111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007239338B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Krisbergh et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,239,338 B2
`Jul. 3, 2007
`
`(54) VIDEOPHONE SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Hal M. Krisbergh, Meadowbrook, PA
`(US); Joseph A. Augenbraun,
`Princeton, NJ (US); Randell E. Jesup,
`Malvern, PA (US); Randall J. Gort,
`Malvern, PA (US); Maire D. Reavy,
`Malvern, PA (US); Navneeth Kannan,
`Westford, MA (US); Whitney D.
`Blackmon, Holland, PA (US); Richard
`W. Westerfer, Lower Gwynedd, PA
`(US); David E. Wachob, New Hope,
`PA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Worldgate Service, Inc., Trevose, PA
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 538 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/674,789
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 1, 2003
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2005/0073574 Al
`
`Apr. 7, 2005
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04N 7114
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................... 348/14.01; 348/14.02;
`348/14.08
`(58) Field of Classification Search .. 348/14.01-14.09,
`348/14.1, 14.11, 14.12, 14.13-14.16
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8/1992 Guichard et a!. ........ 348/14.01
`5,142,562 A *
`5,473,366 A * 12/1995 Imaeda eta!. ........... 348/14.01
`5,844,600 A * 12/1998 Kerr ........................ 348/14.12
`6,163,335 A * 12/2000 Barraclough ............. 348/14.08
`6,489,986 B1 * 12/2002 Allen ...................... 348/14.01
`
`101
`
`6,545,697 B1 *
`6,622,021 B1 *
`
`4/2003 Parker eta!. ............ 348/14.01
`9/2003 Takala ........................ 455/466
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`801499 A2 * 10/1997
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Mazurek et a!. ; Portable, Stand-Alone Video Telephone System;
`Jul. 8, 1999; WO 99/34600.*
`
`Primary Examiner-Melur Ramakrishnaiah
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jones, Tullar & Cooper, P.C.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`System and method for providing personal videotelephony
`in which a plurality of videophones are connected to a
`communications network that is configured for transmitted
`video and audio communications. Each of the videophones
`typically includes a camera, display device, telephone key(cid:173)
`pad, speaker and microphone all of which are operatively
`connected. The videophones further include means for
`selectably receiving and transmitting signals over the com(cid:173)
`munications network, which signals represent images and/or
`sound, and for selectably displaying the signals representing
`any received signals representing the images on the display
`screen, and for playing any received signals representing the
`sounds on said speaker. Means are also provided for select(cid:173)
`ably accessing a remote location, such as, but not limited to,
`another videophone, using information entered or selected
`by a user of the videophone, and to retrieve the signals
`representing the images and sounds being transmitted from
`the remote location. In one or more embodiments the present
`invention further includes at least one networks operation
`center to store information related to the operation of the
`videophones and to facilitate the operation of the video(cid:173)
`phones.
`
`39 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`110
`
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`

`

`US 7,239,338 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,862,347 B1 *
`6,962,347 B2 *
`2002/0001372 A1 *
`2002/0080230 A1 *
`2002/0083462 A1 *
`2002/0167392 A1 *
`2002/0199181 A1 *
`2003/0007793 A1 *
`2003/01487 53 A1 *
`
`3/2005 Umstetter eta!. ....... 379/93.05
`1112005 Smith, III ................... 277/602
`112002 Katz
`....................... 379/93.12
`6/2002 Van De Sluis eta!. .. 348/14.01
`6/2002 Arnott ........................ 725/100
`1112002 Williams .................... 340/3.3
`12/2002 Allen ............................ 725/1
`112003 Suzuki . ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 396/20
`........ 455/405
`8/2003 Pappalardo et a!.
