Patent US4936861A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3775563A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit arrangement for a telephone exchange system with conference equipment
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1972-01-31
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1992-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is described for telephone exchange installations having a video signal handling capability for completing a conference connection thereover. Each subscriber station is equipped with a video device consisting of a television camera and receiver. The video devices can be connected over a video conference transmission network having a single picture line, connected in common to all video devices, and a combined picture line capable of transmitting a combined picture of all conference participants. All video devices can have their receivers connected to the combined picture line and their cameras and receivers to the common single picture line. These connections are made over switch elements at the subscriber stations which are controlled by voice signal responsive devices. Means are provided to insure that only one voice signal responsive device can operate at any given time.
Inventors
- 👤 P Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/567; H04M3/568; H04M3/569; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; H04Q; H04Q3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In a telephone exchange system having video signal processing means, apparatus for completing a conference connection comprising: a plurality of subscriber stations interconnectable through said exchange, each subscriber station including a video device comprising a television receiver and a television camera, common single picture video line means connectable to said video devices in those of said subscriber stations participating in a conference connection, means for producing video signals corresponding to a simultaneously combined display of all the camera outputs from those of said subscriber stations participating in the conference connection, combined picture line means connectable to said producing means and to the video devices in said plurality of subscriber stations, video conference transmission network means for selectably connecting the video devices in those of said subscriber stations participating in the conference connection to said common line means and said combined picture line means, said receivers being connectable to said combined picture line means and said cameras and receivers being connectable to said common single picture line means, first switching means at said subscriber stations for selectably connecting said subscriber stations to said common and said combined picture line means and voice responsive second switching means for operating said transmission network connection means in dependence on which of said subscriber stations in the conference connection is transmitting audio signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a telephone exchange system having video signal processing means, apparatus for completing a conference connection comprising: a plurality of subscriber stations interconnectable through said exchange, each subscriber station including a video device comprising a television receiver and a television camera, common single picture video line means connectable to said video devices in those of said subscriber stations participating in a conference connection, means for producing video signals corresponding to a simultaneously combined display of all the camera outputs from those of said subscriber stations participating in the conference connection, combined picture line means connectable to said producing means and to the video devices in said plurality of subscriber stations, video conference transmission network means for selectably connecting the video devices in those of said subscriber stations participating in the conference connection to said common line means and said combined picture line means, said receivers being connectable to said combined picture line means and said cameras and receivers being connectable to said common single picture line means, first switching means at said subscriber stations for selectably connecting said subscriber stations to said common and said combined picture line means and voice responsive second switching means for operating said transmission network connection means in dependence on which of said subscriber stations in the conference connection is transmitting audio signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for producing combined picture signals comprises: a plurality of television monitors, a plurality of monitor transmission lines connected to receive the camera outputs from said subscriber stations and connected to said television monitors, a switching matrix interposed in said monitor lines, a combined picture camera focused on said plurality of monitors, and monitor control means for operating said switching matrix for connecting predetermined ones of said monitor lines to selectable ones of said monitors and for regulating said combined picture signal to determine the spatial arrangement of the combined picture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said switching matrix is interposed only in predetermined ones of said monitor lines, the others of said monitor lines being connected to cross-points of said matrix such that when said predetermined monitor lines receive signals from subscriber stations such signals may be switched said other monitor lines, as necessary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of individual video lines individually connectable to the cameras in said video devices of those of said subscriber stations in the conference connection over said transmission network connection means and third manually operable switching means for selectively connecting the receivers in the video devices in said subscriber stations in the conference connection to any of said individual video lines or said combined picture line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said video conference transmission network means is constructed to connect said receivers in those of said subscriber stations in the conference connection to said combined picture line means when said second switching means is inoperative as a result of an absence of audio transmissions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said video conference transmission network includes means for operating upon exit of one of said subscriber stations from the conference connection to conNect said receivers in the remaining subscriber stations to the combined picture line means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 additionally comprising: a further television camera in the exchange installation for transmitting a reference picture, said further camera having its output selectably connected to said combined picture line means and fifth switching means for connecting said further camera to said combined picture line means, for disconnecting said means for producing from said combined picture line means and for connecting the receivers in said subscriber stations to said combined picture line means thereby applying the picture from said further camera to each of said subscriber station receivers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second switching means are constructed so that said camera in said video device in the subscriber station of a speaking participant is connected to said common video line means, said camera therein being connected to said combined picture line means and so that said receivers in nonspeaking subscriber stations are connected to said common video line means, said cameras therein being individually connected to said individual video line means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said video conference transmission network means is operable upon a pause in the voice signals from all of said subscriber stations to connect all of receivers in said stations to said combined picture line means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |