The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 16, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1994
Brian A Howell, Marblehead, MA (US);
PictureTel Corporation, Danvers, MA (US);
Abstract
A video conferencing system wherein a director controller is adapted for disposition on a lecture podium. The controller includes an interconnected control section and a video display section for controlling the distribution of generated audio and video information signals among a local and remote sites selectively in accordance with command signals fed to the controller by a podium speaker. The system is adapted to operate in one of two operating modes: a 'Main-screen' mode and a 'Mark-up' mode. In the 'Main-screen' mode, the video display section is made up of two display areas; a 'presentation' display area, and a 'preview' display area. The 'presentation' display area displays the video information which typically is currently being viewed by the audience/participants at the remote and local sites. The 'preview' video display area is privately viewable by the podium speaker, displays video information signals from a second podium speaker selected one of the video sources. In the 'Mark-up' mode, the 'preview' area is removed and the size of the 'presentation' area is increased. The image in the enlarged 'presentation' area is adapted for editing/annotation by the podium speaker. The edited/annotated image is distributed to the local and remote sites.