U.S. patent application number 14/164787 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for systems and methods for implementing internet video conferencing using standard phone calls.
This patent application is currently assigned to Verizon Data Services LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Verizon Data Services LLC. Invention is credited to Reza Ghaffari, Afshin Moshrefi.
Application Number | 20140139617 14/164787 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32396521 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140139617 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moshrefi; Afshin ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING INTERNET VIDEO CONFERENCING
USING STANDARD PHONE CALLS
Abstract
A video conferencing system (100) includes a switch (125), a
server (140), a telephony device (152), and a node (102) in a
packet-switched network (135). The switch (125) establishes a
circuit-switched connection between a calling party number and a
called party number. The server (140) associates first and second
network addresses in a packet-switched network (135) with each of
the called party and calling party numbers. The telephony device
(152) transmits audio data via the circuit-switched connection. The
node (102) in the packet-switched network (135) transmits
packetized video between the first and second network addresses
responsive to establishment of the circuit-switched connection.
Inventors: |
Moshrefi; Afshin;
(Newburyport, MA) ; Ghaffari; Reza; (Lincoln,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Verizon Data Services LLC |
Temple Terrace |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Verizon Data Services LLC
Temple Terrace
FL
|
Family ID: |
32396521 |
Appl. No.: |
14/164787 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12347851 |
Dec 31, 2008 |
8624956 |
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14164787 |
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10820966 |
Apr 8, 2004 |
8681202 |
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12347851 |
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10083607 |
Feb 26, 2002 |
6750897 |
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10820966 |
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60312910 |
Aug 16, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/14.08 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/15 20130101; H04N
7/14 20130101; H04N 7/147 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/14.08 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/15 20060101
H04N007/15 |
Claims
1-37. (canceled)
38. A method comprising: establishing, by a device, a video
conference between a first user and a second user, wherein
establishing the video conference includes: initiating a first
connection via a communication network, wherein the first
connection is between a first device associated with the first user
and a second device associated with the second user, and initiating
a second connection via a data network, wherein the second
connection is between a third device associated with the first user
and a fourth device associated with the second user, and wherein a
video portion associated with the video conference is forwarded via
the second connection; detecting, by the device, a termination of
the second connection; and forwarding, by the device and to the
communication network, a message associated with the termination of
the second connection, wherein the communication network terminates
the first connection based on receiving the message.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the first device and the second
device include telephone devices, and the third device and fourth
device include computing devices.
40. The method of claim 38, wherein an audio portion associated
with the video conference is forwarded via the first
connection.
41. The method of claim 38, wherein the first connection is
established between a first communication network address
associated with the first user and a second communication network
address associated with the second user, and wherein initiating the
second connection via the data network includes: determining, based
on the first communication network address, a first data network
address associated with the first user; determining, based on the
second communication network address, a second data network address
associated with the first user; and initiating the second
connection based on the first data network address and the second
data network address.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the first communication network
address includes a first telephone number associated with the first
user and the second communication network address includes a second
telephone number associated with the second user.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein the first data network address
includes a first internet protocol address associated with the
first user and the second data network address includes a second
internet protocol address associated with the second user.
44. The method of claim 38, wherein the first connection is
associated with a first frequency band, and the second connection
is associated with a second frequency band.
45. A system comprising: a memory configured to store data
identifying: circuit-switched addresses associated with users,
wherein a first circuit-switched address is associated with a first
user of the users and a second circuit-switched address is
associated with a second user of the users, and packet-switched
addresses associated with the users, wherein a first
packet-switched address is associated with the first user and a
second packet-switched address is associated with the second user;
and a device configured to: initiate a circuit-switched connection
between the first circuit-switched address and the second
circuit-switched address, initiate a packet-switched connection
based on the first packet-switched address and the second
packet-switched address, initiate a video conference between the
first user and the second user using the circuit-switched
connection and the packet-switched connection, detect a termination
of the packet-switched connection during the video conference, and
cause the circuit-switched connection to be terminated based on
detecting the termination of the packet-switched connection.
