Automatic still image transmission upon call connection

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a system and method for selecting and transmitting a still image in a telephone network. A series of images is stored in at least one storage unit coupled to the network, each image associated with a particular customer in the network. Upon the placement of a call, the system will automatically select and transmit the calling party's image to the called party's video telephone or terminal prior to or during the ringing sequence, or after the calling party has answered.

I claim: 
     
       1. An image transmission system comprising: memory for storing image data;   at least one processor coupled to said memory; and   connection means interposed between said processor and a telecommunications network to which a called party and a calling party are coupled, that is adapted to transmit signals from said memory to said called party,   where said processor, in response to signals received from said calling party that request connection to said called party, retrieves image data from said memory and forwards said image data to said connection means.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 in which said called terminal comprises a video telephone. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 in which said network comprises a telephone network. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1 in which said image data comprises preselected portions of data, each portion associated with a calling terminal. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4 in which each said portion is transmitted to said memory via facsimile. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 4 in which each said portion is transmitted to said memory via electronic mail. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 1 in which said transmission of said image data occurs simultaneously with a ring signal. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 1 in which said transmission of said image data occurs prior to a first ring signal. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1 in which said image data is selected by said calling party prior to transmission to said called party. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9 in which said image data is selected by the calling party using a predetermined code. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 1 in which said image data is stored in said memory in a preselected facsimile format. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 1 in which said image data is stored in said memory in a preselected electronic mail format. 
     
     
       13. An image selection and transmission system comprising: identifying means coupled to a telephone network for identifying a calling terminal and a called terminal;   switch means coupled to said network for establishing a ring connection to said called terminal and a visual communication connection between said calling terminal and said called terminal;   storage means coupled to said network for storing preselected portions of image data, each portion associated with one said calling terminal;   selector means coupled to said identifying means and to said storage means for selecting a portion of said image data associated with said calling terminal upon receipt of a signal from said identifying means; and   processor means coupled to said coding means, to said identifying means and to said switch means for automatically initiating a flow of said data stream to said called terminal upon the establishment of said ring connection, and for continuing the flow of said data stream upon the establishment of said communication connection.   
     
     
       14. The system of claim 13 in which said flow of said data stream is initiated prior to the generation of a first ring signal during said ring connection. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 13 in which said flow of said data stream is completed prior to the generation of a first ring signal during said ring connection. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 13 further including coding means coupled to an input of said selector means for encoding said image data prior to storage in said storage means. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 13 in which said calling terminal is arranged to permit a calling party to block transmission of said data stream. 
     
     
       18. A method of selecting and transmitting an image to a terminal over a telephone network, comprising the steps of: storing images in a database, each image associated with a terminal in said network;   identifying a terminal that is attempting to establish a connection to another terminal in said network;   selecting the image that is associated with said calling terminal;   establishing a connection between said calling terminal and said called terminal; and   initiating transmission of said data stream to said called terminal over said network upon the establishment of said connection.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, in which said transmission of said data stream precedes the transmission of a ringing signal. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 18 further including the step of encoding said images prior to storing said images in said database.