Patent ID: 6078350
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: G06T,H04N

Abstract:
A system for transmitting encoded video data between a first video conferencing terminal and a second video conferencing terminal, the first video conferencing terminal compatible with a first format of encoded video data, and the second video conferencing terminal compatible with a second format of encoded video data, comprising:a first node configured and arranged to couple to the first video conferencing terminal and includinga first decoder configured and arranged to receive encoded video data of the first format from the first video conferencing terminal and decode the video data; anda first encoder coupled to the first decoder and configured and arranged to receive decoded video data from the decoder and encode the decoded video data in the second format;a second node configured and arranged to couple to the second video conferencing terminal and includinga second decoder configured and arranged to receive encoded video data of the second format from the second video conferencing terminal and decode the video data; anda second encoder coupled to the second decoder and configured and arranged to receive decoded video data from the decoder and encode the decoded video data in the first format; anda switch circuit arrangement coupled to the first and second nodes by communications lines provided by a public switch telephone line provider, wherein the first node is arranged to provide encoded video data of the first format from the second node to the first video conferencing terminal, and the second node is arranged to provide encoded video data of the second format from the first node to the second video conferencing terminal.