46. The system of claim 45, wherein the device, when causing the
circuit-switched connection to be terminated based on detecting the
termination of the packet-switched connection, is further
configured to: forward a notification of the termination of the
packet-switched connection to a network associated with the
circuit-switched connection, wherein the network terminates the
circuit-switched connection based on receiving the
notification.
47. The system of claim 45, wherein the circuit-switched connection
is between a first device associated with the first user and a
second device associated with the second user, and wherein the
packet-switched connection is between a third device associated
with the first user and a fourth device associated with the second
user.
48. The system of claim 47, wherein the first device and the second
device include communication devices, and the third device and
fourth device include computing devices.
49. The system of claim 47, wherein the device, when initiating the
packet-switched connection, is further configured to: forward
information identifying the second packet-switched address to the
first device, wherein the first device forwards the second
packet-switched address to the third device, and forward
information identifying the first packet-switched address to the
second device, wherein the second device forwards the second
packet-switched address to the fourth device.
50. The system of claim 45, wherein the device, when accessing the
memory to obtain the first packet-switched address and the second
packet-switched address based on detecting the circuit-switched
connection, is further configured to: identify the first
packet-switched address based on the first circuit-switched
address, and identify the second packet-switched address based on
the second circuit-switched address.
51. The system of claim 45, wherein the device is further
configured to: determine whether the circuit-switched connection is
terminated during the video conference, and cause the
packet-switched connection to be terminated when the
circuit-switched connection is terminated during the video
conference.
52. A non-transitory computer-readable medium to store instructions
comprising: one or more instruction that cause a device to:
initiate a first connection via a communication network, wherein
the first connection is between a first device associated with a
first user and a second device associated with a second user,
initiate a second connection via a data network, wherein the second
connection is between a third device associated with the first user
and a fourth device associated with the second user. establish a
video conference using the first connection and the second
connection, detect a termination of the second connection; and
forward, to the communication network, a notification of the
termination of the second connection, wherein the communication
network terminates the first connection based on receiving the
notification.
53. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52,
wherein the first device and the second device include
communication devices, and the third device and fourth device
include computing devices.
54. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52,
wherein the instructions, when causing the device to initiate the
first connection and the second connection via the data network,
further include: one or more instructions that cause the device to:
identify a first communication network address associated with the
first user and a second communication network address associated
with the second user, initiate the first connection using the first
communication network address associated with the first user and
the second communication network address, determine, based on the
first communication network address associated with the first user
and the second communication network address, a first data network
address associated with the first user and a second data network
address associated with the second user, and initiate the second
connection based on the first data network address and the second
data network address.
55. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54,
wherein the first communication network address includes a first
telephone number associated with the first user and the second
communication network address includes a second telephone number
associated with the second user.
56. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52,
wherein the instructions, when causing the device to establish the
video conference via the first connection and the second
connection, further include: one or more instructions that cause
the device to: forward an audio portion associated with the video
conference via the first connection, and forward a video portion
associated with the video conference via the second connection.
57. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52,
wherein the instructions, when causing the device to establish the
video conference via the first connection and the second
connection, further include: one or more instructions that cause
the device to: forward an audio portion and a video portion
associated with the video conference via the second connection.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The instant application claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/312,910 (Attorney Docket No. 01-1015PRO1), filed
Aug. 16, 2001, which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to systems and
methods for video conferencing and, more particularly, to systems
and methods that implement packet-switched video conferencing
initiated by circuit-switched telephone calls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For years videophones have been viewed as a futuristic
technological endeavor. Even with the advent of high-speed Internet
access, the promise of reliable, high quality videophones has not
been realized. Conventional video conferencing has a number of
disadvantages. Traditional video conferencing requires specialized,
costly equipment for each participant in the conference.
Significant bandwidth, additionally, must be dedicated to the video
conferencing session, thus, requiring at least IDSN or better
service. Also, the specialized equipment used is costly and, thus,
prohibitive for use by the general public, and generally involves
large video conferencing units that must be located in specially
designated areas.
