Variable bandwidth communication systems and methods

Abstract

A variable bandwidth communication system includes a first and a second communication station, coupled for continuous, bi-directional communication. The first communication station is capable of transmitting at a first and a second bandwidth, and is capable of receiving at a third and a fourth bandwidth. The second communication station is capable of receiving at the first and second bandwidth and is capable of transmitting at the third and fourth bandwidth. The transmitting bandwidth of each station is selectable by the user. The second bandwidth is greater than the first and the fourth bandwidth is greater than the third. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first and third bandwidth like the second and fourth bandwidth are about the same. The first communication system can display communication received at the fourth bandwidth at the first bandwidth, and the second communication system can display communications received at the second bandwidth at the third bandwidth.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A communication station for transmitting audio and video communications comprising: 
 a data processor;    a high bandwidth input device coupled to said data processor;    a transmission port coupled to said data processor;    a reception port coupled to said data processor;    a high bandwidth output display device coupled to said data processor;    a high/low data display bandwidth selector coupled to said data processor, wherein a data display bandwidth is user selectable;    a high/low transmission bandwidth selector coupled to said data processor, wherein a transmission bandwidth is user selectable; and    wherein said high bandwidth output display device displays a bandwidth selected by said high/low data display bandwidth selector.    
     
     
         2 . A communication station as recited in    claim 1   , wherein said high bandwidth input device is a video camera.  
     
     
         3 . A communication station as recited in    claim 1   , wherein said high bandwidth output device is a monitor.  
     
     
         4 . A communication station as recited in    claim 1   , wherein said data processor is capable of transmitting a high bandwidth communication and a low bandwidth communication.  
     
     
         5 . A communication station as recited in    claim 4   , wherein said high bandwidth is at least two orders of magnitude greater than said low bandwidth.  
     
     
         6 . A communication station as recited in    claim 1   , wherein said data processor is capable of receiving a high bandwidth communication and a low bandwidth communication.  
     
     
         7 . A communication station as recited in    claim 6   , wherein said high bandwidth communication is at least two orders of magnitude greater than said low bandwidth communication.  
     
     
         8 . A communication station as recited in    claim 6   , wherein said data processor is capable of displaying communications received at said high bandwidth communication at said lower bandwidth communication.  
     
     
         9 . A communication station as recited in    claim 6   , wherein said high bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting video communications.  
     
     
         10 . A communication station as recited in    claim 6   , wherein said low bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting at least one of a representational video communication, a reduced resolution video communication, an audio communication and an abstract representational communication.  
     
     
         11 . A communication station as recited in    claim 6   , wherein said high bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting audio communications.  
     
     
         12 . A communication station as recited in    claim 6   , wherein said low bandwidth communication is capable of transmitting at least one of a degraded audio communication, a haptic communication and an abstract representational communication.  
     
     
         13 . A communication station as recited in    claim 1   , further comprising a dynamic abstraction filter for converting a high bandwidth communications into a low bandwidth communications.  
     
     
         14 . A communication station as recited in    claim 13   , wherein said high bandwidth communications are at least two orders of magnitude greater than said low bandwidth communications.