`
`2004/0240642 A1 * 12/2004 Crandell et al .......... 379/88.22
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1170953 A2 * 1/2002
`EP
`0026918868 A1 * 12/1993
`FR
`401300783 A * 12/1989
`JP
`408242307 A * 9/1996
`JP
`407264298 A * 10/1996
`JP
`* cited by examiner
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`~05
`
`A----120
`
`~-·-
`
`100
`
`110
`
`114
`
`Fig. I
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`235
`
`236
`
`117
`
`/
`
`I
`J
`
`: 212 v I
`
`I
`I
`
`\!1
`~ 211
`
`2~0. ---~--li----.-,_+-1~----l~ '"""~227
`
`225
`
`~---------------------~------------~
`
`Fig. 2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`305
`
`324
`
`309
`
`310
`
`311
`
`300
`
`vop.
`
`306
`
`302
`
`315
`
`316
`
`MUTE • 308
`
`307
`
`GJGJGJ
`
`Q 3~ 301
`314
`')l 312~
`E )
`
`Fig. 3
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2007
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`501
`Inform of
`call start
`or end
`
`503
`Obtain link
`information
`
`Call start
`request
`
`Call end
`request
`
`514
`Update link
`information
`
`No
`
`510
`Reject call
`
`Fig. 4
`
`No
`
`508
`Place call
`
`509
`Update link
`information
`
`Yes
`
`505
`Reserve
`call side
`B/W
`
`507
`Reserve
`called side
`BNV
`
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`

`

`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`1
`VIDEOPHONE SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`multiple types of communications networks, they are far
`from "plug'n'play" with any network. In addition, the
`videophone must be located where it can be directly con(cid:173)
`nected to the available communication network via an
`Ethernet or comparable connection. This severely limits the
`flexibility in locating and using the videophone where you
`want to use it as opposed to where it must be physically
`connected. Since a videophone typically uses traditional IP
`addressing, a user must enter a number such as
`10 192.121.121.121. Such a number sequence is different from
`what we are accustomed to as a standard phone number.
`Current videophones are often very difficult to set up and
`use. There is typically no provision for the telephone ser(cid:173)
`vices and applications such as caller id, call waiting, call
`15 forwarding, conferencing and the like that we have come to
`expect. Videophones are expected to work across long
`distances which encompass multiple networks and network
`infrastructures. Delays in transmissions and the presence of
`noise degrade the signal quality. Even though current video-
`20 phones often advertise high frame rates and transmission
`speeds they do not typically achieve these speeds due to the
`limited upstream and downstream characteristics of the
`communications network. This results in degraded image
`and sound quality, jitter, lack of synchronicity between the
`25 voice and video, etc.
`
`The present invention is directed, in general, to videote(cid:173)
`lephony and, more specifically, to a personal, portable video
`telephone system, apparatus and methods of operation
`thereof.
`Traditionally, telephone and video communication sys(cid:173)
`tems have been bifurcated. Conventional telephone systems
`(or PSTN systems) operate at a bandwidth appropriate for
`voice communications, and typically provide spontaneous,
`point-to-point communications, such as two-way voice and
`data services, between two end users. Contrastingly video
`distribution systems (including cable television systems),
`operate at a much broader bandwidth than telephone sys(cid:173)
`tems, and are usually employed to broadcast pre-determined,
`high quality, full-motion video and audio concurrently to a
`plurality of subscribers.
`It has long been felt that, if the best features of voice and
`video communication systems could be combined appropri(cid:173)
`ately, fully interactive videotelephony would become fea(cid:173)
`sible. Accordingly, given its apparent advantages, videote(cid:173)
`lephony has been the subject of commercial development by
`multiple entities, for many years. Although the first video(cid:173)
`phone appeared as early as the 1930s, a commercially viable
`videophone has yet to be introduced, even though significant
`efforts have been devoted to developing the same. This has
`been due, in large part, to the relatively high cost, complex-
`ity both in design and use, the inability to concurrently 30
`provide quality image and sound, and the inability to provide
`a network infrastructure capable of two-way communica(cid:173)
`tions with minimal signal degradation.
`Current attempts at video telephony typically resemble
`traditional business telephone desk sets with the addition of 35
`a display monitor and a camera, as well as associated
`controls for operating the videophone. The cost of such
`devices is typically in excess of U.S. $1000, which is above
`the level of affordability for many users. This is com(cid:173)
`pounded since it currently takes at least two videophones to 40
`make a video call. These devices are often relatively large,
`and not portable.
