Tele-presence robot system with multi-cast features

Abstract

A graphical user interface for a remote controlled robot system that includes a robot view field that displays information provided by a robot and an observer view field that display observer information about one or more observers that can receive the robot information. The interface has various features that allow a master user to control the observation and participation of the observers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A graphical user interface for a remote controlled robot system, comprising:
 a robot view field that displays information provided by a robot;   an observer view field that displays observer information about one or more observers that can receive the robot information.   
     
     
         2 . The interface of  claim 1 , wherein said robot information is video provided by a robot camera. 
     
     
         3 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a station view field that display video provided by a camera of a remote control station. 
     
     
         4 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more messages that allow an observer to join a session. 
     
     
         5 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that controls a transmission of audio from an observer remote control station to said robot. 
     
     
         6 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that controls a transmission of video from an observer remote control station to said robot. 
     
     
         7 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that controls a transmission of audio from said robot to an observer remote control station. 
     
     
         8 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that controls a transmission of video from said robot to an observer remote control station. 
     
     
         9 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that allows an observer remote control station to control a movement of said robot. 
     
     
         10 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that allows an observer remote control station to control at least one camera parameter of said robot. 
     
     
         11 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that allows an observer remote control station to receive instrument data from an instrument coupled to said robot. 
     
     
         12 . The interface of  claim 2 , further comprising a selectable feature that allows an observer remote control station to annotate said robot videos, said annotation being displayed in said robot view field. 
     
     
         13 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that allows an observer remote control station to become a master remote control station. 
     
     
         14 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that disconnects an observer remote control station. 
     
     
         15 . The interface of  claim 1 , wherein said observer view field displays a video image provided by an observer remote control station. 
     
     
         16 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a dialog box that displays a system bandwidth usage and allows a user to vary said system bandwidth usage. 
     
     
         17 . The interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectable feature that allows communication only between a plurality of remote control stations. 
     
     
         18 . A graphical user interface for a remote controlled robot system, comprising:
 a robot view field that displays information provided by a robot;   a local microphone meter that represents a volume of audio provided to a microphone of a remote control station; and,   a remote microphone meter that represents a volume of audio generated by a robot speaker.   
     
     
         19 . The interface of  claim 18 , further comprising a selectable feature that can reset a robot speaker volume. 
     
     
         20 . The interface of  claim 18 , further comprising a selectable feature to vary a volume of said remote control station microphone.