Abstract:
Discloses a system for Internet based audio video communications where a user participation in a communications session including a video component includes functionality to enable the participant to provide a video feed that is based on a user selection of a real time video capture or a still capture image. The system provides a toggle control to enable a participant to select between a video capture mode and a still image mode before or during the communications session.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to apparatus and method to communicate over the Internet and more particularly relates to a user appliance and computer systems to facilitate delivery of voice and image related content to an Internet telephone appliance having a display. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The Internet provides a popular mechanism for communications between users located anywhere in the world operating an appliance to access the Internet such as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device including a personal computer. Communication over the Internet is supported by a wide variety of protocols and content payloads that facilitate delivery of communications data between users anywhere on the Internet. The Internet supports multiple protocols for transport of data payloads between the users to establish and maintain communications between them. For example, a common protocol used is the session initiation protocol (SIP) which is in common use to establish a communications session between users. A user operated SIP client application, or user agent, traditionally uses other protocols, such as TCP and UDP datagrams, to connect to SIP servers and other SIP endpoints, such as telephone style handsets or user agent software applications running on a computer. SIP is primarily used in setting up and tearing down voice or video calls. However, it can be used in other applications where session initiation is a requirement, such as notification messages and the like. Voice/video communications are streaming media communications data streams that are carried out over separate transport protocols, typically the Real-time Transport Protocol (or RTP), which is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) defined standardized packet format for delivering media data streams for example audio and video data streams over the Internet. A user operates a user agent client application on their Internet access device, such as a PC, to participate in various messaging, communications and chat services. Other communications and messaging protocols are in use for communications over the Internet and the features available using such protocols are continually expanding. 
         [0003]    Current VoIP implementations suffer from a number of problems and drawbacks, such as poor integration on computers between voice and video-only devices for Internet video calling. Generally, multiple devices are required to fulfill a complete voice/video/cordless user experience for computer-based voice/video calling. For example, existing videophones that are on the market typically require both sides of the call to use compatible and generally proprietary hardware to be able to communicate with each other. Moreover, existing handset devices are also usually corded, which limits the user&#39;s freedom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention seeks to overcome at least some of the problems and drawbacks or extant devices by introducing integration between voice and video devices for Internet calling, providing a single device which supports cordless audio and video communications using a computer processor, for example, a personal computer, to interface with the Internet for communications thereover. The device interacts with computer based voice and video calling application software operating on the computer processor, facilitating interoperation compatible with a variety of client server applications and devices on the other side of the call. As a consequence, the need for exact matching of the vendor hardware on both sides of the call is no longer required. 
         [0005]    In one of its aspects, the invention provides a VoIP cordless phone handset that communicates over a radio link with a base having an integrated video camera. In a preferred embodiment, the base couples to a USB port on an Internet interface device, such as a personal computer. The user operates the handset to establish a VoIP call. The handset has a video toggle control, for example a button, on it to activate/deactivate the video camera during a call. When the camera is deactivated, a “video muting” mode is established which transmits a video still image which keeps the video connection active for some instant messenger systems rather than having the call dropped when the video is muted. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the invention, a cordless phone system has a handset configured for wireless communication with a base station that interoperates with an internet interface appliance computer processor to effect Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications over a network such as the Internet. The base station has an integrated video camera that captures local video images for input to the computer processor. The phone system enables voice and video calling via suitable application software running on the computer processor of the Internet interface appliance. Preferably the Internet interface appliance is a personal computer thereby allowing users to download and install VoIP and instant messaging applications of their choice. Other specialized computer processors that are dedicated to particular VoIP and/or instant messaging services and ready to operate when powered up can be used as well. The arrangement of the invention allows user operation of the handset and base station equipment to permit functioning both as a cordless phone for voice over IP via the computer processor and as a videophone for video over IP via the computer processor. The voice and video functionality is integrated into the phone system of the present invention using a dedicated “toggle” control on the cordless handset, for example a button, which allows a call to be switched between video and voice-only modes on-the-fly. When in voice-only mode, the system functions like a cordless phone with a cordless handset that the user can take around the house. When in video mode, the user can sit down in front of the base unit and the integrated video camera will capture video of the user which will be supplied to the application software for delivery over the network to the other party in the call. The user will use the handset to speak to the other party, and will be able to see the other party via a display region on the computer monitor. A one-touch “toggle” function on the cordless handset allows the user to switch between these two calling methods on-the-fly during a call. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of components of a first embodiment of an internet interface device of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating components in a USB base station of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram illustrating an architecture of a second embodiment of an internet interface device of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram illustrating an architecture of a handset of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows an elevation view of an embodiment of a wireless handset and base constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a functional block diagram of hardware elements included in an embodiment of the base station of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows a functional block diagram of components in an embodiment of a handset constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known electrical structures and circuits are shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention. For example, specific details are not provided as to whether the embodiments of the invention described herein are implemented as a software routine, hardware circuit, firmware, or a combination thereof. 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the invention may be represented as a software product stored on a machine-readable medium (also referred to as a computer-readable medium, a processor-readable medium, or a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein). The machine-readable medium may be any type of magnetic, optical, or electrical storage medium including a diskette, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), memory device (volatile or non-volatile), or similar storage mechanism. The machine-readable medium may contain various sets of instructions, code sequences, configuration information, or other data, which, when executed, cause a processor to perform steps in a method according to an embodiment of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other instructions and operations necessary to implement the described invention may also be stored on the machine-readable medium. Software running from the machine readable medium may interface with circuitry to perform the described tasks. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention. A base station  100  connects to an Internet Interface Appliance  102  having a computer processor adapted for running user agent client applications to effect voice over protocol (VoIP) or instant messenger communications over a network such as the Internet  104 . In a preferred embodiment, the Internet Interface Appliance  102  is a personal computer configured to run a plurality of applications using a suitable operating system such as the Microsoft Windows (Trade-mark) operating system. A telephone handset  106  is in wireless communications with the base station  100  over a wireless channel  108 . The wireless handset communicates with base station  104  over a wireless communications channel  106  using standard wireless connections such as in the 900 MHz, 1.8, 2.4 or 5.8 GHz bands using a suitable digital encoding protocol, for example, the Worldwide Digital Cordless Telecommunications (WDCT) or Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone (DECT) standards for wireless telephone handset communications. A recharge station  101  is provided in the base where the wireless handset can be placed when not in use to recharge the batteries of the wireless handset. The communications between the handset and base station over the wireless channel is bidirectional and includes both audio signaling as well as control and supervisory signaling to facilitate exchange of call control information and supervisory signaling between the handset and base station as well as audio communications delivered to and received from the user of the wireless handset  106 . 
         [0019]    Communication between the base  100  and the internet interface device  102  is effected by a wireline coupling  103  which is preferably over a standard coupling interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) connection or an IEEE 1394 connection which facilitates exchange of call control and supervision signaling between the handset and the base station and the internet interface device  102 . In a preferred embodiment, the wireline coupling provides power to the base station  100  so a separate power supply or battery for the base station is not required. The Internet interface device  102  provides a computing platform to operate a VoIP client to facilitate and effect VoIP communication over the Internet  104 . The Internet interface device VoIP client can take one of several forms depending on the nature of the VoIP service provider  116  providing the VoIP service to the user of handset  106 . Common VoIP services that are available, which provide client software to operate on personal computers, include Skype (trade-mark), Windows Live Messenger (trade-mark) and numerous others. 
         [0020]    Wireless handset  100  provides a keypad  107  which includes a supervisory function keys as for example power on and off buttons, menu and select buttons as well as the dial number input buttons 0 through 9, octothorp and asterisk common to dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) touch-tone telephones. In this manner a conventional telephone handset device is presented to a user to initiate and receive VoIP calls over the Internet. The wireless handset may include a graphical display  109  to provide the user with an output that can be configured and changed over time by the applications running on the wireless handset  100  under software control. For example, the display  109  may display a buddy list of Skype (trademark) users and their current status in a manner corresponding to the buddy list that appears on the output computer monitor display  114  of the personal computer when a user is operating a Skype (trademark) softphone client on the PC. The handset also includes a microphone  122  and earpiece  124  to allow the user to use the wireless handset in a conventional manner familiar to a telephone user. 