`The quality of the image and sound is typically substan(cid:173)
`tially less that what we have become accustomed to for our
`normal communications. Minimal capability, if any, is pro- 45
`vided for accommodating different ambient conditions.
`Similarly, minimum capability is provided for different
`audio characteristic (e.g., canceling ambient noise and feed(cid:173)
`back within the audio signal, accommodating concurrent
`conversations by both parties to the call). Furthermore, the 50
`signal processing utilized, including the techniques used for
`compressing and decompressing the resulting audio and
`video signals, has not been optimized for a videophone
`application. As a result, the quality of both the transmitted
`and received video is much less than what is expected from
`a communications system. For example, varying ambient
`light conditions often result in over exposed and under
`exposed pictures. Movement of the user often results in both
`a significant degradation in image quality as well as the
`possibility that the camera can no longer capture the image 60
`of the user (e.g., outside of the limited range of view of the
`camera.)
`In addition, videophones are typically very complex to
`use. In order to communicate with the various communica(cid:173)
`tions networks there is a complicated set-up process to 65
`configure the videophone to the particular communications
`network being utilized. Even if a videophone can work with
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides for a personal videophone
`communication apparatus,
`system and method
`that
`addresses these and other limitations of the prior art. The
`present invention has been designed in a manner permitting
`sub $500 pricing, increasing the possibility to deploy it in a
`ubiquitous manner. The present invention employs signal
`processing capabilities and techniques that have been opti(cid:173)
`mized for a videophone application and the broadband
`infrastructure. The invention provides for easy adjustability
`of both the display monitor and the camera and has other(cid:173)
`wise been ergonomically designed specifically for use as a
`videophone. It can be used in multiple ambient light con(cid:173)
`ditions and in fact can be pointed almost in the same manner
`as a standard video camera to permit taking pictures of other
`objects or persons not sitting directly in front of the video(cid:173)
`phone. One embodiment of the invention provides for a
`portable unit that is wireless and can easily be moved to
`multiple locations. One embodiment of the invention pro(cid:173)
`vides means for monitoring the quality of the transmission
`path and reserving a suitable transmission path to make a
`video call. These and other aspects of the present invention
`which differentiate it from the prior art are set forth below.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a videotelephony system according to an
`55 embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates an individual subscriber configuration
`according to an embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a video telephone
`according to the invention.
`FIG. 4 illustrates various process steps for ensuring
`adequate quality of service according to the present inven(cid:173)
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`System 100
`
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`

`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`3
`For purposes of this specification, the term "configured"
`means having hardware and software operatively arranged
`to perform a specified function. As shown in FIG. 1, a video
`telephone system 100 according to the present invention
`comprises subscribers 101-105, configured to communicate
`via a communications network 110 such as a Community
`Access Television (CATV) network, an xDSL network, a
`WAN, LAN or other wired or wireless network (individually
`and collectively referred to herein as a "broadband net(cid:173)
`work".) For purposes of this description, reference will be 10
`made to the CATV network 110 for simplicity; however,
`other types of communications networks, such as those
`referred to above, could also be utilized and referenced in
`accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment
`of the invention each subscriber 101-105 communicates 15
`with the network 110 via a corresponding communications
`medium 116 to 120. In one embodiment of the invention, the
`communications medium includes a coaxial cable such as is
`commonly utilized in connecting CATV subscribers. Other
`suitable communications media can include, for example, 20
`fiber optic cable, electrical power distribution systems, as
`well as wireless distributions, such as exemplified by the
`802.11 standards, satellite and microwave. Combinations of
`these wired and wireless media can also be utilized. For
`example, in one embodiment of the invention, system 100
`includes both an xDSL network and a CATV network, using
`fiber, coax and wireless communications media. In one
`embodiment of the invention, system 100 is configured such
`that each subscriber is capable of placing and receiving
`video calls and communicating with the other subscribers
`using one or more of the various available communications
`media. Accordingly, placing a call from subscriber 101 to
`subscriber 103 within a given CATV network would typi(cid:173)
`cally involve three network components, the communica(cid:173)
`tions medium 116 for subscriber 101, the interconnection
`CATV network 110, and the communications medium 118
`for subscriber 103. One embodiment of the invention also
`includes at least one headend facility, such as CATV head(cid:173)
`end 111, which is connected to the network 110 through
`communications medium 115. The present invention is not
`however limited to calls within the CATV network 110 of a
`single CATV network headend 111. Rather, multiple (not
`shown) headends 111, and accordingly multiple CATV net(cid:173)
`works 110 can be interconnected. For example, such net(cid:173)
`works 110 can be interconnected via the Internet 113 and
`communication medium 112. In practice, multiple headends
`111 will be interconnected, with such headends being geo(cid:173)
`graphically distributed. As is the case with CATV headends
`111, the network between the subscriber and the headend 111
`may include multiple intermediary nodes, with each node
`being a connection point for one or more subscribers on the
`network.
