Lifesize Inc
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Filing: 1995-05-03
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Granted: 1999-04-20
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Expires: 2015-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A video conferencing system and method that uses a central multimedia bridge to combine multimedia signals from a plurality of conference participants into a single composite signal for each participant. The system gives each conference participant the ability to customize their individual display of other participants, including keying in and out selected portions of the display and overlapping displayed images, and the ability to identify individual images in a composed video stream by click and drag operations or the like. The system uses a chain of video composing modules that can be extended as necessary to combine video signal streams from any number of conference participants in real time. Multimedia association software is provided for associating different media types to enhance display and manipulation capabilities for multimedia uses. The system also allows each user to dynamically change who can receive the information they provide to the conference.
Inventors
- 👤 David Gray Boyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; H04N7/152; H04N7/141; H04N7/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A video conferencing system wherein each individual participant can compose the video images to be displayed to that participant distinct from the video images displayed to other participants, said system comprising means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of participant stations, each video signal stream comprising a plurality of video instances, wherein each video instance is a distinct image element of the video picture represented by the video signal stream; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective participant station; means controlled by software for associating a plurality of instances from different video signal streams into a distinct group of video instances; and means controlled by software for manipulating said distinct group of video instances as if it were a video signal stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A video conferencing system wherein each individual participant can compose the video images to be displayed to that participant distinct from the video images displayed to other participants, said system comprising means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of participant stations, each video signal stream comprising a plurality of video instances, wherein each video instance is a distinct image element of the video picture represented by the video signal stream; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective participant station; means controlled by software for associating a plurality of instances from different video signal streams into a distinct group of video instances; and means controlled by software for manipulating said distinct group of video instances as if it were a video signal stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
241 words
A video conferencing system wherein each individual participant can compose the video images to be displayed to the participant distinct from the video images displayed to other participants, said system comprising means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of participant stations, each video signal stream comprising a plurality of video instances, wherein each video instance is a distinct image element of the video pictures represented by the video signal stream; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective participant station; means for receiving a plurality of audio signal streams from said plurality of participant stations, each audio signal stream comprising a plurality of audio instances, wherein each audio instance is a distinct sound element; means for combining said plurality of audio signal streams into a plurality of composite audio streams; means for outputting each of said composite audio streams to a respective participant station; and means controlled by software for associating video instances of a respective video signal stream with audio instances of a respective audio signal stream into a distinct group of associated audio and video instances; and means controlled by software for manipulating said distinct group of audio and video instances as if it were a signal stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
241 words
A video conferencing system wherein each individual participant can compose the video images to be displayed to the participant distinct from the video images displayed to other participants, said system comprising means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of participant stations, each video signal stream comprising a plurality of video instances, wherein each video instance is a distinct image element of the video pictures represented by the video signal stream; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective participant station; means for receiving a plurality of audio signal streams from said plurality of participant stations, each audio signal stream comprising a plurality of audio instances, wherein each audio instance is a distinct sound element; means for combining said plurality of audio signal streams into a plurality of composite audio streams; means for outputting each of said composite audio streams to a respective participant station; and means controlled by software for associating video instances of a respective video signal stream with audio instances of a respective audio signal stream into a distinct group of associated audio and video instances; and means controlled by software for manipulating said distinct group of audio and video instances as if it were a signal stream.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for controlling the presentation of a media signal stream comprising the steps of providing a plurality of media signal streams, each of said streams comprising a plurality of media instances, wherein each media instance is a distinct portion of the total information represented by said media stream; associating a plurality of instances from different media signal streams into a distinct group of media instances; and manipulating said distinct group of media instances as if it were a media signal stream.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for controlling the presentation of a media signal stream comprising the steps of providing a plurality of media signal streams, each of said streams comprising a plurality of media instances, wherein each media instance is a distinct portion of the total information represented by said media stream; associating a plurality of instances from different media signal streams into a distinct group of media instances; and manipulating said distinct group of media instances as if it were a media signal stream.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for enabling a viewer to control the presentation to the viewer from a plurality of discrete sources in a multi-point teleconferencing service, said method comprising the steps of combining the images from the sources into composite streams; grouping together a subset of the images from a plurality of composite streams; manipulating the grouped together images as if it were a single stream; and displaying the manipulated images to the viewer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for enabling a viewer to control the presentation to the viewer from a plurality of discrete sources in a multi-point teleconferencing service, said method comprising the steps of combining the images from the sources into composite streams; grouping together a subset of the images from a plurality of composite streams; manipulating the grouped together images as if it were a single stream; and displaying the manipulated images to the viewer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The video conferencing system of claim 1, wherein said associating means includes means for scaling the group of video instances as a group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The video conferencing system of claim 1, wherein said associating means includes means for chroma keying the group of video instances as a group, whereby a color or luminance range of the group can be removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The video conferencing system of claim 1, wherein said associating means includes means for mirroring the group of video instances as a group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The video conferencing system of claim 1, wherein said associating means includes means for changing the priority of the group of video instances as a group, whereby a stacking order of the associated group can be changed with respect to video instances not associated with the group.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