[0004] Internet video conferencing has alleviated some of the
problems attendant with traditional video conferencing, including
the use of desktop computers equipped with video cameras and audio
microphones instead of large, expensive, and specialized video
conferencing equipment. The quality of video and audio in
conventional Internet video conferencing, however, has been found
to be relatively poor. Additionally, other problems exist in
Internet video conferencing, including difficulties in reaching
others involved in the conferencing, requiring knowledge of the
other party's IP address or the location of a directory service on
which the other party is listed.
[0005] Therefore, there exists a need for systems and methods that
permit the implementation of Internet video conferencing with high
video and audio quality, and without requiring knowledge, by
conference participants, of the other party's IP addresses, or the
location of the directory services on which the other parties are
listed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Systems and methods consistent with the present invention
address this and other needs by enabling video conferencing using a
circuit-switched telephone connection for audio, and a high-speed
DSL connection for transmitting packetized video between parties to
the conference. At the time a call is placed between a calling
party number and a called party number in a circuit-switched
network, a server references each of the party numbers to network
addresses in a packet-switched network. The server sends these
network addresses to respective nodes in the packet-switched
network associated with each of the called and calling parties. The
respective nodes may use the received network addresses to transfer
packetized video, captured contemporaneously with audio transmitted
via a circuit-switched network, between each of the parties to the
circuit-switched telephone connection. With the packetized video
transmitted at a DSL rate, and the audio data transmitted at
conventional circuit-switched rates, high quality video
conferencing may be obtained. Furthermore, in other embodiments of
the invention, the respective nodes may use the received network
addresses to transfer both packetized audio and video between each
of the parties to the circuit-switched telephone connection.
[0007] In accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied
and broadly described herein, a method of video conferencing
includes establishing a circuit-switched connection between a first
party and a second party; and establishing, responsive to the
establishment of the circuit-switched connection, a packet-switched
connection between the first party and the second party to transmit
video.
[0008] In another implementation consistent with the present
invention, a method of setting up a video conference includes
receiving a calling party number and a called party number used for
establishing a connection in a circuit-switched network;
associating a first network address in a packet-switched network
with the calling party number; associating a second network address
in the packet-switched network with the called party number;
sending a first message containing the second network address to
the first network address via the packet-switched network; and
sending a second message containing the first network address to
the second network address via the packet-switched network.
[0009] In yet another implementation consistent with the present
invention, a method of video conferencing includes establishing a
circuit-switched connection between a calling party number and a
called party number; associating first and second network addresses
in a packet-switched network with each of the called party and
calling party numbers; transmitting audio data via the
circuit-switched connection; and transmitting packetized video
between the first and second network addresses responsive to
establishment of the circuit-switched connection.
[0010] In a further implementation consistent with the present
invention, a method of video conferencing includes capturing audio
contemporaneously with video at a first location; capturing audio
contemporaneously with video at a second location; transmitting the
captured audio between the first location and the second location
via a circuit-switched network; and transmitting the captured video
between the first and second location via a packet-switched
network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the description, explain the
invention. In the drawings,
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network in which systems and
methods, consistent with the present invention, may be
implemented;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary components of a computer
consistent with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary components of a server
consistent with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary database consistent with
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary table stored in the
database of FIG. 4A consistent with the present invention;
[0017] FIGS. 5-7 are flowcharts that illustrate an exemplary
process for setting up an audio and video connection between two
callers consistent with the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary window of a graphical user
interface consistent with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following detailed description of the invention refers
to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in
different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Also, the
following detailed description does not limit the invention.
Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended
claims.
[0020] Systems and methods, consistent with the present invention,
provide mechanisms that enable high quality video conferencing
through the transmission of audio via a circuit-switched network
(or possibly a packet-switched network), and through the
transmission of packetized video, captured contemporaneously with
the audio, via a high-speed DSL connection and the packet-switched
network.