`Although there are different topologies and technology
`suppliers for these communication networks components,
`which components and topologies well known to those
`skilled in the art, they all have a similar architecture at an
`abstract level. For example, in the case of the CATV network
`110 the communications medium 117 for both the called and
`the calling party will include an incoming coax cable 229, a
`splitter 228 and a cable modem 227 (see also FIG. 2) 60
`typically located at the subscriber's home. For traditional
`video services televisions 230 will also be connected to
`splitter 228, either directly or through a cable converter (not
`shown). In addition, various headend components are also
`involved, such as a cable modem termination system 65
`(CMTS) located at the CATV headend or hub of the CATV
`system, and a router to direct or route the data packets
`
`4
`through and between multiple networks 110. The CMTS is
`also used to provide connectivity between the Internet and
`cable modem. When a CMTS receives signals from a cable
`modem, it converts these signals into Internet Protocol (IP)
`packets, which are then sent to the router for transmission
`across the Internet. When a CMTS sends signals to a cable
`modem, it modulates the downstream signals for transmis(cid:173)
`sion across the cable to the cable modem. All cable modems
`can receive from and send signals to the CMTS but not
`directly to other cable modems on the line. Correspondingly,
`for an xDSL network there are also three main components,
`in this case, however, an xDSL modem is substituted for a
`cable modem and a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multi(cid:173)
`plexer (DSLAM) is substituted for the CMTS. The DSLAM
`is a system located at the phone company's central office or
`headend that links many customer xDSL modems and
`converts the signals from those modems to a signal that can
`be sent across the Internet.
`These access network products are widely available from
`multiple sources and the design and operation of these
`access network components are well known to those skilled
`in the art. In particular, the requirements for the design and
`operation of CMTS products are defined in an industry
`specification known as the Data-Over-Cable-Service Inter-
`25 face Specification (DOCSIS). DOCSIS originated as a stan(cid:173)
`dard for providing data access via cable modems. Current
`releases of this specification have however been expanded to
`include methodologies to support voice communications. In
`particular, enhancements have been added to support
`30 embedded signaling for quality of service and to increase the
`availability of upstream bandwidth. The CATV industry has
`also introduced an additional specification known as Pack(cid:173)
`etCable to provide data and communication services. The
`teachings of these specifications are incorporated herein by
`35 reference. Furthermore, various signaling protocol options
`and standards are also incorporated into these specifications,
`including but not limited to, DiffServ, H.245, H.248, H.263,
`H.264, H.323, LDP, MGCP, MPEG, MPLS, RTP, RSVP-TE,
`SIP, and SS7. These specifications, protocols, and standards
`40 are beyond the scope of the present invention but are
`likewise understood by those skilled in the art, and widely
`accessible. In particular, it should be noted that such SIP
`standards referenced above, provide for traditional and
`enhanced telephone functionality such as call waiting, caller
`45 id, call answering and the like. To facilitate this phone
`functionality and provide for network connectivity, a CATV
`or xDSL system will typically include various administra(cid:173)
`tive components, including servers for provisioning the
`equipment, servers tracking usage and for billing, servers for
`50 controlling communications protocols and conditions (e.g.,
`dialing, determining busy and available conditions, provid(cid:173)
`ing busy signals, interfacing with the various network com(cid:173)
`ponents whether local or remote, servers for authenticating
`the calling and the called parties and for providing security
`55 for the call, etc. These components and technologies are
`again widely available from multiple providers and consist
`of technologies, components and systems that are likewise
`known to those skilled in the art and beyond the scope of the
`present invention.