         [0021]    When the Internet Interface Appliance  102  is implemented as a personal computer, conventional user interface services are available with user input devices such as a mouse  110 , a keyboard  112  and user output devices such as a computer monitor  114  to output a graphical display. The user activates a communications application on the Internet Interface Appliance  102  to make a call to a remote user  116  or to receive a call from a remote user  116  where the communications between the two users take place over the Internet  104 . Each user relies on a communications service provider that operates a communications server  118 . The communications server interoperates with the user devices, such as  102 ,  106  and  116 , to establish, supervise and disconnect calls taken place between users of the messaging system. The messaging system includes VoIP calls such as are operated by a number of VoIP service providers or instant messaging services that allow real time video and voice communications between users such as Skype (Trade-mark) or Windows Live Messenger (Trade-mark) or other such messaging applications. The user  120  uses a telephone handset  106  to exchange audio communications with the remote user  116 . The handset  106  has a microphone  122  to pick up local audio and an earpiece  124  to output audio locally to allow the user to effect voice communications with the remote user  116 . The handset has a dedicated video toggle control  126  embodied as a toggle button which is used to activate and de-activate video camera  128 . The video camera can be used to capture still images or a video sequence to a video library. Alternately, the user can populate the video library with any desired still image or video sequence. The user is then able to configure the system to select a still image or a stored video sequence to be provided to the communication session when the local video camera  128  is de-activated. In this manner, the user is permitted the capability to use the video toggle control to select between transmitting a local video capture during the communication session or to provide a still image or stored video sequence. The user selection or toggle between a local video capture and a configured selection from the video library can be made at the initiation or receipt of a call or at any time during the call communication session itself. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a functional block diagram of components of a first embodiment of an Internet interface appliance device  102 , which is embodied as a personal computer (PC). The PC includes a USB interface  150 , which is used to supply power to and communicate over USB wire line coupling  103  of  FIG. 1 . The PC runs an operating system (OS) program, such as a version of Linux (trademark) or of the Windows (trade-mark) operating system provided by Microsoft (trademark), for example, Windows Vista (trademark) or Windows XP (trademark). The operating system provides a framework to establish and operate software providing driver functionality to interact with the USB interface  150  including a human interface device driver (HID)  152  as well as a bidirectional media driver  154 . The media driver  154  accommodates audio data streams and image data streams including either still image or moving image or video data streams. The media driver provides the capability to support data transfer in either direction to represent the audio portion and or the video portion of the streaming data. The USB bridge application  156  controls communication with the USB interface  150  and interacts with one or more VoIP soft clients  158 , where Skype (trademark), Yahoo Messenger (trademark) and Windows Live Messenger (trademark) are shown by way of example in the figure. The softphone clients  158  control and facilitate communication over the internet  104  with a VoIP service provider messaging server  118  to initiate and receive messages or calls to and from other remote users  116  of the VoIP service corresponding to the selected softphone client operating on the PC internet interface device. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a functional block diagram of components in a USB base station of the present invention arranged to interoperate with a PC configured as described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The base station includes a software application operable on a computer processor provided in base station  100  to control and support the functionality of the base station in effecting communications between the Internet interface device  102  and the wireless handset  100 . The base station runs a call control task  170  that controls and coordinates the operation of the base station elements. A radio frequency (RF) driver  172  and RF interface  174  supports the particular protocol driver mechanism and RF interface to effect radio communication over the wireless channel  108  between the base and the handset. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous wireless protocols can be implemented by providing suitable functionality in a various RF implementations such as the DECT standard, an analogue or a digital spread spectrum (DSS) application operable on a suitable radio channel, for example, 900 MHz, 1.8, 2.4 or 5.8 GHz radio communications channel. A user interface task  176  communicates with the call control task  170  to provide user functionality at the base  100 . For example, the base includes a video camera  128  and the user causes the video camera  128  to capture local video by manipulating a video toggle control  126 , provided in the preferred embodiment as a button on the handset  106 . User manipulation of the video toggle control button switch is monitored by the User interface task  176 , which commences or ceases output capture from the video driver  178  which communicates with a video camera interface  180  coupled to the video camera  128 . 
