Abstract:
A TV with Internet communication capability includes a built-in microphone and video camera. Signals from the microphone and video camera are processed by an IP phone module in the TV, multiplexed together, and sent over the Internet to one or more user-selected addresses. Incoming videoconferencing signals are demultiplexed and presented on the TV display and speaker.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application relates generally to TVs with Internet videoconferencing capability. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Internet videoconferencing has been provided to enable mobile phone users and personal computer users to communicate with each other and see as well as hear each other. Such videoconferencing is typically convenient and inexpensive. As recognized herein, it would be advantageous to leverage the audio and video capability inherent in a TV to extend Internet videoconferencing opportunities for users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An apparatus includes a TV chassis, a TV video display on the chassis, and one or more TV audio speakers for playing audio associated with video presented on the display. The apparatus also has a TV tuner for presenting video from a selected channel on the display. A TV processor in the chassis communicates with a wide area computer network using a network interface. A microphone and a video camera are on the chassis, and an IP phone module is in the chassis for receiving signals from the microphone and video camera. The IP phone module sends the signals to one or more recipients on the wide area network using the network interface. Incoming videoconferencing signals from the wide area network are presented on the TV video display and TV audio speaker. 
         [0004]    In example implementations the signals from the camera and microphone are multiplexed prior to being sent over the wide area network. Also, if desired the incoming videoconferencing signals from the wide area network are demultiplexed prior to display. 
         [0005]    A switch can be provided in the chassis for selectively connecting the speaker to a TV audio baseband circuit or to the IP phone module responsive to user selection of TV mode or videoconferencing mode, respectively. The IP phone module can include an analog baseband circuit sending signals to the switch and a digital processor communicating with the analog baseband circuit and sending signals for display on the TV display. The digital processor may receive signals from the video camera while the analog baseband circuit may receive signals from the microphone. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a computer-implemented method includes receiving at a TV a user command to enter a videoconferencing mode, and in response to the user command, configuring a switch to disconnect a TV audio baseband circuit from a TV speaker and to connect an IP phone module to the TV speaker. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a system includes TV chassis, a TV supported by the chassis, and an IP phone module supported on the chassis. Information received from the IP phone module is presented on the TV. 
         [0008]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system showing example components hosting videoconferencing; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example TV; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a TV display showing an example user interface from which a user may select to use the TV as a videoconferencing platform; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of example logic for using the TV shown in  FIG. 2  as a videoconferencing platform. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an example TV  10  in accordance with present principles can communicate videoconferencing signals in accordance with disclosure below with a wide area network  12  such as the Internet. The TV  10  can exchange video and voice signals to other components on the network  12  including, e.g., a personal computer (PC)  14 , a mobile telephone  16 , and another TV  18  that is configured like the TV  10 . 
         [0014]    The TV  10  may be controlled by a user manipulating a TV remote control  20  to cause TV video, video from videoconferencing, user interfaces, etc. to be presented on a TV display  22  such as but not limited to a flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) that is supported on a TV chassis  24 . Also, one or more microphones  26  and video cameras  28  (shown in  FIG. 1  as being integrated in a single videoconferencing package) are mounted on the chassis  24  for purposes to be shortly disclosed. 
         [0015]    Details of the example TV  10  can be seen in  FIG. 2 . A TV tuner  30  receives TV signals from a source of TV signals such as a set-top box, satellite dish, cable head end, terrestrial TV signal antenna, etc. The tuner  30  may be in the chassis  24  or it may be externally located in, e.g., a set-top box. The TV signals typically include analog and digital signals, and may be presented on the display  22  in standard definition and/or high definition. 
         [0016]    A TV processor  32  in the chassis  24  controls the display  22  to present demanded images. The TV processor  32  may also access a TV analog baseband circuit  34  to cause one or more TV speakers  36  to play audio signals in TV programming. The TV analog baseband circuit  34  may include, e.g., digital-to-audio converter circuitry, etc. 
         [0017]    The TV processor  32  may also communicate with a network central processing unit (CPU)  38  in the chassis  24 , it being understood that the CPU  38  may be omitted and its function undertaken by the TV processor  34 . In any case, the CPU  38  (or TV processor  32 ) communicates with the wide area network  12  shown in  FIG. 1  using a network interface  40  such as but limited to a modem. In some implementations the interface  40  may be a local area network (LAN) interface of, e.g., a home network of which the TV  10  is a part, with the home network in turn communicating with the Internet. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  also shows that the TV processor  32  may access one or more tangible computer readable storage media such as disk-based storage or solid-state storage such as but not limited to a random access memory (RAM) device  42  and a read-only memory (ROM) device  44  such as flash memory. The logic herein may be implemented on the storage media for execution thereof by one or more processors described herein. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the TV processor  32  may communicate with an Internet Protocol (IP) phone module  46  which may include a digital processor  48  such as a digital signal processor (DSP). The digital processor  48  may communicate with an analog baseband circuit  50  in the IP phone module  46  as shown. The digital processor  48  may in some embodiments be integrated with the TV processor  32  and/or CPU  38 . 
         [0020]    In any case, the digital processor  48  may be programmed to execute IP videoconferencing logic in accordance with, for instance, “Skype” principles. To this end the digital processor  48  may receive input from the video camera  28  on the TV chassis, while the analog baseband circuit  50 , which can include analog to digital and digital to analog conversion circuitry, can receive input from the microphone  26  on the TV chassis. Also, the digital processor  48  of the IP phone module  46  may send signals to the TV processor  32  for display of video represented by the signals on the display  22 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the analog baseband circuit  50  of the IP phone module  46  may provide audio signals to a switch  52 . As can readily be appreciated in reference to  FIG. 2 , the switch  52 , which may be controlled by, e.g., the TV processor  32 , connects either the TV analog baseband circuit  34  to the speaker  36  so that audio from TV programming may be played, or the switch  52  disconnects from the circuit  34  and connects the speaker  36  to the analog baseband circuit  50  of the IP phone module  46  so that audio from videoconferencing signals may be played on the speaker. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows that a user interface may be presented on the TV display  22  permitting a person to select a TV mode or other modes, as well as an IP videoconferencing mode. The latter mode may include a sub-selection allowing a user to enter, by means of, e.g., the remote control  20  shown in  FIG. 1 , an address or phone number of a recipient with whom videoconferencing is to be established. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows that when a user command is received at block  54  invoking the videoconferencing mode, the logic moves to block  56  to configure the switch  52  to connect the IP phone module  46  to the TV speaker(s)  36 . If not already activated, the video camera  28  on the TV chassis is activated. 
         [0024]    Proceeding to block  58 , signals received from the microphone  26  may be multiplexed by the IP phone module  46  with signals received from the video camera  28  and sent through the CPU  38  and network interface  40  over the wide area network  12  to one or more recipients as designated by the user. Also, at block  60  an incoming videconferencing signal is received from a sending videoconferencing node in the network  12  through the network interface  40  and CPU  38  and provided to the IP phone module  46 , where video is demultiplexed from audio. The video is sent from the digital processor  48  to the TV processor  32  for presentation of the video on the TV display  22 , while the audio is sent from the audio baseband circuit  50  of the IP phone module  46  through the switch  52  to the speaker(s)  36  for playing thereof at block  64 . 
         [0025]    Also, if desired a self-image, i.e., the image from the TV-mounted video camera  28 , may be presented on the display  22 , along with the image received from a sending node on the network. In this latter regard a picture-in-picture presentation may be used. 
         [0026]    While the particular TV WITH INTERNET VIDEOCONFERENCING is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.