`The above discussion is important however to illustrate
`that the communication network is a collection of different
`technologies and network domains that are basically autono(cid:173)
`mous systems that are owned and operated by different
`administrative entities. Traffic from one user to another
`typically traverses one or more of the multiple domains and
`deployed technologies. Each of these domains is typically,
`however, only concerned with the performance and quality
`
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`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`5
`of its domain. Accordingly, the quality of service across
`multiple domains cannot be predicted, since like the weakest
`link of a chain, the overall quality of the network is governed
`by its weakest link. The lack of quality has been a major
`impediment to adoption of videophones and accordingly a
`solution to this problem is a focus of one embodiment of the
`present invention as will be discussed below.
`
`6
`In one embodiment of the present invention the NOC 121
`also includes a registry that can correlate PSTN telephone
`numbers with IP addresses. In this manner a video call can
`be made to the same telephone number as has been assigned
`by the PSTN system, however the videophone call can be
`routed over the broadband network instead of the PSTN
`network as discussed herein.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`Operations Center 121
`In one embodiment of the invention each CATV headend 10
`111 communicates with at least one network operations
`center (NOC) 121. In one embodiment of the invention,
`CATV headend 111 communicates with the NOC 121 via the
`Internet 113 and communications medium 114, although
`other communications networks and communications
`media, as previously mentioned, are also within the scope of
`the present invention. The present invention contemplates
`the NOC 121 being located remotely from the CATV
`headend 111, as well as within the CATV headend 111. In
`one embodiment of the present invention, each CATV
`headend 111 includes a processor, for example a personal
`computer (PC) or server (not shown) and memory means
`(not shown) for storing, retrieving and processing a local
`registry of accounts, which typically includes the telephone
`number and an IP addresses for each of a plurality of
`subscribers n which are connected to such headend 111. In
`one embodiment of the invention NOC 121 also includes a
`processor (not shown) and memory means (not shown)
`which host a master registry of subscribers in all CATV
`headends 111. Thus a back up registry is provided for the
`individual registries located within each of the CATV hea(cid:173)
`dend 111. In addition, the registry with the NOC 121 can
`provide overflow/backup storage for the CATV headends
`individual videophones 200. Such registries, 35
`and the
`whether located at the NOC 121 or a CATV headend 111 can
`include not only the subscriber names, telephone numbers,
`they can also contain profile information and other data
`associated with the subscribers, as will be further discussed
`below. This profile information can include the various
`preferences recorded as part of the start-up or provisioning
`process for the videophone 200 (see FIG. 2) such as the
`order and custom content of various menus and displays, the
`individual user directories, custom rings or backgrounds.
`Storage of this type of information at the NOC 121 permits 45
`it to be accessible by the subscriber at other locations and
`other videophones 200. Using standard Internet protocols
`and security techniques the information can be requested,
`retrieved and downloaded to a videophone 200. Such tech(cid:173)
`niques also permit multiple users of a videophone 200 to 50
`have unique profiles, which can be retrieved. Not only does
`this provide for greater personalization of the videophone
`200, it also minimizes the amount of local memory that it
`required as part of each videophone 200. Instead of storing
`the personal profiles, the videophone 200 need only store 55
`identification information and client software necessary to
`access and retrieve the profiles from the NOC 121. The
`present invention, however, contemplates the storage of data
`at the NOC 121 as well as within any videophone 200 or
`videophone interface unit 210 (See FIG. 2.) As contemplated 60
`herein the information can be selectively stored, sent and
`retrieved by or at the NOC 121 and the videophones 200,
`either on a manual and/or an automated basis. This transfer
`and storage of information can be accomplished through
`techniques known to those skilled in the art, including, 65
`without limitation, being referenced in the PacketCable
`specification discussed aforesaid.
