Method and apparatus for continuously receiving images from a plurality of video channels and for alternately continuously transmitting to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual images containing information concerning each of said video channels

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for video conferencing. The method and apparatus continuously receive frames from a plurality of video channels and alternately continuously transmit to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual frames containing information concerning each of the video channels. The method and apparatus only transmits at any given instant new picture data for one of the participants in the video conference.

Having described our invention in such terms as to be understood by those of skill in the art to make and use of the invention, and having described the presently preferred embodiments and best mode thereof, we claim:  
     
         1 . A method for receiving and transmitting video data across a network comprising the steps of: 
 (a) Receiving a call initialization signal further comprising a codec identifying signal that corresponds to a codec format, in a network interface from a first video source;    (b) Storing said codec identifying signal in a memory;    (c) Receiving a component video packet stream from said first video source;    (d) Disassembling said component video packet stream into a component video signal;    (e) Forming a composite video signal from said component video signal said composite video signal further comprising said codec format;    (f) Assembling said composite video signal into a composite video packet stream further comprising said codec format; and,    (g) Transmitting said composite video packet stream to said first video source.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 (a) Receiving a second call initialization signal further comprising a second codec identifying signal that corresponds to a second codec format, in said network interface from a second video source;  
 (b) Storing said second codec identifying signal in said memory;  
 (c) Receiving a second component video packet stream from said second video source;  
 (d) Disassembling said second component video packet stream into a second component video signal;  
 (e) Forming a second composite video signal from said second component video signal said second composite video signal further comprising said codec format;  
 (f) Assembling said second composite video signal into a second composite video packet stream further comprising said codec format;  
 (g) Forming a third composite video signal from said second component video signal said third composite video signal further comprising said second codec format;  
 (h) Assembling said third composite video signal into a third composite video packet stream further comprising said second codec format;  
 (h) Transmitting said second composite video packet stream to said first video source; and,  
 (i) Transmitting said third composite video packet stream to said second video source.  
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for receiving and transmitting video data across a network comprising: 
 A. a video processing unit, said video processing unit further comprising: 
 1. a network interface for receiving a call initialization signal from a video source, said call initialization signal further comprising a codec format, receiving a component video packet stream from said video source and transmitting a composite video packet stream to said video source,  
 2. a memory further comprising a call set-up algorithm for identifying said codec format of said call initialization signal and storing said codec format in said memory,  
 3. a packet driver for disassembling said component video packet stream into a component video signal and for assembling a composite video signal into a composite video packet stream, and  
 4. a multi-point control unit for revising said component video signal into said composite video signal;  
   B. said packet driver coupled to said multi-point control unit, said memory and said network interface;    C. said multi-point control unit coupled to said memory.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3  such that said network interface receives a second call initialization signal from a second video source, said second call initialization signal further comprising a second codec format such that said call setup algorithm identifies said second codec format and stores said second codec format in said memory.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4  such that said multi-point control unit sequentially senses whether a second component video packet stream has been received at said network interface from said second video source whereby upon receipt of said second component packet stream said packet driver disassembles said second component video packet stream into a second component video signal, said multi-point control unit revises said second component video signal into a second composite video signal in said codec format and said second component video signal into a third composite video signal in said second codec format such that said packet driver assembles said second composite video signal into a second composite video packet stream in said codec format and said third composite video signal into a third composite video packet stream in said second codec format such that said network interface transmits said second composite video packet stream in said codec format to said video source and said network interface transmits said third composite video packet stream in said second codec format to said second video source.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3  wherein said network interface further comprises the capability to connect to a plurality of video sources such that each of said plurality of video sources transmits a component video packet stream further comprising a corresponding codec format, such that said network interface receives said plurality of component video packet streams from said plurality of video sources and transmits a composite video packet stream to each of said plurality of video sources in the same corresponding codec format comprised in the component video packet streams transmitted from said plurality of video sources.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein if, within a certain time frame, said component video packet stream is received as a video packet stream for an image, then said component video packet stream from said first video source is received.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein if, within a certain time frame, said second component video packet stream is received as a video packet stream for an image, then said second component video packet stream from said second video source is received.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3  wherein said component video packet stream is a video packet stream for an image.  
     
     
         10 . A method for receiving and transmitting video data across a network comprising the steps of 
 (a) Receiving a video signal from a first video source, said signal further comprising a codec identifying signal that corresponds to a first codec format;    (b) Receiving a second video signal from a second video source, said second signal further comprising a codec identifying signal that corresponds to a second codec format different from said first codec format;    (c) Forming a composite video signal from said first and second signals, said composite video signal further comprising said first codec format;    (d) Assembling said composite video signal into a composite video packet stream further comprising said first codec format; and,    (e) Transmitting said composite video packet stream to said first video source.    
     
     
         11 . A method for receiving and transmitting video data across a network comprising the steps of 
 (a) Receiving a call initialization signal in a network interface from a first video source;    (b) Receiving a call initialization signal in said network interface from a second video source;    (c) Receiving a component packet stream from said first video source;    (d) Disassembling said component video packet stream into a component video signal;    (e) Forming a composite video signal from said component video signal, said composite video signal further comprising steady state data for said second video source;    (f) Assembling said composite video signal into a composite video packet; and,    (g) Transmitting said composite video packet stream to said second video source.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for receiving video data across a network comprising 
 (a) A display further comprising a screen displaying at least first and second images;    (b) A network interface for receiving a composite video packet stream further comprising coded domain data to revise said first image and steady state data indicating that said second image is unchanged;    (c) A packet driver for disassembling said composite video packet stream into a composite video signal including said steady state data and said coded domain data; and,    (d) A control unit to revise said first image in said display with said coded domain data and, based on said steady state data, to permit said second image to remain unchanged in said display.    
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for receiving video data across a network comprising 
 (a) A display further comprising a screen displaying at least first and second images;    (b) A network interface for receiving a composite video packet stream further comprising coded domain data to revise said first image;    (c) A packet driver for disassembling said composite video packet stream into a composite video signal including said coded domain data; and,    (d) A control unit to receive said composite video signal and revise only said first image in said display with said coded domain data.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for receiving and transmitting video data across a network comprising a video processing unit, said video processing unit further comprising: 
 A. a network interface for 
 (1) receiving a call initialization signal from a video source, said call initialization signal further comprising a codec format,  
 (2) receiving a component video packet stream from said video source,  
 (3) receiving a call initialization signal from a second video source, said call initialization signal further comprising a second codec format, and  
 (4) transmitting a composite video packet stream;  
   B. a packet driver coupled to said network interface for disassembling said component video packet stream into a component video signal and for assembling said composite video signal into a composite video packet stream;    C. a memory coupled to said packet driver and further comprising a call set-up algorithm for identifying the codec formats of said call initialization signals and storing said codec formats in said memory; and,    D. a multi-point control unit coupled to said packet driver and said memory for revising said component video signal into said composite video signal further comprising steady state data for said second video source.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first and second codec formats are the same.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first and second codec formats are different.