English:
[0001] Video conferencing systems are used to provide multiple participants located at different locations the ability to communicate with each other. Such video conferencing systems utilize personal computers having web cameras and microphones to capture and transmit audio/video content to other users. However, in operation, such video conferencing systems are difficult to navigate and/or use (e.g., difficult to view participants and/or other media content), thereby increasing the complexity of the video communications.
[0002] FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a video conference system;
[0005] FIGURES 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the graphical user interface of FIGURE 3 configured for use in a live video chat mode;
[0006] FIGURE 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the graphical user interface of FIGURE 3 configured for use in a video mailbox mode; and
[0007] FIGURES 6A-6D are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of the graphical user interface of FIGURE 3 configured for use in a recorded video message mode.
[0008] Various embodiments and the advantages thereof are best understood by referring to FIGURES 1-6D, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
[0009] FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a video conferencing system 10. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , system 10 comprises a plurality of electronic devices 12.,, 122, 123and 124communicatively coupled via a communications network 14 to facilitate video communications between users of electronic devices 12V122, 123and 124. Electronic devices 12r122, 123and/or 124may comprise any type of electronic device such as, but not limited to, a notebook or laptop computer, a desktop computer, a karaoke device, or any other type of portable or non-portable electronic device. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 , four electronic devices 12r122, 123and 124are illustrated; however, it should be understood that a greater or fewer number of electronic devices 12V122, 123and/or 124may be used in connection with system 10. According to some embodiments, communications network 14 comprises a local area network; however, it should be understood that communications network 14 may be any type of wired and/or wireless communications network (e.g., the Internet, a cellular network, etc.) that enables video communications between electronic devices 12r122, 123and 124.
[0011] FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic device 12 of video conference system 10 of FIGURE 1 (e.g., representative of all or some of devices 12., 122, 123and/or 124). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, electronic device 12 comprises a processor 18, a user interface 20 and a memory 22. In FIGURE 2, user interface 20 comprises a display screen 24 for displaying information such as, but not limited to, video images of participants in a video conference, video messages and/or any other type of file. User interface 20 also comprises a microphone 26 to record a video participant's voice and a camera 28 to capture video images of the video participants. It should be understood that other types of interface and/or input/output devices may be used for inputting/outputting information relative to device 12. In FIGURE 2, memory 22 comprises video conference module 16 and a graphical user interface 30. Video conference module 16 and graphical user interface 30 may comprise hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In FIGURE 2, video conference module 16 and graphical user interface 30 are illustrated as being stored in memory 22 so as to be accessible and/or executable by processor 18. However, it should be understood that video conference module 16 and graphical user interface 30 may be otherwise stored, even remotely. In operation, video conference module 16 and graphical user interface 30 are configured to enable video conversations and/or video messaging between users of electronic devices 12i, 122, 123and/or 124.
[0012] FIGURE 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of graphical user- interface 30 executable to display a source pane 52 and a display pane 54. In FIGURE 3, source pane 52 enables a user to select a live video chat mode 56, a video mailbox mode 58, and a recorded video messages mode 60. For example, in FIGURE 3, video chat mode 56 enables video conferencing between users one or more electronic devices 12i, 122, 123and/or 124, video mailbox mode 58 enables a user to receive, view and/or sort video emails, and recorded message mode 60 enables a user to record new video messages and review and respond to received video messages. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3, display pane 54 enables a user to view video content therein while in any mode 56, 58 and/or 60. While three modes 56, 58 and/or 60 are illustrated in FIGURE 3, it should be understood that a greater or fewer number of different communications modes 56, 58 and/or 60 may be displayed within source pane 52.
[0013] FIGURES 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating graphical user interface 30 displaying input source pane 52 and display pane 54 in live video chat mode 56. Referring to FIGURE 4A, source pane 52 comprises a menu 62 to enable a user to select the source and/or group of participants for a video chat. For example, in FIGURE 4A, menu 62 comprises a "Chat with Online Friends" option 64 to enable a user to select video participants from selected online accounts via the Internet, and a "Chat with People Near Me" option 66 to enable a user to select video participants from a local subnet (e.g., participants currently logged on a local area network). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4A, display pane 54 is configured to display the video feed associated with each selected video participant and/or source group.