Exemplary Network
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network 100 in which systems
and methods, consistent with the present invention, implement
packet-switched video conferencing initiated by a standard
circuit-switched telephone call. Network 100 may include computers
102, 105 and 106; video cameras 107, 108, 109; digital subscriber
line (DSL) modems 110 and 112; bandwidth splitters 114 and 116;
central offices 120, 125 and 130; network 135; server 140; a
Signaling System Number 7 (SS7) data communication network 145; and
telephones 150, 152 and 156. Telephones 150, 152 and 156 can
include any type of conventional telephony devices known within the
art. Central offices 120, 125 and 130 may include conventional
service switching points (SSPs) 160, 165 and 170, respectively, for
establishing circuit-switched connections. Central offices 125 and
130 may further include conventional DSL devices 175 and 180,
respectively.
[0022] Computer 102 may connect to DSL device 175 of central office
125 via DSL modem 110 and bandwidth splitter 114. DSL modem 110 can
receive data from computer 102 and transmit the received data to
bandwidth splitter 114 over a data frequency band. DSL modem 110
can further receive voice data from telephone 152 and transmit the
received data to bandwidth splitter 114 over a voice frequency
band. Bandwidth splitter 114 can combine data received over data
and voice frequency bands for transmission to DSL device 175 via
telephone line 194. Bandwidth splitter 114 can further separate
voice band frequencies and data band frequencies received from DSL
device 175 via telephone line 194.
[0023] Computer 105 may connect to DSL device 180 of central office
130 via DSL modem 112 and bandwidth splitter 116. DSL modem 112 can
receive data from computer 105 and transmit the received data to
bandwidth splitter 116 over a data frequency band. DSL modem 112
can further receive voice data from telephone 156 and transmit the
received data to bandwidth splitter 116 over a voice frequency
band. Bandwidth splitter 116 can combine data received over data
and voice frequency bands for transmission to DSL device 180 via
telephone line 196. Bandwidth splitter 116 can further separate
voice band frequencies and data band frequencies received from DSL
device 180 via telephone line 196.
[0024] Computer 106 and telephone 150 may connect to central office
120 via separate telephone lines 192 and 193, respectively.
[0025] Computers 102, 105 and 106 may connect to network 135 via
links 190 and central offices 120, 125 and 130, respectively.
Network 135 may include one or more connection-less or
connection-oriented packet-switched networks, including local area
networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area
networks (WANs), an intranet, or the Internet. Such networks may
employ any conventional packet-switched protocol including, but not
limited to, Internet Protocol (IP) or Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM). Computers 102, 105 and 106 may each be collocated with
respective telephones 152, 156 and 150 such that a user may
converse via a telephone and view video on a video monitor of a
computer.
[0026] Server 140 can include a network node that receives and
processes data packets from network 135. Server 140 can connect to
network 135 via wired, wireless or optical connection links. Server
140 may initiate the establishment of packetized video (and
possibly packetized audio) transfer between two computers (e.g.,
computer 106 and computer 102, or computer 102 and computer 105)
using a database that associates network addresses in network 135
of the computers, with telephone numbers of telephones (e.g.,
telephones 150, 152 and 156) that are collocated with each
computer.
[0027] SS7 network 145 can include a conventional network that uses
SS7 signaling protocols for setting up telephone calls between SSPs
160, 165 and 170. Network 145 can include conventional service
control points (SCPs) and signal transfer points (STP) for routing
calls between SSPs.
[0028] SSPs 160, 165 and 170 may include conventional network nodes
having SS7 messaging capability. SSPs 160, 165 and 170 connect with
one another via links 182. Links 182 include circuits for
connecting calls between telephones 150, 152 and 156. SSPs 160, 165
and 170 may be connected to SS7 network 145 via links 187.
Exemplary Computer
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary computer 102 in which
systems and methods, consistent with the present invention, may be
implemented for setting up packet-switched video conferencing
between a calling party and a called party at, for example,
telephones 152 and 156. Computer 102 may include a processing unit
205, an input device 210, an output device 215, a Random Access
Memory (RAM) 220, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 225, a communication
interface 230, a video unit 235, an optional packetized telephone
peripheral 240, and a bus 245.
[0030] Processing unit 205 may perform all data processing
functions for inputting, outputting, and processing of data. Input
device 210 permits entry of data into computer 102 and includes one
or more user interfaces (not shown), such as a keyboard, a mouse or
the like. Output device 215 permits the output of data in video,
audio, or hard copy format.
