Patent Abstract:
A system for providing full motion, high frame rate video, well synchronized audio, and transmission of additional data between two or more parties including at least one provider and at least one user of a medical service.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/911,270 filed Dec. 3, 2013, entitled System and Method for Enabling Real Time Remote Communication in the Medical Field, and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/217,270, filed Jul. 1, 2008, entitled Duplex Enhanced Quality Video Transmission Over Internet, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a method and system for the virtual interaction between medical care providers, medical patients, and medical specialists. More particularly, this invention relates to the visual and audible interaction between medical care providers, medical patients, and medical specialists via web enabled devices. Further, the invention relates to a method and system for transmission of full motion video, audio, and diagnostic data between medical care providers, medical patients, and medical specialists to aid and facilitate medical treatment between remote parties. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    The use of existing hardwired communications networks to transmit video as well as voice communications is well known, and has been practiced for several decades. However, prior art systems have typically been very expensive, or have had limitations such as only allowing transmission of images with noticeable delays, poor transmission quality, or both. Full motion video, and especially interactive video, requires the delivery of a very significant amount of data in a relatively uninterrupted stream, which has proven difficult to accomplish over existing telephonic and computer networks. 
         [0006]    Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines have been used for video transmission, with some success, as disclosed in publications such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,534, No. 5,751,339, and No. 5,184,345. While this has resulted in much improved transmission quality, the expense of ISDN lines remains a formidable obstacle to their wide use. 
         [0007]    An alternative to the transmission of video data over ISDN lines is the use of standard twisted pair copper wire telephone lines, or via the Internet or other computer networks. A viable solution using existing telephone networks was achieved by the Applicant previously, and is protected by U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,693, issued Jan. 30, 2001. 
         [0008]    A solution using the Internet or other computer networks to deliver full-motion, live, full duplex transmission of broadcast or near broadcast quality video has been unsolved until now. The Internet relies on grouping the data to be transmitted over it into small component packages of data called packets. These packets are, in general, of unequal length and contain information to indicate where they begin and end, as well as source and destination information. Packets from diverse sources travel over the Internet together and, thus must be recognized at any intermediate switching point and at their final destination points for recombination with other properly associated packets, if successful transmission is to occur. The packeting methodology by its very nature leads to potential delays in transmission and processing, and a degradation in the quality of the transmission. In addition, the ever growing number of users on the Internet has compounded the delay in transmission. Such delays and degradation in quality, although generally not critical in voice communications or in unidirectional video communications, are less tolerable in applications requiring a high data transmission rate such as full-motion, live, full duplex video transmission, particularly if broadcast quality or near broadcast quality video is required. By and large, bidirectional video communication has suffered from both severe latency as well as poor image quality. 
         [0009]    The present invention enables the Internet or other computer network to be used to deliver full-motion, live, full duplex transmission of broadcast or near broadcast quality video to anyone having conventional high-speed Internet access. 
         [0010]    Inexpensive video conferencing, particularly given the security available with a secure client peer-to-peer connection, is compatible with the needs of many industries, including the medical industry, which in the past has had justifiable concerns about transmitting information over the Internet. 
         [0011]    The most obvious beneficiaries of the present invention are individuals who, with the availability of a means to capture video, can, through the use of the present invention, employ a conventional high-speed Internet connection to communicate with another person or a group of others, in broadcast or near-broadcast quality video. 
         [0012]    In particular, conventional methods for patients to receive medical aid and diagnoses require doctors and patients to be in the same location. In non-emergency situation, patients typically schedule appointments with their medical providers for routine medical “checkups”, need medical care, or when they fall ill. Once said appointments are scheduled, patients travel to the care providers so they may be diagnosed and potentially treated. During scheduled medical appointments, Medical Providers often inspect patients visually and with a number of medical instruments which provide data, to ascertain a patient&#39;s medical condition. Once a patient&#39;s condition is established, medical providers can give their recommended course of action. 