[0014] Referring to FIGURE 4B "Chat with People Near Me" option 66 is selected such that source pane 52 is populated with participants 68, 70 and/or 72 that are communicatively coupled via communications network 14 (FIGURE 1 ). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4B, three participants 68, 70 and/or 72 are illustrated; however, it should be understood that a greater or fewer number of participants 68, 70 and/or 72 may be listed within source pane 52.
[0015] In operation, a user of electronic device 12 (FIGURE 1 ) selects one or more participants 68, 70 and/or 72 from source pane 52 to participate in a video conference using a mouse or other input device. For example, in FIGURE 4B, participant 68 has been selected by the user of electronic device 12 to participate in the video conference. Once selected, interface 30 causes display pane 54 to automatically subdivide into sub-panes 54a and 54b to enable the display a video feed of each video conference participant. For example, in FIGURE 4B, sub-pane 54a comprises video content of the user of electronic device 12i and sub-pane 54b comprises video content received from electronic device 122of participant 68. It should be understood that display pane 54 may be further subdivided depending on the number of participants 68, 70 and/or 72 participating in the video chat.
[0016] According to some embodiments, interface 30 causes display pane 54 to dynamically subdivide into sub-panes 54a and 54b in response to selecting participants 68, 70 and/or 72. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4A and 4B, as participant 68 is selected, display pane 54 dynamically adjusts from a single display pane 54 (FIGURE 4A) so as to split into multiple sub-panes 54a and 54b (FIGURE 4B) to display video content for each participant (e.g., video content of the users of electronic devices 122). The sizes, shapes, and/or locations of sub-panes may be user-controlled/varied and or automatically controlled/varied.
[0017] In operation, when it is desired to remove participant 68 from the video conference, participant 68 is de-selected in source pane 52, thereby causing sub-pane 54b to be automatically removed from source pane 52. For example, in FIGURE 4B, when it is desired to remove participant 68 from the video conversation and thus display pane 52, the user of electronic device 12i using a mouse or other input device, deselects participant 68 from source pane 52. Once deselected, interface 30 automatically removed sub-pane 54b from display pane 54.
[0018] FIGURE 5 is a diagram illustrating graphical user interface 30 of FIGURE 3 in the video mailbox mode 58. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5, source pane 52 comprises a video mailbox 100 and is configured to enable a user to categorize and/or otherwise organize video mail messages 102. For example, in FIGURE 5 video mailbox 100 enables a user to categorize and/or otherwise organize video messages 102 corresponding to a particular person (e.g., sent to and/or received from) and further subdivided/sorted corresponding to a particular subject. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5, video messages 76 are organized/sorted by person 104 and by subject 106 (e.g., "Happy Birthday!"). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5, video messages 102 for each particular subject 106 are further sorted in a predetermined order such as, for example, in a chronological or reverse chronological order. Thus, for example, messages 102 are ordered in a conversational order to enable a user to select each message to review the entire conversation of video messages 102 in a chronological order. According to some embodiments, messages 102 are chronologically ordered automatically upon receipt of each message 102.