[0031] RAM 220 provides semi-permanent working storage of data and
instructions for use by processing unit 205. ROM 225 provides
permanent or semi-permanent storage of data and instructions for
use by processing unit 205. RAM 220 and ROM 225 may include
large-capacity storage devices, such as a magnetic and/or optical
recording medium and its corresponding drive. Communication
interface 230 includes conventional mechanisms for connecting
computer 102 to network 135. Video unit 235 may include
conventional circuitry for framing, encoding and packetizing video
received from a video camera.
[0032] Packetized telephone peripheral 240 may include a digital
signal processor (DSP) 250, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter
255, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 260, a speaker 265 and a
microphone 270. DSP 250 may perform functions, such as packet
buffering, voice coding, equalization, and audio data processing.
D/A converter 255 includes conventional circuitry for converting
digital audio signals to analog signal form for output, for
example, via speaker 265. Speaker 265 includes a conventional
mechanism for providing an auditory output of the D/A-converted
audio signals. A/D converter 260 includes conventional circuitry
for sampling and converting analog audio input signals from
microphone 270 to digital signal form. Microphone 270 includes a
conventional mechanism for converting auditory input into analog
signals.
[0033] Bus 245 interconnects the various components of computer 102
to permit the components to communicate with one another.
Exemplary Server
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary server 140, consistent with
the present invention, which is configured to process calling and
called party numbers received from a central office (e.g., central
offices 120, 125, 130). Server 140 includes a communication
interface 305, an output device 310, an input device 315, a
processing unit 320, a ROM 325, a RAM 330, and a bus 335.
[0035] Communication interface 305 includes conventional mechanisms
for connecting server 140 with network 135. Output device 310
permits the output of data in video, audio, or hard copy format.
Input device 315 permits entry of data into server 140 and includes
a user interface (not shown). Processing unit 320 performs all data
processing functions for inputting, outputting, and processing of
data. ROM 325 provides permanent or semi-permanent storage of data
and instructions for use by processing unit 320. RAM 330 provides
semi-permanent working storage of data and instructions for use by
processing unit 320. ROM 325 and RAM 330 may include large-capacity
storage devices, such as a magnetic and/or optical recording medium
and its corresponding drive. Bus 335 interconnects the various
components of server 140 to permit the components to communicate
with one another.
Exemplary Database
[0036] FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary database 400 that may be
stored in, for example, RAM 330 of server 140 or may be located
external to server 140. Database 400 may include a
telephone/network address table 405 that associates network
addresses (e.g., IP addresses) with caller identifiers (e.g.,
telephone numbers).
[0037] FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary telephone/network address
table 405. Table 405 may include multiple entries 410, with each
entry associating a given caller identifier 415 with a network
address 420 (e.g., an IP address) for setting up a packet-switched
video connection. Table 405 may, thus, be used to retrieve a
network address 420 based on a caller identifier number 415 (e.g.,
a telephone number).
Exemplary Video Conferencing Process
[0038] FIGS. 5-7 are flowcharts that illustrate an exemplary
process, consistent with the present invention, for setting up a
video conference between two callers. The videoconference may
include audio transmitted via a circuit-switched network (or a
packet-switched network) and video transmitted via the
packet-switched network at, possibly, a DSL rate.
[0039] To begin the exemplary process, a central office (e.g.,
central office 125) may receive a called party number from a
telephone (e.g., telephone 152) [act 500]. The central office and
SS7 network 145 may set up a circuit-switched audio connection
between the called party number and the number of the calling party
[act 505]. The number of the calling party may be retrieved using,
for example, conventional "caller ID." The central office may
further send a video set-up message containing the called and
calling party numbers to server 140 via network 135 [act 510].