`
`Subscribers
`FIG. 2 illustrates an example subscriber 102 of subscrib(cid:173)
`ers 101-105. Although the term subscriber as used herein
`generally indicates a particular household, the same term is
`also used to refer the various members of a household that
`may use a videophone 200. For example, different members
`of a household can have different features and menus on
`their videophones 200, through the use of a log-on proce-
`dure. The subscriber system 102 illustrated in FIG. 2 rep(cid:173)
`resents but one of a wide variety of possible subscriber
`configurations according to the present invention. As illus-
`20 trated, subscriber system 102 generally comprises the fol(cid:173)
`lowing components: videophone interface unit 210, phone
`trap 235, videophone 200, computer 225 and cable modem
`227. In this embodiment videophone interface unit 200,
`computer 225 and cable modem 227 are configured to
`communicate as a Local Area Network (LAN) 211, 217. A
`LAN is a network that connects computing devices located
`within a small geographical area. Although FIG. 2 primarily
`illustrates a wired LAN, the present invention also contem(cid:173)
`plates the use of a wireless LAN.
`In the illustrated embodiment the phone trap 235 and
`videophone interface unit 210 communicate via a typical
`connection interface such as that used with RJll, and the
`Videophone interface unit 210, Computer 225, and cable
`modem 227 are configured to communicate via a typical
`communication interface such as that used with an RJ45
`connection. Cable modem 227 represents an Internet Pro(cid:173)
`tocol (IP) address for purposes of Internet communication.
`In one embodiment of the invention, videophone 200 com(cid:173)
`municates with videophone interface unit 210 via a wireless
`connection. In another embodiment this interconnect could
`be wired (by way of example and not limitation, Ethernet or
`AC Power).
`
`40
`
`Videophone Interface Unit 210
`The videophone interface unit 210 provides the main
`control functions for subscribers 101-105 to use the system
`100. Generally the video interface unit comprises a proces(cid:173)
`sor and interfaces to connect the processor to the various
`networks (e.g., the RJll interface and the RJ45 interface.) In
`one embodiment of the invention, videophone interface unit
`210 includes at least one audio/video Codec. The term
`"Codec" refers to an application or functional component
`adapted to code and decode a data signal according to a
`compression algorithm and the corresponding decompres(cid:173)
`sion algorithm. In one embodiment videophone interface
`unit 210 further includes at least one receiver/transmitter for
`communication with videophone 200, at least one Digital to
`Analog (D/A converter); and at least one Analog to Digital
`(A/D) converter. These components can be centralized or
`connected via the LAN 211, 217. It is important to note that
`while computer 225 and videophone interface unit 210 are
`illustrated as separate components from videophone 200,
`embodiments of the invention are possible wherein one or
`more of the components comprising the videophone 200 and
`the interface unit 210 are integrated into a single unit or a
`different configuration of multiple units. For example vari(cid:173)
`ous components comprising the videophone 200 and the
`interface unit 210, such as the Codecs can be placed in either
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1003
`Page 9 of 17
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`

`US 7,239,338 B2
`
`7
`the videophone 200 or the interface unit 210, or within a
`single unit which includes the functionality of both the
`videophone 200 and the interface unit 210.
`
`PSTN Telephones 202, 203
`In an embodiment of the invention system 100 further
`includes one or more standard PSTN telephones (or POTS
`phones) 202 and 203, connected to a PSTN network 236. In
`one embodiment of the invention an incoming phone call to
`the phone number corresponding to videophone 200 will
`cause POTS phones 202 and 203, as well as videophone 200
`to alert subscriber 102 (via ring or other alerting mechanism)
`regardless of whether the call is communicated via the RJ11
`or RJ45 networks. In one embodiment of the invention an
`incoming phone call to the phone number corresponding to
`POTS phones 202 and 203, will cause videophone 200 as
`well as POTS phones 202 and 203 to alert subscriber 102
`(via ring or other alerting mechanism) regardless of whether
`the call is communicated via the RJ11 or RJ45 networks.