[0019] FIGURES 6A-6D are diagrams illustrating graphical user interface 30 of FIGURE 3 in the recorded video message mode 60. In operation, when a user desires to record a new video message, the user selects "Create New Recorded Video Message" option 120. In response to selecting option 120, interface 30 causes display pane 54 to display a live webcam feed of the user of the particular electronic device 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6A, display pane 54 comprises a command button 122 to facilitate recording a video message. For example, in FIGURE 6A, to create and record a video message (e.g., a new video message or a reply video message to any of the video messages 102), command button 122 is pressed (using a mouse or other input device) to record the live webcam feed. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6A, command button 122 comprises the word "Record" and is disposed within display pane 54; however, it should be understood that command button 122 may be otherwise configured (e.g., any type of symbol or word) to indicate to a user of electronic device 12 of the record function. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6B, when command button 122 is selected to record the live video feed, interface 30 causes command button 122 to be reconfigured to display the word "Stop". In operation, the user selects the stop command button 122 to stop recording the video message. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6C, once the video messages is recorded, interface 30 causes a subject prompt 124 to be displayed to prompt the user to provide a video message subject 126. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6D, interface 30 causes a prompt 128 to be displayed on user interface 30 to prompt the user to provide the video message recipient identification information 130 (e.g., the recipient's name and email address). According to some embodiments, when recording a video message, interface 30 causes a recording indicator 132 to be disposed within display pane 54 to alert and/or otherwise notify the user that a video message is being recorded.
[0020] Thus, embodiments of video conferencing system 10 comprise a video conference module 16 to enable user interface 30 to be configurable in a video conference mode to enable video participants to be added and removed to a display pane 54 during a video conference. Furthermore, embodiments of video conferencing system 10 comprise a user interface 30 configurable in a video mailbox mode to sort and enable a user to view video messages in a conversational order. Embodiments of video conferencing system 10 also comprise a user interface 30 configurable in a recorded video message mode to enable a user to record and send video messages. Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented in software and can be adapted to run on different platforms and operating systems. In particular, functions implemented by video conference module 16 and interface 30, for example, may be provided as an ordered listing of executable instructions that can be embodied in any computer- readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a computer-readable medium can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus or device. The computer-readable medium can be, for example but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electro-magnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device or propagation medium.

中文:
[0001]视频会议系统用来为位于不同位置的多个参与方提供彼此通信的能力。这样的视频会议系统利用具有网络摄像机和麦克风的个人计算机来捕获音频/视频内容并将音频/视频内容传输到其它的用户。但是,在操作中,这样的视频会议系统难以导航(navigate)和/或使用(例如,难以查看参与方和/或其它的媒体内容),从而增加了视频通信的复杂性。
[0002]图1是示出了视频会议系统的实施例的图;
[0005]图4A和4B是示出了被配置用于实况(live)视频聊天模式的图3的图形用户接口的图;
[0006]图5是示出了被配置用于视频邮箱模式的图3的图形用户接口的实施例的图;和
[0007]图6A-6D是示出了被配置用于记录的视频消息模式的图3的图形用户接口的实施例的图。
[0008]通过参考图1-6D最佳地理解各个实施例及其优点,相似的数字用于各个附图的相似的和对应的部分。
[0009]图1是示出了视频会议系统10的实施例的图。在图1示出的实施例中,系统10包括多个电子设备121、122、123和124,它们经由通信网络14通信地耦合以促进电子设备121、122、123和124的用户之间的视频通信。电子设备121、122、123和/或124可以包括任何类型的电子设备,诸如但不限于,笔记本或膝上型计算机、台式计算机、卡拉OK设备、或任何其它类型的便携式或非便携式电子设备。在图1示出的实施例中,示出了四个电子设备121、122、123和124;但是,应当理解,更多或更少数目的电子设备121、122、123和/或124可以与系统10一起使用。根据一些实施例,通信网络14包括局域网;但是,应当理解,通信网络14可以是使得电子设备121、122、123和124之间能够进行视频通信的任何类型的有线和/或无线通信网络(例如,因特网、蜂窝网络等)。
[0011]图2是示出了图1的视频会议系统10的电子设备12(例如,表示设备121、122、123和/或124的全部或一些)的实施例的框图。在图2示出的实施例中,电子设备12包括处理器18、用户接口20和存储器22。在图2中,用户接口20包括显示屏幕24,用于显示信息,诸如但不限于,视频会议的参与方的视频图像、视频消息和/或任何其它类型的文件。用户接口20也包括用于记录视频参与方的语音的麦克风26和用于捕获视频参与方的视频图像的摄像机28。应当理解,其它类型的接口和/或输入/输出设备可以用来相对于设备12输入/输出信息。在图2中,存储器22包括视频会议模块16和图形用户接口30。视频会议模块16和图形用户接口30可以包括硬件、软件、固件或它们的组合。在图2中,视频会议模块16和图形用户接口30被示出为存储在存储器22中以便可由处理器18访问和/或执行。但是,应当理解,视频会议模块16和图形用户接口30可以以其他方式存储,甚至远程存储。在操作中,视频会议模块16和图形用户接口30被配置为使得电子设备121、122、123和/或124的用户之间能够进行视频会话和/或视频消息收发。
[0012]图3是示出了可执行以显示源窗格52和显示窗格54的图形用户接口30的实施例的图。在图3中,源窗格52使得用户能够选择实况视频聊天模式56、视频邮箱模式58、和记录的视频消息模式60。例如,在图3中,视频聊天模式56使得一个或多个电子设备121、122、123和/或124的用户之间能够进行视频会议,视频邮箱模式58使得用户能够接收、查看和/或分类(sort)视频电子邮件,以及记录的消息模式60使得用户能够记录新的视频消息并审阅和应答所接收的视频消息。在图3示出的实施例中,在任何模式56、58和/或60中,显示窗格54使得用户能够查看其中的视频内容。尽管在图3中示出了三个模式56、58和/或60,但是应当理解,更多或更少数目的不同的通信模式56、58和/或60可以被显示在源窗格52内。