         [0024]    A wireline interface  182  is provided to connect to the wireline coupling  103  connecting the base to the Internet interface device. In the preferred embodiment, the wireline interface  182  is a universal serial bus (USB) interface as that permits the base to receive power from the internet interface device  102  as well as effect bidirectional communications between the internet interface device and the base of both the audio signaling that allows user communication using the VoIP protocol over the internet as well as facilitate handling of call control signaling such as off hook, on hook and ring tone, dial tone functionality or exchange of buddy list updates with the soft phone client application running on the internet interface device. The wireline interface  182  is controlled by handler and driver applications  184  which are tailored to and written for the specific media of the wireline coupling that extends between the base and the Internet interface device. In the specific embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , USB drivers and command handlers are provided to control the behavior of the USB type wireline interface  182 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a functional block diagram of components of a second embodiment of a base station Internet interface device of the present invention. In this embodiment, the base includes the necessary hardware and software and does not require a separate personal computer (PC) for operation of the system of the invention. Consequently, the need for a PC and a USB wireline coupling in accordance with the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the invention is obviated. The base Internet interface appliance  102  runs an operating system (OS) program, such as a version Linux (trademark) or possibly a version of the Windows (trade-mark) operating system provided by Microsoft (trademark), for example, Windows Vista (trademark) or Windows XP (trademark). The operating system provides a framework to initiate and operate application software including user agent applications  158  to effect media and messaging communications over the Internet  104 . The user agent clients include applications such as those for communication using Skype (trademark), Yahoo Messenger (trademark) or Windows Live Messenger. The OS provides a framework for driver functionality to interact with the RF interface  172 ,  174  as well as operation of a bidirectional media task  160  to enable the user interface task  176  to facilitate user selection of the particular user agent application  158  that is to be used for communication. The media task  160  accommodates audio data streams and image data streams including either still image or moving image or video data streams. The media task provides the capability to support data transfer in either direction to represent the audio portion and or the video portion of the streaming data communication. The call control task  170  and user interface task  176  co-operate to enable the video camera  128  to be used to capture still images or a video sequence to a video library. Alternately, the user can populate the video library with any desired still image or video sequence. The user is then able to configure the call control task and user interface task of the system to select a still image or a stored video sequence that is to be provided to a communication session when the local video camera  128  is toggled to become de-activated. In this manner, the call control task provides the user with the capability to use the video toggle control to select between transmitting a local video capture from the camera  128  during a communication session or to provide a user configured and selected still image or stored video sequence during the communication session. The user selection or toggle between a local video capture and a configured selection from a video library accessible to the call control task is made at the initiation or receipt of a call or at any time during the call communication session itself. 
         [0026]    The softphone clients  158  control and facilitate communication over the internet  104  with a VoIP service provider messaging server  118  to initiate and receive messages or calls to and from other remote users  116  of the messaging or VoIP service corresponding to the selected softphone client operating on the Internet interface device  102 . The base station runs a call control task  170  that controls and coordinates the operation of the base station elements in communication with the handset  106 . A radio frequency (RF) driver  172  and RF interface  174  supports the particular protocol driver mechanism and RF interface to effect radio communications over the wireless channel  108  between the base and the handset. As with the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous wireless protocols can be implemented by providing suitable functionality in a various RF implementations such as the DECT standard, an analogue or a digital spread spectrum (DSS) application operable on a suitable radio channel, for example, 900 MHz, 1.8, 2.4 or 5.8 GHz radio communications channel. The user interface task  176  communicates with the call control task  170  to provide user functionality at the base Internet interface device  102 . For example, the base includes a video camera  128  and the user causes the video camera  128  to capture local video by manipulating a video toggle control  126 , provided in the preferred embodiment as a button on the handset  106 . User manipulation of the video toggle control button switch is monitored by the User Interface Task  176 , which commences or ceases output capture from the video driver  178  that communicates with a video camera interface  180  coupled to the video camera  128 . The call control task  170  allows user communication using a messaging or VoIP protocol over the Internet as well as facilitating handling of call control signaling such as off hook, on hook and ring tone, dial tone functionality or exchange of buddy list updates with the soft phone client application running on the Internet interface device base  102 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a functional block diagram illustrating an architecture of an embodiment of the telephone handset  106  of the present invention including function blocks for the applications running on a computer processor system of the wireless handset  106 . The handset has a call control task  200  that coordinates the user manipulation of the handset as well as the communications between the base and handset over the wireless channel  108  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The handset includes a user interface task  202  that coordinates the information provided to the user on the handset graphical display  109  by communication between the user interface task and the LCD driver. User manipulation of the handset keypad  107  is communicated to the user interface task  202  by means of an associated keypad driver. In this manner user input to the handset and user output from the handset on the keypad and LCD is coordinated at the handset. A battery powers the handset and a power control device  204  provides the necessary electrical coupling between the base station recharge cradle  101  and the batteries held within the handset itself. To control charging of the batteries and provide an indication of the charge level of the batteries to the user, a power management task  206  is preferably included as a software application on the handset. 
         [0028]    Audio communication to the microphone and earpiece of the handset is controlled by a general digital signal-processing driver (GenDSP)  208 , which controls and supports the audio signaling over the handset. The RF signaling between the base and handset is supported by a protocol driver application  210  and RF interface device  212 . User manipulation of the video toggle control  126  is monitored and communicated by user interface task  202  over RF interface  212 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows an elevation view of an embodiment of a wireless telephone handset  106  base  100  constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. The handset includes an antenna to couple to wireless channel  108  allowing audio and control information to be exchanged between the handset and base station  100 . The handset has a graphic display  109  output device that provides a general color display device configurable to show graphical elements or text characters. A camera  128  is mounted on the base preferably with an articulated mount  130  that permits the camera to be pointed in a desired direction while the base is at rest on a surface such as on a computer monitor or table top. When the base is configured to interoperate with a PC in the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a USB wireline coupling  103  extends between the base and the PC enabling the handset and base to receive power from the PC and communicate with the PC. As will be understood, when the base is configured to interoperate with the Internet in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , then wireline coupling  103  will provide powering and possibly Internet connectivity to the base  100  and, consequently, the handset  106 . As will be understood, the base  100  may communicate with a WiFi (trademark) wireless router or WiMax (trademark) wireless Internet connection to eliminate the need for wireline coupling  103  to provide Internet connectivity to the base  100 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a functional block diagram of hardware elements included in an embodiment of the base station  100  of  FIGS. 2  or  4 . The base station has a base band processor  192  computing device and memory device  194  to store the software applications that control the base as described more fully with reference to  FIGS. 2  or  4 . The processor  192  preferably has outputs to activate an in-use LED  186  and a power LED  188  as well as receive input from the page switch  190 . The processor communicates with the RF interface module  174  that controls the operation of the RF interface. An antenna  196  couples the RF interface module to the wireless channel  108 . An external interface  162  couples the base station unit directly in the embodiment of  FIG. 4  or indirectly in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  with the Internet  104 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the external interface  162  is the USB interface  186 , which has a USB controller  186  in communication with processor  192  to exchange control and communications signaling between the processor and the USB interface. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the external interface  162  couples to a device such as a router or modem to effect communications over the Internet. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a functional block diagram of components of an embodiment of a handset constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. The handset includes a base band processor  220  to provide a computing platform to execute the applications and functions described more fully with reference to  FIG. 4 . Memory device  222 , such as an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), is coupled to processor  220  and is used to store the software that operates the wireless handset. An RF interface module  212  is connected to the processor  220  and a handset antenna  224  to facilitate communication between the handset and the base over wireless channel  108 . When the handset is cradled in the recharge station  101  an electrical connection is established from the recharge station to the changing control centre  226  to recharge the handset battery  228  under control of the processor  220 . Optionally the handset keypad  107  is provided with a keypad backlight  230  to enable use of the handset keypad in darkened environments. Further, the handset may include a hands-free speaker  232  and a headset connector  234  to allow input and output of audio from the handset through additional elements apart from the ear piece  124  and microphone  122  conventionally provided on the handset. 
         [0032]    Now that the invention has been described with reference to then embodiments herein described, numerous modifications and substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is not, however, limited to the specific embodiments herein described but rather is defined by the claims appended hereto.