Digital Equipment Corporation

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.p.

Ricky S Palmer

Larry G Palmer

Lawrence George Palmer

An audiovisual help documentation system for applications running on a multimedia computer workstation or personal computer includes a graphical documentation interface which allows a user to easily access audiovisual or textual documentation related to the application. A pop-up menu model is used to eliminate complexity. Textual and audiovisual &ldquo;filmclip&rdquo; documentation are stored in separate subject-specific files. The documentation menu includes a topic field for indicating a topic for which documentation is available, and a user selectable function associated with the topic field. The topic field is associated with a multimedia data file storing audio and video data streams representing the audio and video documentation for that topic. The documentation menu also includes a user selectable function associated with the topic field for retrieving text related to the associated topic. A &ldquo;talking pushbutton&rdquo; fast help feature can also playback a &ldquo;sound clip&rdquo; to the user which briefly describes a selected user function.

Video and audio multimedia pop-up documentation by performing selected functions on selected topics

An apparatus and method for storing and retrieving synchronized audio/video &ldquo;filmclips&rdquo; to and from a data file of a multimedia computer workstation includes a storage means for a workstation to store audio and video data as digital data packets to the data file, and retrieval means for the workstation to retrieve audio and video data from the data file. The video data is presented as an image on the display of the workstation, while the audio data is sent to either amplified speakers or headphones. An audio data stream is stored to the data file such that the audio data can be retrieved from the data file and reconstructed into a continuous audio signal. The video data is stored to the data file such that each frame of video data is inserted into the stored audio data stream without affecting the continuity of the audio signal reconstructed by the workstation. Timing information is attached to each frame of video data stored to the file, and indicates a point in the continuous audio data stream which corresponds in time to the frame of video data. A synchronizer displays a frame of video data when the point in the audio data stream, corresponding to the timing information of the retrieved video frame is audibly reproduced by the workstation. The invention also features a video teleconferencing &ldquo;answering machine&rdquo; which allows a user to leave an audio/video &ldquo;filmclip&rdquo; message on another workstation.

Audio/video storage and retrieval for multimedia workstations

A new system for resolving differences in pixel format is disclosed for use in a collaborative software tool. The disclosed system further determines a frequency distribution of color values within pixels forming a bit map of the display of the shared region on the server system. The disclosed system further forms a color ramp responsive to the frequency distribution of color values. The color ramp includes a number of color ramp entries, where each one of the color ramp entries includes an output color value associated with one or more input color values. The color ramp is then transmitted to a client system. The client system converts pixels received from the server system based on the contents of the color ramp. Further in the example embodiment, the client system converts pixels received from the server system using a color conversion table generated based on the color ramp if the pixels in the client system are of true color format.

System and method for sharing diverse display types in a bit map sharing collaborative tool

A video teleconferencing method and apparatus for computer workstations connected by a digital data network includes a transmission source means for a local workstation to send audio and video teleconference data across the network to one or more remote workstations, and, a receiver for the local workstation to receive audio and video teleconference data back from the remote workstations. The local workstation sends teleconference data to each of the remote workstations over a variable bandwidth digital data connection, and each of the remote workstations returns teleconference data back to the local workstation over another variable bandwidth digital data connection. The transmission source means includes a master software process executing on the local workstation, and the receiver includes a slave software process executing the remote workstation. The master process of a local workstation causes execution of a slave process on a remote workstation for receiving video teleconference data from the local workstation. An audio data transmitter for sends an audio data stream to the remote workstation such that the audio data can be reconstructed into a continuous audio signal. A video transmitter sends video data so that each frame of video data to be sent is inserted into the audio data stream without affecting the continuity of the reconstructed audio signal at the remote workstation.

Video teleconferencing for networked workstations

A new system and method for sharing graphical display information in a collaborative tool is disclosed which samples graphics display information regarding a shared display region on a server system. The disclosed system updates client systems regarding changes in the shared display region responsive to detection of a change in the shared display region contents. The disclosed system further modifies a polling rate used to sample the graphical display information on the server responsive to the frequency of changes to the shared display region. Specifically, in an example embodiment the disclosed system shares a display region among a plurality of users by selecting a first bit map from a series of bit maps used to display the shared display region on a server system. The server system then transmits said first bit map to a client system. The server system periodically selects a subsequent bit map from the series of bit maps at a polling rate. The server system later determines whether said shared display region on the server system has changed. If the shared display region has changed, then the server system transmits a representation of the subsequent bit map to said client system. The server system increases the polling rate responsive to determining that the shared display region on the server system has changed.

Real time bit map capture and sharing for collaborative tools

The disclosed system updates client systems regarding changes in a shared display region on a server using compressed graphical display information. The disclosed system compares a first bit map with a second bit map to generate a difference array. The difference array includes indication of each bit in the second bit map having a different value than in the first bit map. The system then transmits the difference array to a client system if at least one bit in the second bit map is different from a corresponding bit in the first bit map. In a further aspect of the disclosed system, the system run length encodes the difference array prior to transmitting if the second bit map is different from the first bit map to generate a run length encoded difference array. The client system generates an updated bit map based on an initial bit map and the difference array. The client system displays the shared region using the updated bit map. In a further aspect of the disclosed system, the server performs loss-less compression of the run length encoded difference array if the run length encoded difference array is greater than a predetermined minimum length.