[0013]图4A和4B是示出了在实况视频聊天模式56下显示输入源窗格52和显示窗格54的图形用户接口30的图。参考图4A,源窗格52包括菜单62以使得用户能够为视频聊天选择参与方的群组和/或源。例如,在图4A中,菜单62包括“与在线朋友聊天”选项64以使得用户能够经由因特网从选择的在线帐户中选择视频参与方,并且包括“和我附近的人聊天”选项66以使得用户能够从本地子网中选择视频参与方(例如,当前登录到局域网的参与方)。在图4A示出的实施例中,显示窗格54被配置为显示与每个选择的视频参与方和/或源群组有关的视频馈送。
[0014]参考图4B,选择“和我附近的人聊天”选项66以使得源窗格52填充有经由通信网络14(图1)通信地耦合的参与方68、70和/或72。在图4B示出的实施例中,示出了三个参与方68、70和/或72;但是,应当理解,更多或更少数目的参与方68、70和/或72可以被列在源窗格52内。
[0015]在操作中,电子设备12(图1)的用户使用鼠标或其它输入设备从源窗格52中选择一个或多个参与方68、70和/或72以参与视频会议。例如,在图4B中,参与方68已被电子设备12的用户选择以参与视频会议。一旦被选择,则接口30使得显示窗格54自动地细分成子窗格54a和54b以允许显示每个视频会议参与方的视频馈送。例如,在图4B中,子窗格54a包括电子设备121的用户的视频内容,并且子窗格54b包括从参与方68的电子设备122接收到的视频内容。应当理解,根据参与视频聊天的参与方68、70和/或72的数目,可以进一步细分显示窗格54。
[0016]根据一些实施例,响应于选择参与方68、70和/或72,接口30使得显示窗格54动态地细分成子窗格54a和54b。例如,在图4A和4B示出的实施例中,当选择了参与方68时,显示窗格54从单个显示窗格54(图4A)动态地调节以便分成多个子窗格54a和54b(图4B),从而显示每个参与方的视频内容(例如,电子设备121和122的用户的视频内容)。子窗格的大小、形状和/或位置可以由用户控制/改变和/或自动地控制/改变。
[0017]在操作中,当期望从视频会议中移除参与方68时,在源窗格52中取消选择参与方68,从而使得自动地从源窗格52中移除子窗格54b。例如,在图4B中,当期望从视频会话以及因而显示窗格52中移除参与方68时,电子设备121的用户使用鼠标或其它输入设备从源窗格52中取消选择参与方68。一旦被取消选择,接口30自动地从显示窗格54中移除子窗格54b。
[0018]图5是示出了处于视频邮箱模式58的图3的图形用户接口30的图。在图5示出的实施例中,源窗格52包括视频邮箱100并被配置为使得用户能够归类和/或以其他方式组织视频邮件消息102。例如,在图5中,视频邮箱100使得用户能够归类和/或以其他方式组织对应于特定的人(例如,发送给特定的人和/或从特定的人接收到的)的视频消息102并且对应于特定的主题而进一步细分/分类。例如,在图5示出的实施例中,按照人104和按照主题106(例如,“生日快乐!”)组织/分类视频消息76。在图5示出的实施例中,按照预定的顺序(诸如例如按照时间顺序或逆时间顺序)进一步分类每个特定主题106的视频消息102。因而,例如,按照会话顺序对消息102排序以使得用户能够按时间顺序来选择每个消息从而审阅视频消息102的整个会话。根据一些实施例,在接收到每个消息102后自动地按时间顺序对消息102排序。
[0019]图6A-6D是示出了处于记录的视频消息模式60的图3的图形用户接口30的图。在操作中,当用户期望记录新的视频消息时,用户选择“创建新的记录的视频消息”选项120。响应于选择选项120,接口30使得显示窗格54显示特定电子设备12的用户的实况网络摄像头馈送。在图6A示出的实施例中,显示窗格54包括命令按钮122以促进记录视频消息。例如,在图6A中,为了创建并记录视频消息(例如,新的视频消息或对视频消息102中的任一个的答复视频消息),(使用鼠标或其它输入设备)按下命令按钮122以记录实况网络摄像头馈送。在图6A示出的实施例中,命令按钮122包括词“记录”并被设置在显示窗格54内;但是,应当理解,命令按钮122可以以其他方式配置(例如,任何类型的符号或词)以向电子设备12的用户指示记录功能。在图6B示出的实施例中,当选择命令按钮122以记录实况视频馈送时,接口30使得命令按钮122被重新配置为显示词“停止”。在操作中,用户选择停止命令按钮122以停止记录视频消息。在图6C示出的实施例中,一旦记录了视频消息,接口30使得显示主题提示124以提示用户提供视频消息主题126。在图6D示出的实施例中,接口30使得提示128被显示在用户接口30上以提示用户提供视频消息接收方标识信息130(例如,接收方的名称和电子邮件地址)。根据一些实施例,当记录视频消息时,接口30使得记录指示符132被设置在显示窗格54内以警告和/或以其他方式通知用户视频消息正在被记录。
[0020]因而,视频会议系统10的实施例包括视频会议模块16以允许用户接口30可配置成处于视频会议模式中,以使得在视频会议期间能够将视频参与方增加到显示窗格54或者从显示窗格54中移除视频参与方。此外,视频会议系统10的实施例包括用户接口30,其可配置成处于视频邮箱模式中以按会话顺序分类视频消息并使得用户能够按会话顺序查看视频消息。视频会议系统10的实施例还包括用户接口30,其可配置成处于记录的视频消息模式中以使得用户能够记录并发送视频消息。此外,实施例可以软件实现并且可以被适配为在不同的平台和操作系统上运行。具体来说,例如由视频会议模块16和接口30实现的功能可以被提供为可执行指令的有序列表,这些可执行指令可以包含在任何计算机可读介质中以供指令执行系统、装置、或设备使用或结合所述指令执行系统、装置或设备使用,所述指令执行系统、装置或设备诸如基于计算机的系统、包含处理器的系统、或可以从所述指令执行系统、装置、或设备取出指令并执行所述指令的其它系统。在本文档的背景下,计算机可读介质可以是可以包含、存储、传送、传播或传输程序以供指令执行系统、装置或设备使用或结合所述指令执行系统、装置或设备使用的任何装置。所述计算机可读介质可以是,例如但不局限于,电子的、磁的、光学的、电磁的、红外的、或半导体的系统、装置、设备或传播介质。