Server 140 may look up, in table 405 of database 400, network
addresses 420 corresponding to each of the received calling/called
party numbers [act 515]. The network addresses identify the
computers associated with the calling and called parties. Server
140 may then send a notification message to each computer (i.e.,
the calling party's computer and the called party's computer) with
the network address (e.g., IP address) of the other party to the
call [act 520]. Server 140 may use, for example, conventional
instant messaging techniques to send the notification messages to
each computer. Each computer determines whether video transfer
should be started [act 525]. As shown in FIG. 8, each party may
"click" on an appropriate "button" in a window 805 of a computer
graphical user interface, for example, to start video transfer. If
video transfer is initiated, a number of different techniques may
be used for transferring audio and video between the calling and
called parties. In a first technique, shown in FIG. 6, audio may be
sent via the circuit-switched network and video may be sent via the
packet-switched network. In a second technique, shown in FIG. 7,
both audio and video may be sent via the packet-switched network
subsequent to call set-up over the circuit-switched network.
[0040] Turning to the technique shown in FIG. 6, each computer may
capture video, via a video camera (e.g., video camera 107, 108 or
109), and send video packets to the IP address associated with the
other party [act 600]. SS7 network 145 may determine if the already
established circuit-switched call between the two parties has been
terminated [act 605]. If so, SS7 network 145 may send a call
termination notification to server 140 [act 610]. In turn, server
140 may send termination notification messages to the computers
engaged in the video conferencing via network 135 [act 615]. Each
computer, in response to receipt of a termination notification
message, may end the video transfer [act 620].
[0041] In the technique shown in FIG. 7, each computer may capture
video, via a video camera (e.g., video camera 107, 108 or 109) and
audio, via a microphone 265 and a DSP 245, and send audio and video
packets to the IP address associated with the other party [act
700]. After video and audio transfer is established between
computers associated with each of the calling and called parties,
the already established circuit-switched call between the calling
party number and the called party number may be terminated [act
705]. For example, server 140 may notify SS7 network 145 that the
circuit-switched connection between the calling party number and
the called party number may be terminated. SS7 network 145 may
then, accordingly, end the circuit-switched connection. Each
computer (i.e., the calling party's computer and the called party's
computer) may then determine whether audio and video transfer has
been terminated by either party [act 710]. If so, each computer
involved in the audio and video transfer may end the transfer of
the packets, containing the audio and video data, via
packet-switched network 135 [act 715].
CONCLUSION
[0042] Systems and methods, consistent with the present invention,
provide mechanisms that enable video conferencing using a
circuit-switched telephone connection for audio, and a high-speed
DSL connection for transmitting packetized video between parties to
the conference. When a call is placed between a calling party
number and a called party number in a circuit-switched network, a
server references each of the party numbers to network addresses in
a packet-switched network. The server sends these network addresses
to respective nodes in the packet-switched network associated with
each of the called and calling parties. The respective nodes may
use the received network addresses to transfer packetized video,
captured contemporaneously with audio transmitted via a
circuit-switched network, between each of the parties to the
circuit-switched telephone connection. With the packetized video
transmitted at a high speed rate (e.g., a DSL rate), and the audio
data transmitted at conventional circuit-switched rates, high
quality video conferencing may be obtained. Furthermore, in other
embodiments consistent with the invention, the respective nodes may
use the received network addresses to transfer both packetized
audio and video between each of the parties to the circuit-switched
telephone connection.
[0043] The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the
present invention provides illustration and description, but is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light
of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the
invention. For example, while certain components of the invention
have been described as implemented in hardware and others in
software, other configurations may be possible. Additionally, the
present invention is applicable to establishing audio connections
via cell phones or other mobile telephony devices. Also, while each
computer (e.g., computers 102, 105 and 106) of FIG. 1 is shown as a
separate device from each corresponding telephone (e.g., telephones
150, 152 and 156), the functions of both could be combined in a
single device (e.g., a computer) such that the computer may send
audio via a circuit-switched connection and video via a
packet-switched connection.
[0044] While series of acts have been described with regard to
FIGS. 5-7, the order of the acts may be altered in other
implementations. Moreover, non-dependent acts may be performed in
parallel. No element, step, or instruction used in the description
of the present application should be construed as critical or
essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. The
scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and their
equivalents.
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