         [0013]    In certain cases, patients are referred to a medical provider specializing in their condition, which often requires a new appointment and further travel to the specialist&#39;s location. The existing method for interaction between medical providers and patients in a non-emergency situation has several limitations. Requiring potentially ill patients to travel to a medical provider is potentially dangerous and could cause further harm. Additionally, medical providers are not always functioning at their most efficient levels under the conventional interaction method. In the event a patient cancels an appointment, there is the possibility that their time slot with the medical provider is not filled by another patient and therefore wasted. A situation as described causes medical providers to function at a less than optimal level. In a hospital environment or emergency situation, patients often require frequent monitoring throughout their stay. High numbers of patients often cause hospital workers and medical providers to struggle to adequately monitor and interact with each patient in a timely manner. 
         [0014]    The medical industry will, if it chooses, have the ability to facilitate visual and audible interaction between medical care providers and patients using internet connected computer of mobile devices. The use of live video interaction has not yet been implemented in the medical world for such use. The introduction of such technology to the industry will potentially increase efficiency numbers and benefit both medical providers and medical patients. Prior to this invention, medical providers were more constricted as to the number of patients they could examine in a given time period. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0015]    The present invention comprises means for capturing video and associated audio signals, packetizing the same, transmitting the packets as a smooth continuous stream of video and audio data over the Internet, unpacking the data laden packets, and reassembling the data as video and well-synchronized associated audio at the desired recipient location to provide jitter-free full motion video with well-synchronized sound. In an embodiment, two parties can enjoy full duplexed interactivity such as a real time video call. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention also permits combining such packet streams to travel among a plurality of locations, so that there is interactivity not only between a one sender and one receiver, but between a plurality of parties. 
         [0016]    To accomplish the duplex or multi-party enhanced quality transmission of the video and audio data between source(s) and destination(s), the present invention is capable of functioning over a private Internet backbone decoupled from the conventional Internet, that transmits packets without the latency incurred by communications over the conventional Internet. For example, the private backbone may be provided under contract with a bulk capacity provider, preferably by reserving capacity on the Internet fiber optic backbone. Equipment can be placed at the headends and/or points of presence of locally provided high-speed Internet access, that detects the packets used in the disclosed system, and redirects those packets to bypass the conventional Internet. Preferably, signals produced at user locations, such as audio/video signals, signals from medical devices, and the like, are packetized by user equipment at the user locations, although packets may alternatively be formed by the system equipment placed at the headends and/or points of presence. Preferably, packets are formed having a fixed length, including fixed length fields, so that packets may be formed and unpacked quickly; some or all of the routing may be predetermined so the packets need not be examined for source and destination at some or all of the private backbone nodes; and a connectionless transmission model with no handshaking or packet-based error correction is preferably used to minimize latency even further. In combination, these features provide smooth, broadcast quality full motion video and well-synchronized audio, that can be used by anyone with a conventional high-speed Internet connection without any added equipment. 
         [0017]    In its simplest form, a user has at his or her location a means to capture video imagery and the associated audio and convert it to a digital signal, and a means to convert a received digital signal into a presentation of video imagery and the associated audio. These means are generally well-known in the art and would include devices such as a microphone, a camera, a video/audio encoder/decoder, a monitor, and a speaker. In general the means are either integral in or can be made available by employing a personal computer (“PC”). In accordance with the present invention, the transmitted or received video signal is transmitted to or received from the Internet in packets of predetermined, preferably equal length. Each packet is generally encoded with the following information: (1) information indicating the beginning and the end of the packet, (2) information indicating the length of the packet, (3) information indicating the algorithm used to encode the audio/video data, and (4) the encoded audio/video data itself. 
         [0018]    Thus, even before the audio/video data leaves the location of the sender, it has been transformed into packets to be transmitted over the Internet or other computer network, and the audio/video data remains in packet form until it arrives at the location of the receiver. 
         [0019]    The packet stream is routed to the recipient who has the apparatus, software or both designed in accordance with the present invention to capture the data and convert the packets to an audio/video signal which is in turn displayed on a video device with accompanying audio projected. This generally is a PC. 
         [0020]    Since the transmission and reception of the packets is based on a first in/first out protocol, as packets are pulled out to be transmitted or received, they are immediately replaced with the next packets required to be transmitted or received. As a consequence, the sequence is maintained in a relatively uninterrupted manner. Although it is indeed preferable to transmit and receive all data without any error, the system of the present invention need not transmit and receive 100% of the data since an acceptable, indeed very high quality video signal will be enabled even with a loss of some data from the stream of data. 