`Videophone 200 and POTS phones 202 and 203 may have
`the same or unique phone numbers. In this manner the
`videophone 200 can be used to make and receive standard
`PSTN calls as well as video phone calls. This process is
`facilitated by the Phone Trap/Call Management functional-
`ity discussed below.
`
`10
`
`8
`the PSTN network. If one of the POTS phones 202 or 203
`is picked up, the interface unit 210 would gateway audio
`data to/from the POTS phones 202 and 203 and the video(cid:173)
`phone interface unit 210 so the person on the POTS phones
`202 and 203 could take part in the audio portion of the video
`call.
`If a PSTN call comes in to the phone trap 235 while the
`phone trap 235 has isolated the POTS phones 202 and 203
`from the PSTN network 236, the phone trap 235 may inform
`the videophone interface unit 210 and/or the POTS phones
`202 and 203 of this fact to implement a form of "call
`waiting." In this instance the videophone 200 may indicate
`call waiting visually as well as or instead of audibly.
`If a POTS phone 202 or 203 handset were picked up when
`15 there is no active call, the phone trap 235 would connect it
`to the PSTN network to make an outgoing audio-only call.
`Optionally (or in the case of no PSTN connection), it could
`connect to the videophone interface unit 210 and initiate an
`outgoing VoiP, voice-only call over broadband network 229.
`20 The option of placing on an outgoing voice call on either the
`PSTN network 236 or the broadband network 229 (as a VoiP
`call) would be configurable. Another option would be for the
`phone trap 235 to examine the number dialed, and use either
`PSTN network 236 or the broadband network 229, depend-
`25 ing on the number dialed (whether it's long-distance,
`whether it is a known video-enabled destination, or whether
`it is another videophone, a POTS phone or a VoiP phone.
`Table 1 describes various types of subscriber call con(cid:173)
`figurations as they relate to the operation of phone trap 235
`30 and videophone interface unit 210 for outgoing calls.
`
`Outgoing Calls Phone Trap
`
`POTS to POTS Closed
`
`POTS to IP
`
`Open
`
`Videophone to Closed
`POTS
`Videophone to Open
`IP
`Videophone to Open
`videophone
`
`TABLE 1
`
`Videophone interface
`unit
`
`Routes to PSTN
`network
`Routes to Broadband
`network
`Routes to PSTN
`network
`Routes to Broadband
`network
`Routes to Broadband
`network
`
`Type of Call
`
`POTS audio
`
`IP audio
`
`POTS audio
`
`IP audio
`
`IP audio & video
`
`Table 2 describes various types of subscriber call con(cid:173)
`figurations as they relate to the operation of phone trap 235
`and videophone interface unit 210 for incoming calls.
`
`TABLE 2
`
`Incoming Calls
`(to PSTN)
`
`Phone Trap
`
`Videophone interface
`unit
`
`POTS
`
`Closed
`
`IP
`
`Videophone
`200
`
`Open
`
`Open
`
`Routes to PSTN
`network
`Routes to Broadband
`network
`Routes to Broadband
`network
`
`Type of Call
`
`POTS audio
`
`IP audio
`
`IP audio & video
`
`Videophone 100
`One embodiment of videophone 200 is illustrated in FIG.
`3, wherein videophone 200 is configured to communicate
`both audio and video information to and from subscriber
`102. In one embodiment of the invention, videophone 200 is
`powered by a rechargeable battery having a separate battery
`charger/power source (not shown) and includes a DC power
`
`Phone Trap 235-Call Management
`According to an embodiment of the invention, all phones
`ring on incoming calls. For any given call, videophone
`interface unit 210 sends and receives digitally encoded
`voice/video/signaling data to videophone 200 and analog
`encoded voice/signaling data to POTS phone(s) 202 and
`203. The videophone interface 210 includes a phone trap
`235, or PSTN isolation/bridge, is primarily used to interface
`the videophone 200 with other POTS phones. In the event
`this feature is not required, the phone trap 2