Graphical interface for a remote presence system

Abstract

A robot system that includes a robot and a remote station. The remote station may be a personal computer coupled to the robot through a broadband network. A user at the remote station may receive both video and audio from a camera and microphone of the robot, respectively. The remote station may include a display user interface that has a variety of viewable fields and selectable buttons.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A robot system, comprising:
 a mobile robot;   a base station that transmits a wireless control signal to said mobile robot; and,   a remote station that is coupled to said mobile robot through said base station, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays a signal strength of the wireless control signal, said remote station sends control signals that cause movement of said mobile robot.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said display user interface displays an image and a first graphical input that can be selected to vary the image. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the image is provided by a camera of said mobile robot. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first graphical input can be selected to view a still picture image. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first graphical input is a slide bar that can be selected to view a plurality of still picture images. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a still picture image provided by said mobile robot camera can be stored at said remote station by selecting said first graphical input. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein selecting said first graphical input can initiate a storage of a video segment of said image. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said mobile robot includes a battery and said display user interface depicts how much energy is left in said battery. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said display user interface includes a second graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of the image. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein mobile robot includes a microphone and said remote station includes a speaker, said display user interface includes a graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone. 
     
     
         31 . A method for operating a robot system, comprising:
 transmitting a control signal from a remote station to a base station;   transmitting a wireless control signal from the base station to a mobile robot;   moving the mobile robot in response to the wireless control station; and,   displaying a display user interface at the remote station that is coupled to the base station, the display user interface displays a signal strength of the wireless control signal.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the display user interface displays an image and a first graphical input that can be selected to vary the image. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to display a still picture image. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first graphical input is a slide bar and further comprising selecting the slide bar to view a plurality of still picture images. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to store a still picture image provided by the mobile robot camera. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising selecting said first graphical input to initiate a storage of a video segment of the image. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein movement of the mobile robot is controlled by the remote station. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the mobile robot includes a battery and the display user interface depicts an amount of energy within the battery. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting a second graphical input displayed by the graphical user interface to vary a characteristic of the image. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the mobile robot includes a microphone and the remote station includes a speaker, and further comprising selecting a graphical input to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone. 
     
     
         41 - 100 . (canceled)