A video conferencing system comprising: means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of user stations, each video signal stream comprising one or more video instances; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective user station; and means for associating a plurality of instances from different video signal streams into a group of video instances that can be manipulated as a group; said associating means including means for windowing the group of video instances as a group, whereby portions of the associated group within a defined window can be removed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A video conferencing system comprising: means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of user stations, each video signal stream comprising one or more video instances; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective user station; and means for associating a plurality of instances from different video signal streams into a group of video instances that can be manipulated as a group; said associating means including means for windowing the group of video instances as a group, whereby portions of the associated group within a defined window can be removed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The video conferencing system of claim 1, further comprising: means for receiving a plurality of audio signal streams from said plurality of user stations, said audio signal streams each comprising an audio instance; means for combining said audio instances into a plurality of composite audio streams; and means for outputting said composite audio signal streams to respective user stations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The video conferencing system of claim 10, wherein said associating means includes means for associating said group of video instances with audio instances of respective audio signal streams corresponding to the group of video instances.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
220 words
A video conferencing system, comprising: means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of user stations, each video signal stream comprising one or more video instances; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective user station; means for receiving a plurality of audio signal streams from said plurality of user stations, said audio signal streams each comprising an audio instance; means for combining said audio instances into a plurality of composite audio streams; means for outputting said composite audio signal streams to respective user stations; and means for associating a plurality of instances from different video signal streams into a group of video instances that can be manipulated as a group; said associating means including means for associating said group of video instances with audio instances of respective audio signal streams corresponding to the croup of video instances; and means for associating a volume of the audio instances associated with said group of video instances with a size of the group, whereby the volume of the audio instances increases or decreases with a change in the size of the group.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
220 words
A video conferencing system, comprising: means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of user stations, each video signal stream comprising one or more video instances; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective user station; means for receiving a plurality of audio signal streams from said plurality of user stations, said audio signal streams each comprising an audio instance; means for combining said audio instances into a plurality of composite audio streams; means for outputting said composite audio signal streams to respective user stations; and means for associating a plurality of instances from different video signal streams into a group of video instances that can be manipulated as a group; said associating means including means for associating said group of video instances with audio instances of respective audio signal streams corresponding to the croup of video instances; and means for associating a volume of the audio instances associated with said group of video instances with a size of the group, whereby the volume of the audio instances increases or decreases with a change in the size of the group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
202 words
A video conferencing system comprising: means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of user stations, each video signal stream comprising one or more video instances; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective user station; means for receiving a plurality of audio signal streams from said plurality of user stations, each of said audio signal streams comprising one or more audio instances; means for combining said plurality of audio signal streams into a plurality of composite audio streams; means for outputting each of said composite audio streams to said user stations; and means for associating video instances of a respective video signal stream with audio instances of a respective audio signal stream, wherein said associating means includes means for associating a volume of at least one selected audio instance with a size of at least one selected video instance, whereby the volume of the selected audio instance increases or decreases with a change in the size of the selected video instance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
202 words
A video conferencing system comprising: means for receiving a plurality of video signal streams from a plurality of user stations, each video signal stream comprising one or more video instances; means for combining said plurality of video signal streams into a plurality of composite video streams, each composite video stream containing selected portions of two or more of said video signal streams; means for outputting each of said composite video streams to a respective user station; means for receiving a plurality of audio signal streams from said plurality of user stations, each of said audio signal streams comprising one or more audio instances; means for combining said plurality of audio signal streams into a plurality of composite audio streams; means for outputting each of said composite audio streams to said user stations; and means for associating video instances of a respective video signal stream with audio instances of a respective audio signal stream, wherein said associating means includes means for associating a volume of at least one selected audio instance with a size of at least one selected video instance, whereby the volume of the selected audio instance increases or decreases with a change in the size of the selected video instance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of controlling the presentation of a media signal stream in accordance with claim 3 wherein said media instances comprise video instances, said method further comprising the step of displaying said video instances on a video display device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of controlling the presentation of a media signal stream in accordance with claim 14 wherein said media instances comprise audio instances in addition to said video instances.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-19 | 2002-10-19 | 2003-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-19 | 2006-10-19 | 2007-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-19 | 2010-10-19 | 2011-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |