Abstract:
An internet video image producing method includes the following steps. Firstly, multiple images are captured by multiple web cameras. Then, the multiple images are compressed into compressed images. The compressed images are then combined as a single meeting image. Afterwards, the meeting image is transmitted to multiple screens.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an internet video image producing method, and more particularly to an internet video image producing method for use in a video conference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventionally, people are communicated with each other through letters, indoor telephones, public telephones, beepers (also referred as pagers or B.B Call), faxing machines and the like. With increasing development of computer systems and networks, communication technologies have experienced great growth. Nowadays, the communicating ways are not restricted to letters, telephones, short messages or facsimile. For example, electronic mails gradually replace letters; and mobiles and instant messages gradually replace telephones and beepers. 
         [0003]    Electronic mails are transferred among different computers through internet connection. In addition, through internet connection, a communication platform such as a blog or a network communication program also provides the communicating functions. In this context, the network communication program is concerned. The network communication program such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and Skype program becomes popular instant message tool. By means of texts, symbols or pictures, the users of the network communication program can be communicated with each other. Moreover, some network communication programs can be executed to perform a videoconferencing function. Through the video conference, the users of different cities or countries can speak with each other. In other words, the videoconferencing technique enables low-cost face-to-face business meetings by saving long-distance call fees, international direct dialing fees, transportation fees and other fees required for face-to-face business meetings. 
         [0004]    A video conference between two users will be illustrated as follows. When a network communication program is executed to perform a videoconferencing function, the microphone of the computer system can record a first user&#39;s speech and the web camera (or webcam) of the computer system can capture the first user&#39;s image. By the network communication program, the first user&#39;s speech and the first user&#39;s image are transmitted to the computer system of a second user through internet connection. The first user&#39;s speech and the first user&#39;s image are then respectively outputted by the loudspeaker and the screen of the second user&#39;s computer system. Similarly, the second user&#39;s speech and the second user&#39;s image can be obtained by the second user&#39;s computer system and then transmitted to the first user. Under this circumstance, the videoconferencing technique will enable individual users in faraway sites to have meetings. 
         [0005]    On the other hands, although the conventional videoconferencing technique provides a one-to-one face-to-face business meeting, the conventional videoconferencing technique is not satisfactory to offer a one-to-many face-to-face business meeting. That is, if three (or more) users participate in the video conference, the videoconferencing technique becomes more complicated. 
         [0006]    In a case that all of the three users are located at different sites, the first user can simultaneously communicate with the second user and the third user by using different frames; but the second user and the third user fail to communicate with each other by videoconferencing. 
         [0007]    In another case that the first user is located at a first site but the second and third users are located at a second site, a collective web camera is required to capture the images of the second and third users. Under this circumstance, the second and third users need to be crowded into the shooting range of the web camera in order to capture the images of the second and third users. If the second and third users do not want to be simultaneously crowded into the shooting range of the web camera, the second and third users should take turns to move within the shooting range of the web camera upon marking a speech. As known, such a videoconferencing technique is neither user-friendly nor convenient. 
         [0008]    Therefore, there is a need of providing an internet video image producing method for use in a video conference so as to obviate the drawbacks encountered from the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an internet video image producing method for showing multiple users&#39; images on a same meeting image. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an internet video image producing method. Firstly, a first computer, a second computer and a third computer are communicated with an internet server through internet connection. Next, a first image, a second image and a third image are captured by a first web camera of the first computer, a second web camera of the second computer and a third web camera of the third computer, respectively. The first image, the second image and the third image are then transmitted to the internet server. Next, a video image combination application program of the internet server is executed to compress the first image, the second image and the third image into a first compressed image, a second compressed image and a third compressed image, respectively. The first compressed image, the second compressed image and the third compressed image are combined as a meeting image, so that the first compressed image, the second compressed image and the third compressed image are simultaneously shown on the meeting image. Afterwards, the meeting image is transmitted to the first computer, the second computer and the third computer. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the first image, the second image and the third image are stored in a memory of the internet server. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the first compressed image, the second compressed image and the third compressed image are combined as the meeting image by the video image combination application program, and the meeting image is stored in the memory. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the first computer, the second computer and the third computer are desktop computers or notebook computers. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the first computer, the second computer and the third computer include a first screen, a second screen and a third screen for respectively displaying the meeting image that is transmitted to the first computer, the second computer and the third computer. 
         [0015]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an internet video image producing method. Firstly, a first computer is communicated with a second computer through internet connection, wherein the first computer has a first web camera, and the second computer is communicated with a second web camera and a third web camera. Next, a first image, a second image and a third image are captured by the first web camera, the second web camera and the third web camera, respectively. The first image, the second image and the third image are then transmitted to the second computer. Next, a video image combination application program of the internet server is executed to compress the first image, the second image and the third image into a first compressed image, a second compressed image and a third compressed image, respectively. The first compressed image, the second compressed image and the third compressed image are combined as a meeting image, so that the first compressed image, the second compressed image and the third compressed image are simultaneously shown on the meeting image. Afterwards, the meeting image is transmitted to the first computer and a screen that is connected to the second computer. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the first image, the second image and the third image are stored in a memory of the second computer. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the meeting image is stored in the memory. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, the first computer and the second computer are desktop computers or notebook computers. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the second computer further includes multiple USB connecting ports, and the second computer is communicated with the second web camera and the third web camera through the USB connecting ports. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, the second computer further includes a USB expander with multiple USB connecting ports, and the second computer is communicated with the second web camera and the third web camera through the USB expander. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, the first computer includes a first screen for displaying the meeting image that is transmitted to the first computer. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the screen of the second computer is a projection screen for displaying the meeting image that is transmitted to the second computer. 
         [0023]    In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an internet video image producing method. Firstly, a first image, a second image and a third image are generated and outputted by a first computer, a second computer and a third computer, respectively. Next, the first image, the second image and the third image are compressed into a first compressed image, a second compressed image and a third compressed image, respectively. The first compressed image, the second compressed image and the third compressed image are combined as a meeting image, so that the first compressed image, the second compressed image and the third compressed image are simultaneously shown on the meeting image. Afterwards, the meeting image is transmitted to the first computer, the second computer and the third computer. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the first computer, the second computer and the third computer further includes a first web camera, a second web camera and a third web camera for capturing and generating the first image, the second image and the third image, respectively. 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, the first image, the second image and the third image are respectively transmitted from the first computer, the second computer and the third computer to a memory of the internet server through internet connection. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, the meeting image is stored in the memory. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the first computer, the second computer and the third computer are desktop computers or notebook computers. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, the first computer, the second computer and the third computer include a first screen, a second screen and a third screen for respectively displaying the meeting image that is transmitted to the first computer, the second computer and the third computer. 
         [0029]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block functional diagram illustrating a videoconferencing system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block functional diagram illustrating a videoconferencing system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0032]    The present invention provides an internet video image producing method for use in a video conference.  FIG. 1  is a schematic block functional diagram illustrating a videoconferencing system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a user at a first site and multiple other users at a second site participate in a video conference. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a first user A is located at a first site PA; but a second user B, a third user C, a fourth user D and a fifth user E are located at a second site PB. For example, the second site PB is a conference room. The videoconferencing system  1  principally comprises a first computer  11  and a second computer  12 . The first computer  11  is located at the first site PA. The second computer  12  is located at the second site PB (i.e. the conference room). The second computer  12  comprises a memory  201  and a video image combination application program  202 . In addition, the second computer  12  is connected to a projection screen  30 . For preventing the four users at the second site PB from being crowded into the shooting range of only a web camera, four web cameras are respectively disposed in front of these four users. Please refer to  FIG. 1  again. A second web camera  122  is disposed in front of the second user B for capturing the image of the second user B. A third web camera  132  is disposed in front of the third user C for capturing the image of the third user C. A fourth web camera  142  is disposed in front of the fourth user D for capturing the image of the fourth user D. A fifth web camera  152  is disposed in front of the fifth user E for capturing the image of the fifth user E. These web cameras  122 ,  132 ,  142  and  152  are all electrically connected to the second computer  12 . An example of the second computer  12  that is disposed at the second site PB is a desktop computer. The first computer  11 , which is disposed at the first site PA and used by the first user A, comprises a first screen  111  and a first web camera  112 . 
         [0033]    Hereinafter, a process of carrying out internet video image producing method according to the present invention will be illustrated with reference to the videoconferencing system of  FIG. 1 . For a purpose of having a face-to-face business meeting between the first user A and the other four users B˜E, the first computer  11  is communicated with the second computer  12  through internet connection. Next, a first image I A  of the first user A is captured by the first web camera  112  of the first computer  11 . At the same time, a second image I B  of the second user B, a third image I C  of the third user C, a fourth image I D  of the fourth user D and a fifth image I E  of the fifth user E are respectively captured by the second web camera  122 , the third web camera  132 , the fourth web camera  142  and the fifth web camera  152 , which are disposed at the second side PB. Generally, the web camera may be directly connected to the USB connecting port of a computer. Since the amount of web cameras to be communicated with the second computer  12  is more than the inherent USB connecting port of the second computer  12 , a USB expander  40  is required. That is, the web cameras  122 ,  132 ,  142  and  152  that are disposed on the second side PB are connected to the second computer  12  through the USB expander  40 . The second web camera  122  is connected to a first USB connecting port  401  of the USB expander  40 . The third web camera  132  is connected to a second USB connecting port  402  of the USB expander  40 . The fourth web camera  142  is connected to a third USB connecting port  403  of the USB expander  40 . The fifth web camera  152  is connected to a fourth USB connecting port  404  of the USB expander  40 . 
         [0034]    After the images have been captured, the first image I A  is transmitted from the first computer  11  to the memory  201  of the second computer  12  through internet connection for storage. In addition, the images I B , I C , I D  and I E  that are respectively captured by the web cameras  122 ,  132 ,  142  and  152  at the second side PB are transmitted to the memory  201  of the second computer  12  through physical wires for storage. It is preferred that the images I A , I B , I C , I D  and I E  are captured at 640×480 resolution. Next, the video image combination application program  202  is executed to compress the images I A , I B , I C , I D  and I E  into a first compressed image I CA , a second compressed image I CB , a third compressed image I CC , a fourth compressed image I CD  and a fifth compressed image I CE , respectively. The compressed images I CA , I CB , I CC , I CD  and I CE  have resolution lower than 640×480. Next, by the video image combination application program  202 , these compressed images I CA , I CB , I CC , I CD  and I CE  are combined as a meeting image I meeting . The meeting image I meeting  comprises the first compressed image I CA , the second compressed image I CB , the third compressed image I CC , the fourth compressed image I CD  and the fifth compressed image I CE . That is, the first compressed image I CA , the second compressed image I CB , the third compressed image I CC , the fourth compressed image I CD  and the fifth compressed image I CE  are simultaneously shown on the meeting image I meeting  in a predetermined arrangement as shown in  FIG. 1 . Also, the meeting image I meeting  is obtained at 640×480 resolution. 
         [0035]    Next, the meeting image I meeting  is transmitted to the first screen  111  of the first computer  11 , so that the meeting image I meeting  is displayed on the first screen  111  to be viewed by the first user A. In addition, the meeting image I meeting  is also transmitted to the projection screen  30 , which is connected to the second computer  12 , so that the meeting image I meeting  is displayed on the projection screen  30  to be simultaneously viewed by the users B˜E at the second site PB. Since the compressed images of all users are combined as the single meeting image I meeting  and the meeting image I meeting  is transmitted to the screens at different sites, the images of all attendants in the video conference can be viewed by all users. Consequently, a one-to-many face-to-face business meeting is feasible by using the internet video image producing method of the present invention. Under this circumstance, since the users no longer needs to take turns to move or be crowded within the shooting range of the collective web camera, the problems encountered from the prior art are overcome. 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, the compressed images of the meeting image I meeting  are organized in the predetermined arrangement as shown in  FIG. 1 . Nevertheless, the compressed images of the meeting image I meeting  may be organized in any desired arrangement. The internet video image producing method of the present invention enables individual users in faraway sites to have meetings while solving the problems encountered from the prior art. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block functional diagram illustrating a videoconferencing system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the users for participating in a video conference are located at different sites. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first user A is located at the first site PA; a second user B is located at a second site PB; a third user C is located at a third site PC; a fourth user D is located at a fourth site PD; and a fifth user E is located at a fifth site PE. The videoconferencing system  1  principally comprises an internet server  20 , a first computer  11 , a second computer  12 , a third computer  13 , a fourth computer  14  and a fifth computer  15 . The first computer  11  is located at the first site PA. The second computer  12  is located at the second site PB. The third computer  13  is located at the third site PC. The fourth computer  14  is located at the fourth site PD. The fifth computer  15  is located at the fifth site PE. The internet server  20  comprises a memory  201  and a video image combination application program  202 . In this embodiment, the computers  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14  and  15  are notebook computers with built-in web cameras. The first computer  11  comprises a first screen  111  and a first web camera  112 . The second computer  12  comprises a second screen  121  and a second web camera  122 . The third computer  13  comprises a third screen  131  and a third web camera  132 . The fourth computer  14  comprises a fourth screen  141  and a fourth web camera  142 . The fifth computer  15  comprises a fifth screen  151  and a fifth web camera  152 . 
         [0038]    Hereinafter, a process of carrying out internet video image producing method according to the present invention will be illustrated with reference to the videoconferencing system of  FIG. 2 . For a purpose of having a face-to-face business meeting between the first user A and the other four users B˜E, the first computer  11  is communicated with the internet server  20  through internet connection. Likewise, the computers  12 ,  13 ,  14  and  15  are also communicated with the internet server  20  through internet connection. Next, a first image I A  of the first user A is captured by the first web camera  112  of the first computer  11 ; a second image I B  of the second user B is captured by the second web camera  122  of the second computer  12 ; a third image I C  of the third user C is captured by the third web camera  132  of the third computer  13 ; a fourth image I D  of the fourth user D is captured by the fourth web camera  142  of the fourth computer  14 ; and a fifth image I E  of the fifth user E is captured by the fifth web camera  152  of the fifth computer  15 . It is preferred that the images I A , I B , I C , I D  and I E  are captured at 640×480 resolution. After the images have been captured, the first image I A , the second image I B , the third image I C , the fourth image I D  and the fifth image I E  are transmitted to the memory  201  of the internet server  20  for storage through internet connection. Next, the video image combination application program  202  of the internet server  20  is executed to compress the images I A , I B , I C , I D  and I E  into a first compressed image I CA , a second compressed image I CB , a third compressed image I CC , a fourth compressed image I CD  and a fifth compressed image I CE , respectively. The compressed images I CA , I CB , I CC , I CD  and I CE  have resolution of 320×240. Next, by the video image combination application program  202 , these compressed images I CA , I CB , I CC , I CD  and I CE  are combined as a meeting image I meeting . The meeting image I meeting  comprises the first compressed image I CA , the second compressed image I CB , the third compressed image I CC , the fourth compressed image I CD  and the fifth compressed image I CE . That is, the first compressed image I CA , the second compressed image I CB , the third compressed image I CC , the fourth compressed image I CD  and the fifth compressed image I CE  are simultaneously shown on the meeting image I meeting  in a predetermined arrangement as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    Next, the meeting image I meeting  is transmitted to the first computer  11 , the second computer  12 , the third computer  13 , the fourth computer  14  and the fifth computer  15 , so that the meeting image I meeting  is shown on the first screen  111 , the second screen  121 , the third screen  131 , the fourth screen  141  and the fifth screen  151  to be respectively viewed by the users A˜E. Meanwhile, the images of all attendants in the video conference can be viewed by all users and thus more than two people can have a face-to-face business meeting. In this embodiment, the images I A , I B , I C , I D  and I E  captured at 640×480 resolution are compressed by the video image combination application program  202  into the compressed images I CA , I CB , I CC , I CD  and I CE  at 320×240 resolution, and these compressed images I CA , I CB , I CC , I CD  and I CE  are then combined as a meeting image I meeting . The meeting image I meeting  is also obtained at 640×480 resolution. 
         [0040]    In this embodiment, the compressed images of the meeting image I meeting  are organized in an arrangement other than  FIG. 1 . The resolution of the compressed images is not restricted as long as the resolution of the compressed images is lower than the resolution of the original images. In addition, the original images and the meeting image I meeting  are not restricted to be obtained at 640×480 resolution. 
         [0041]    From the above description, the internet video image producing method of the present invention can be used to have one-to-many or many-to-many face-to-face business meetings. By means of the specified video image combination application program, the internet video image producing method of the present invention is applicable to the existing hardware components without the need of additional cost. The internet video image producing method of the present invention needs large-sized memory capacity and relatively broad network bandwidth, which are achievable by the current computing techniques. As the current computing techniques are continuously developed, the efficacy of the present invention becomes more apparent. 
         [0042]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.