         [0021]    The present invention thus provides for the transmission and reception of full motion, full duplex, live video data and accompanying audio data over the Internet or other computer network, with the concomitant benefit of permitting parties at remote locations to visually and audibly communicate with each other. As well, if one of the parties to the connection is a television studio originating a video broadcast, the video communications received will be and can be transmitted and received between any two points served by the conventional telephone network, at a cost which does not deter widespread use. 
         [0022]    This is accomplished through the use of a preferential Internet backbone, a preferential route supplied by arrangement with a data network provider, using fiberoptic lines that are carrying reduced data traffic. This provides for great bandwidth for the bidirectional transmission of video between two or more users. 
         [0023]    When an authorized user logs on, a Network Operation Center (“NOC”) verifies both the user and the other users authorized to receive video from and send video to each other. The NOC provides applicable addresses of other users to which each user may connect. If there are only two users, the system will place them into a peer-to-peer connection, for enhanced speed, reliability, and security. 
         [0024]    In an additional embodiment, where more than two users are to be connected, the system creates a meeting room, a virtual location where the users of the system “meet.” By use of a multiplexing system the NOC permits all users to have the same transmission rates of data and as more specifically described permits certain supplementary enhancements, such as featuring a larger image of the person then speaking. 
         [0025]    In an additional embodiment, a room system may also connect to the videoconference system. A room system is a videoconferencing station that typically includes large monitors with a wide-angle camera and serves groups of people who meet in a room and conference with other groups at remote locations. If the room system has an Internet connection, it would connect to the videoconference system in a manner similar to that used by a personal computer. In such a case, if there was only one other user, the connection would be peer-to-peer, whereas if there were three or more total users, the connection would be made through a meeting room at the NOC. If the room system does not have an Internet connection, but instead has a private network, then it would connect to the NOC through a hardware bridge. 
         [0026]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the attached drawings and the following description of the preferred embodiments which are meant by way of illustration and example only, but are not to be construed as in any way limiting the invention disclosed and claimed herein. 
         [0027]    The present invention includes at least a computer-implemented engine, system and method for allowing the visual and audio communication between at least one provider and at least one user of a medical service. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings, like numerals represent like elements, and: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the transmission of full motion duplex video and audio between a medical patient and medical care provided in conjunction with digital data from a medical device; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the unilateral transmission of audio and video, in conjunction with digital data from a medical device, from a medical patient to a medical care provider; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the transmission and flow of audio, video, and digital data from a medical device, between a medical patient, a medical care provider, and a medical specialist; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the direct point to point transmission method of audio, video, and data between two parties; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the direct point to point transmission method of audio, video, and data between multiple parties; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the transmission method of audio, video, and data, when being directed through a video conferencing provider as an intermediary. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of bidirectional transmission of video between two users, where each is using a personal computer via an Internet path. 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of bidirectional transmission of video between two users, where one is using a personal computer with an Internet connection and the other is using a room system with a private network. 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of bidirectional transmission of video between three or more users, where each user accesses a meeting room. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0040]    The present invention is a system for duplex enhanced quality bidirectional video transmission over an Internet backbone. Among the improvements in the duplex enhanced quality video transmission system of the present invention is better performance while eliminating the need for specialized hardware. 
         [0041]    Computer-implemented platforms, engines, systems and methods of use are disclosed that provide networked access to a plurality of types of digital content, including but not limited to video, audio, metadata, interactive and document content, and that track, deliver manipulate, transform and report the accessed content. Described embodiments of these platforms, engines, systems and methods are intended to be exemplary and not limiting. As such, it is contemplated that the herein described systems and methods can be adapted to provide many types of cloud-based valuations, scoring, marketplaces, and the like, and can be extended to provide enhancements and/or additions to the exemplary platforms, engines, systems and methods described. The invention is thus intended to include all such extensions. Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary and illustrative embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary computing system  100  for use in accordance with herein described system and methods. Computing system  100  is capable of executing software, such as an operating system (OS) and a variety of computing applications  190 . The operation of exemplary computing system  100  is controlled primarily by computer readable instructions, such as instructions stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as hard disk drive (HDD)  115 , optical disk (not shown) such as a CD or DVD, solid state drive (not shown) such as a USB “thumb drive,” or the like. Such instructions may be executed within central processing unit (CPU)  110  to cause computing system  100  to perform operations. In many known computer servers, workstations, personal computers, and the like, CPU  110  is implemented in an integrated circuit called a processor. 
         [0043]    It is appreciated that, although exemplary computing system  100  is shown to comprise a single CPU  110 , such description is merely illustrative as computing system  100  may comprise a plurality of CPUs  110 . Additionally, computing system  100  may exploit the resources of remote CPUs (not shown), for example, through communications network  170  or some other data communications means. 
         [0044]    In operation, CPU  110  fetches, decodes, and executes instructions from a computer readable storage medium such as HDD  115 . Such instructions can be included in software such as an operating system (OS), executable programs, and the like. Information, such as computer instructions and other computer readable data, is transferred between components of computing system  100  via the system&#39;s main data-transfer path. The main data-transfer path may use a system bus architecture  105 , although other computer architectures (not shown) can be used, such as architectures using serializers and deserializers and crossbar switches to communicate data between devices over serial communication paths. System bus  105  can include data lines for sending data, address lines for sending addresses, and control lines for sending interrupts and for operating the system bus. Some busses provide bus arbitration that regulates access to the bus by extension cards, controllers, and CPU  110 . Devices that attach to the busses and arbitrate access to the bus are called bus masters. Bus master support also allows multiprocessor configurations of the busses to be created by the addition of bus master adapters containing processors and support chips. 
         [0045]    Memory devices coupled to system bus  105  can include random access memory (RAM)  125  and read only memory (ROM)  130 . Such memories include circuitry that allows information to be stored and retrieved. ROMs  130  generally contain stored data that cannot be modified. Data stored in RAM  125  can be read or changed by CPU  110  or other hardware devices. Access to RAM  125  and/or ROM  130  may be controlled by memory controller  120 . Memory controller  120  may provide an address translation function that translates virtual addresses into physical addresses as instructions are executed. Memory controller  120  may also provide a memory protection function that isolates processes within the system and isolates system processes from user processes. Thus, a program running in user mode can normally access only memory mapped by its own process virtual address space; it cannot access memory within another process&#39; virtual address space unless memory sharing between the processes has been set up. 
         [0046]    In addition, computing system  100  may contain peripheral controller  135  responsible for communicating instructions using a peripheral bus from CPU  110  to peripherals, such as printer  140 , keyboard  145 , and mouse  150 . An example of a peripheral bus is the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. 
         [0047]    Display  160 , which is controlled by display controller  155 , can be used to display visual output and/or presentation generated by or at the request of computing system  100 . Such visual output may include text, graphics, animated graphics, and/or video, for example. Display  160  may be implemented with a CRT-based video display, an LCD-based flat-panel display, gas plasma-based flat-panel display, touch-panel, or the like. Display controller  155  includes electronic components required to generate a video signal that is sent to display  160 . 
         [0048]    Further, computing system  100  may contain network adapter  165  which may be used to couple computing system  100  to an external communication network  170 , which may include or provide access to the Internet. Communications network  170  may provide user access for computing system  100  with means of communicating and transferring software and information electronically. Additionally, communications network  170  may provide for distributed processing, which involves several computers and the sharing of workloads or cooperative efforts in performing a task. It is appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing communications links between computing system  100  and remote users may be used. 