System for compressing bit maps to be shared and displayed in

A video scaling apparatus and technique for compressing and reconstructing video data sent between multimedia workstations during a video teleconference includes a video data scaling device which scale unscaled video data, having V horizontal lines of H pixels each, to reduce the quantity of horizontal lines and the quantity of pixels along each line. A pixel replication device replicate the received scaled pixels to increase the quantity of horizontal lines to V and the quantity of pixels along each of the horizontal lines to H. The scaling device reduces the quantity of horizontal lines to about V/2, and the quantity of pixels along each horizontal line to about H/2. A received pixel is replicated to replace an adjacent pixel along a line to reconstruct the line. The reconstructed line is replicated to replace an adjacent line. The replicated line is shifted by one pixel relative to the adjacent line from which it was replicated to reduce sharp edges and blockiness.

Video data scaling for video teleconferencing workstations communicating

An apparatus and method for storing and retrieving synchronized audio/video 'filmclips' to and from a data file of a multimedia computer workstation includes a storage means for a workstation to store audio and video data as digital data packets to the data file, and retrieval means for the workstation to retrieve audio and video data from the data file. The video data is presented as an image on the display of the workstation, while the audio data is sent to either amplified speakers or headphones. An audio data stream is stored to the data file such that the audio data can be retrieved from the data file and reconstructed into a continuous audio signal. The video data is stored to the data file such that each frame of video data is inserted into the stored audio data stream without affecting the continuity of the audio signal reconstructed by the workstation. Timing information is attached to each frame of video data stored to the file, and indicates a point in the continuous audio data stream which corresponds in time to the frame of video data. A synchronizer displays a frame of video data when the point in the audio data stream, corresponding to the timing information of the retrieved video frame is audibly reproduced by the workstation.

Audio/video storage and retrieval for multimedia workstations by

A video teleconferencing workstation includes a video teleconference session window displayed on the workstation display. The session window includes a video image area for displaying video information associated with the video teleconferencing session, and a control area for displaying one or more selectable video teleconferencing functions represented as graphical pushbuttons. The user selectable video teleconferencing functions include a connection function, a control function and a monitor function. Selection of the connection function causes a call list window to be displayed on the workstation monitor for establishing video teleconferencing connections. Selection of the control function causes a control window to be displayed on the workstation display for adjusting parameters of the video teleconference. Selection of the monitor function causes a monitor window to be displayed on the workstation display for monitoring the parameters of the video teleconference.

Graphical user interface for video teleconferencing

A video scaling apparatus and technique for compressing and reconstructing video data sent between multimedia workstations during a video teleconference includes a video data scaling device which scale unscaled video data, having V horizontal lines of H pixels each, to reduce the quantity of horizontal lines and the quantity of pixels along each line. A pixel replication device replicates the received scaled pixels to increase the quantity of horizontal lines to V and the quantity of pixels along each of the horizontal lines to H. The scaling device reduces the quantity of horizontal lines to about V/2, and the quantity of pixels along each horizontal line to about H/2. A received pixel is replicated to replace an adjacent pixel along a line to reconstruct the line. The reconstructed line is replicated to replace an adjacent line. The replicated line is shifted by one pixel relative to the adjacent line from which it was replicated to reduce sharp edges and blockiness.

A video teleconferencing method and apparatus for computer workstations connected by a digital data network includes a transmission source portion for a local workstation to send audio and video teleconference data across the network to one or more remote workstations, and, a receiver for the local workstation to receive audio and video teleconference data back from the remote workstations. The local workstation sends teleconference data to each of the remote workstations over a variable bandwidth digital data connection, and each of the remote workstations returns teleconference data back to the local workstation over another variable bandwidth digital data connection. The transmission source portion includes a master software process executing on the local workstation, and the receiver includes a slave software process executing the remote workstation. The master process of a local workstation causes execution of a slave process on a remote workstation for receiving video teleconference data from the local workstation. An audio data transmitter for sends an audio data stream to the remote workstation such that the audio data can be reconstructed into a continuous audio signal. A video transmitter sends video data so that each frame of video data to be sent is inserted into the audio data stream without affecting the continuity of the reconstructed audio signal at the remote workstation.

A video scaling apparatus and technique for compressing and reconstructing video data sent between multimedia workstations during a video teleconference includes a video data scaling device which scale unscaled video data, having V horizontal lines of H pixels each, to reduce the quantity of horizontal lines and the quantity of pixels along each line. A pixel replication device replicates the received scaled pixels to increase the quantity of horizontal lines to V and the quantity of pixels along each of the horizontal lines to H. The scaling device reduces the quantity of horizontal lines to about V/2, and the quantity of pixels along each horizontal line to about H/2. A received pixel is replicated to replace an adjacent pixel along a line-to reconstruct the line. The reconstructed line is replicated to replace an adjacent line. The replicated line is shifted by one pixel relative to the adjacent line from which it was replicated to reduce sharp edges and blockiness.

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

Ricky S Palmer