         [0049]    It is appreciated that exemplary computing system  100  is merely illustrative of a computing environment in which the herein described systems and methods may operate and does not limit the implementation of the herein described systems and methods in computing environments having differing components and configurations, as the inventive concepts described herein may be implemented in various computing environments using various components and configurations. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , computing system  100  can be deployed in networked computing environment  200 . In general, the above description for computing system  100  applies to server, client, and peer computers deployed in a networked environment, for example, server  205 , laptop computer  210 , and desktop computer  230 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary illustrative networked computing environment  200 , with a server in communication with client computing and/or communicating devices via a communications network, in which the herein described apparatus and methods may be employed. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , server  205  may be interconnected via a communications network  240  (which may include any of, or any combination of, a fixed-wire or wireless LAN, WAN, intranet, extranet, peer-to-peer network, virtual private network, the Internet, or other communications network such as POTS, ISDN, VoIP, PSTN, etc.) with a number of client computing/communication devices such as laptop computer  210 , wireless mobile telephone  215 , wired telephone  220 , personal digital assistant  225 , user desktop computer  230 , and/or other communication enabled devices (not shown). Server  205  can comprise dedicated servers operable to process and communicate data such as digital content  250  to and from client devices  210 ,  215 ,  220 ,  225 ,  230 , etc. using any of a number of known protocols, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), file transfer protocol (FTP), simple object access protocol (SOAP), wireless application protocol (WAP), or the like. Additionally, networked computing environment  200  can utilize various data security protocols such as secured socket layer (SSL), pretty good privacy (PGP), virtual private network (VPN) security, or the like. Each client device  210 ,  215 ,  220 ,  225 ,  230 , etc. can be equipped with an operating system operable to support one or more computing and/or communication applications, such as a web browser (not shown), email (not shown), or the like, to interact with server  205 . 
         [0052]    The present invention is a method of providing visual and audible feeds between medical providers, medical patients, and medical specialists. The method for creating such an environment is through the use of protocols which are provided by an HD Video Conferencing Provider and utilized by web enabled devices. The HD Video Conferencing Provider&#39;s protocols or system will create the visual and audible interaction between the parties which will be enhanced by the transmission of data from diagnostic medical equipment from the patient to the Medical Provider. 
         [0053]    All transmission of audio, video and data may be facilitated through video conferencing provider software and/or hardware. Such data can originate from but is not limited to any digital diagnostic device which can provide data or information to medical care providers. The data from said digital devices along with the video and audio feeds being delivered to the medical provider will aid in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of the patient. The transmission of video and audio can function in a full motion duplex manner during which both the medical care provider and medical patient transmit and receive video and audio as seen in  FIG. 3 . This form of interaction may be enhanced by the transmission of data from a digital medical device at the patient&#39;s location. 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the transmission of video and audio may happen in a unilateral manner either from the medical care provider to the patient or from the medical patient to the medical care provider. This form of interaction may be enhanced by the transmission of data from a digital medical device at the patient&#39;s location as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The Transmission of audio, video, and data may occur between multiple parties as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The transmission of audio, video, and data occurs through use of protocols or systems provided by a video conferencing provider. 
         [0055]    The transmission of audio, video, and data can occur between two parties in a direct point to point connection between end parties as outlined in  FIG. 6 . The transmission of audio, video, and data can occur between multiple parties in a direct point to point connection between end parties as outlined in  FIG. 7 . The transmission of audio, video, and data can occur between two parties by transmitting data to a video conferencing provider which is then transmitted to each respective end user as outlined in  FIG. 8 . The Transmission of data may occur whenever the patient has a digital device as outlined in section A(1). The transmission of video and audio may occur wherever the patient may be, provided they have an appropriate web enabled device, computer, or mobile device, as outlined in section A(2) or A(3). 
         [0056]    In its full form the medical information transmission system at the patient&#39;s location will have the following capabilities, 1) transmit HD Video to medical providers 2) transmit Audio to medical providers 3) receive data from digital diagnostic medical devices and transmit the data in conjunction with said transmitted video 4) receive video from medical providers 5) receive audio from medical providers. In its full form the medical information transmission system at the medical provider&#39;s location will have the following capabilities 1) transmit HD video to medical patients 2) transmit audio to medical patients 3) receive data from medical patients from digital diagnostic medical devices 4) receive HD video from medical patients 5) receive audio from medical patients 6) transmit HD video to medical specialists 7) transmit audio to medical specialists, and 8) transmit data received from medical patients from digital diagnostic medical devices to medical specialists. The transmission of video and audio occurs in the following steps 1) light enters a camera lens and is captured, for example, on a charged coupled device, and sound enters a microphone 2) The microphone creates a digitized sound signal and the charged coupled device creates a digital image signal and 3) the digital sound and digital image information are transferred to an encoding process where the audio and video data are converted into a standards based multimedia signal 4) the multimedia signal is then transferred to a packeting process (for example, as described in WO2000021258, entitled “High speed video transmission over telephone lines” to M. Maresca, incorporated by reference) 5) the packets are then transmitted electronically using proprietary or standards based transmission methodologies, such as tcpip/udp, for receipt by the remote system 6) the packets are then de-packetized and assembled into a standards based block of digital information 7) the block of information is broken down into raw data which can then be mapped onto a video display [monitor] for viewing by the recipient 8) in the event of multi-party interaction, the raw data is mapped into a large segment video memory block where it is combined with raw data from additional sources to create a multiplexed, multi-source display of a plurality of participants. The full motion video is delivered to each end user providing a fully visual auction experience. 
         [0057]    The data from digital medical devices is transmitted in the following steps 1) data is collected by the medical device 2) data is digitized and transferred to a packeting process (for example as described in WO2000021258, entitled “High speed video transmission over telephone lines” to M. Maresca) 3) the packetized digital information is transmitted electronically using one of a proprietary or a standards-based transmission methodology such as tcpip/udp for receipt by the remote system 4) the information is then de-packetized and the digital information assembled into the digitized medical data 5) which can then be mapped onto a video display [monitor] for viewing by the recipient. 
         [0058]    In a non-emergency environment, medical providers may choose to accept medical appointments over the virtual system. The system is set to the doctor&#39;s specific scheduling specifications. At the time of appointment, a website link is emailed to the patient. When the website link is opened, a portal is opened by the video conferencing provider to allow the visual and audible interaction between parties. 
         [0059]    A(1) Requirements for transmission of data from a digital medical device from a medical patient: Patients can transmit data from a digital medical device through video conferencing software provided that their medical device 1) collects data 2) creates data in a digital form 3) has either a wired or wireless connection to a computer or mobile device as outlined in A(2) or A(3). 
         [0060]    A(2) Requirements for Participation or Two Way Interaction between Medical Care Providers, Medical Patients, and Medical Specialists using a computer device: Users can visually and audibly interact with each other provided that the computer or mobile phone is equipped with A) an internet connection B) web enabled Camera C) computer enabled microphone D) monitor or display E) computer enabled speakers E) said device is currently running Microsoft Windows or Mac OS operating system and F) Basic Video Processing Ability. 
         [0061]    A(3) Requirements for Participation or Two Way Interaction between Medical Care Providers, Medical Patients, and Medical Specialists using a mobile device: Users can visually and audibly interact with each other using a mobile device provided that the mobile device is equipped with A) an internet connection B) web enabled Camera C) a functional microphone D) A functional display E) a functional speakers E) said device is currently running a version of Android, Mac or windows operating system and F) Basic Video Processing Ability. 
         [0062]      FIG. 9  shows an implementation of a system  900  featuring bidirectional transmission of video between two users, with each using a personal computer via an Internet path. Generally, the system  900  includes: personal computers  910  and  915 ; a network access server  930 ; a network operation center (“NOC”) server  960 ; and an Internet network  950 . 
         [0063]    Personal computer  910  may be a desktop computer, laptop, workstation or router, that is capable of connecting into the network access server  930  to establish a session  920 . Personal computer  910  incorporates a secure client desktop software containing a computer network authentication protocol employing strong encryption, preferably IPsec. This Internet security protocol allows for cryptographic key establishment and authenticating and/or encrypting each IP packet in a data stream. IPsec or other like protocol is preferable because it functions at the network layer, which gives it more flexibility than many other security protocols in common use, such as SSH, SSL/TL and Kerberos, which operate on the transport layer. This difference allows IPsec to secure packet flows. 
         [0064]    The secure client connects to a website hosted by network access server  930 , where the user&#39;s identity is confirmed. The network access server  930  is a computer, or a group of hardware or software components or processes that execute in one or more computer systems. 
         [0065]    The secure client and network access server  930  then create an encrypted network tunnel from the user&#39;s computer to a Network Operation Center (“NOC”) server  960 , via a private Internet backbone  950 . This preferential Internet backbone  950  is a preferential route supplied by arrangement with a data network provider, using fiber optic lines that are reserved to carry specially routed traffic, thus providing for greater available bandwidth for the bidirectional transmission of video between two or more users of the system. 
         [0066]    The network access server  930  controls remote access to the preferential Internet backbone  950  and to the NOC server  960 , along route  970 , forwarding the password that has been supplied by the user at personal computer  910  to the network access server  930 . 
         [0067]    The NOC server  960  is a computer, or a group of hardware or software components or processes that execute in one or more computer systems. In part, the NOC server  960  performs authorization and authentication functions. The NOC server  960  has a directory established for each user, containing identification and password information and a list of approved users to whom each user may connect. The NOC server  960  utilizes the password forwarded by the network access server  930  to perform After authorizing and authenticating the user at personal computer  910 , the NOC server  960  presents the user with the list of approved users to whom he can connect. For each approved user appearing in a contact list, the NOC server  960  also shows whether that user is online or not. As well, given the mobility of computers, the NOC server locates the initiating user as well as the addressee. 
         [0068]    For example, the user at personal computer  910  wishes to communicate with the user at personal computer  915 , but that user is not online. The user at personal computer  910  needs to contact the user at personal computer  915 , via telephone, e-mail, text message, etc., and request that he sign into the system. The user at personal computer  915  goes through the identical process of connecting into the network access server  930  so as to establish his own session  925 , and likewise being connected to the NOC server  960  via a preferential Internet backbone  950 , along route  975 . Once the personal computer  915  is online, the user at personal computer  910  will be able to request a bidirectional video session with personal computer  915 . In one embodiment, the user at personal computer  915  must manually accept the bidirectional video session, whereas in a second embodiment, personal computer  915  may be set to an auto-answer mode, where the bidirectional video session will be established upon the request from personal computer  910 . 
         [0069]    The NOC server  960  will then communicate instructions to personal computer  910  along route  970 , and to personal computer  915  along route  975 , providing each with a virtual address of the other. At this point, the secure clients in personal computers  910  and personal computers  915  will initiate a peer-to-peer connection over the preferential Internet backbone  950 , along route  980 . Personal computers  910  and  915  will exchange bidirectional video in this peer-to-peer mode along route  980 . The personal computers  910  and  915  will remain in contact with the NOC server  960  along routes  970  and  975 , respectively, so that the NOC server  960  may continue to provide control functions, but the video stream will not be sent to the NOC server  960 . Eliminating the need to pass the video and audio data through the NOC server  960  provides for enhanced performance and security. 
         [0070]    Instead of a personal computer, a user may use a room system, which is a videoconferencing station that typically includes large monitors with a wide-angle camera and serves groups of people who meet in a room and conference with other groups at remote locations. If the room system has an Internet connection, it would interface to the videoconferencing system in the manner of Personal Computer  915 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 10  shows an implementation  1000  in which one of the users is using a room system  1020  which instead of having an Internet connection has a private network  1030 . The privately networked room system  1020  connects to the NOC server  960  through a hardware bridge  1010 . The room system  1020  communicates with the NOC server  960  along route  1040 , allowing for the NOC server  960  to perform the authorization and authentication functions. The bridge  1010  also serves as a conduit for the video signals, as they travel along path  980  between personal computer  910  and the room system  1020 . As path  980  is routed partially on the preferential Internet backbone  950  and partially on the private network  1030 , a high bandwidth is available, resulting in excellent image quality and reduced latency. As well, the NOC can provide enhanced video and audio exchange capabilities by providing features such as automated or individually directed control room activities. For example, all users&#39; images can be arranged around an enlarged central image provided for the speaker or a desired illustration. 
         [0072]      FIG. 11  shows another implementation  1100 , in which three or more users are participating in a videoconference. In this situation, the users log into a meeting room  1160  which is provided at the NOC server  960 . The meeting room  1160  multiplexes each incoming video signal, and sends a copy to the other participants. Each participant will see each other participant in the video conference call, providing for enhanced security, as no one may monitor a video conference unless they are a participant and their presence is seen by all other participants. One or more of the participants in a videoconference with three or more participants may be employing a room system with a private network that interfaces to the invention through a hardware bridge located at the NOC server, as previously described and shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0073]    In another embodiment, the secure client can be tailored for a particular application or industry, such as having the video only take up part of the screen, with the remainder of the screen dedicated to another task, such as displaying a user-completed form. 
         [0074]    Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the herein described systems and methods may be subject to various modifications and alternative constructions. There is no intention to limit the scope of the invention to the specific constructions described herein. Rather, the herein described systems and methods are intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the invention and its equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7