WO2001054404A1

WO2001054404A1 - A system and method of communication

Info

Publication number: WO2001054404A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2000/000007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adolf Christiaan Ellis
Original assignee: Adolf Christiaan Ellis
Priority date: 2000-01-17
Filing date: 2000-01-17
Publication date: 2001-07-26
Also published as: AU1106901A

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method of communication suitable for combined visual and audio communication and comprises at least two user bases each provided with at least one telephone- and video combination apparatus (12) and (14) the bases been interconnected with a dedicated communication line (20). The bases also being provided with metering means (22) adapted to monitor user time at each base (12, 14).

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATION

Technical Field

This invention relates to a system and method of communication and more particularly to such a system suitable for a combined visual and audio communication. "Background Art

Applicant has identified difficulties experienced with known systems and/or methods of communication i.e. more particularly those intended to be used in audio communications such as the well-known telephone systems. An obvious disadvantage of the aforementioned audio communication is that the communicating parties are unable to view each other whilst partaking in the communication process. It will be appreciated that the presence of dynamic visuals of the communicating parties will greatly enhance the communication process. Applicant has further identified known video conferencing communication apparatus, in the form of a video-like telephone device which, for example, comprises a combination of a conventional telephone device and a dedicated video camera and associated monitor. The intended purpose of aforementioned apparatus is served in aiding the communication process between two individuals, each of which being provided with such an apparatus, serving to convey audio signals between the communicating parties as well as visual signals associated therewith. A disadvantage of aforementioned apparatus and/or system of communication stems from it's intended purpose, i.e. that it serves only to aid communication between two individuals and not between larger groups, as well as restrictions of it's use due to it's reliance on conventional telephonic communication lines. The latter-mentioned difficulty results in frequent breaks in both audio-and particularly visual feed Another disadvantage suffered by the latter-mentioned apparatus is that it^'s video screen is not of sufficient dimensions so as 5 to properly provide for groups larger than one or two individuals communicating with each other.

Still another disadvantage suffered through use of aforementioned is that communication is only possible where two indiv iduals each has access to similar instruments capable of in intercommunication where such instruments are¹ usually in private hands and/or utilised by larger commercial operations due to it^'s operating and unit costs

Object of the inv ention

It is an object of this invention to provide a system and/or ι ^ method of communication w hich w ill at least allev iate some of the disad ntages of the know n s stems and/or methods of communication

Disclosure of the Invention

According to the inv ention a system of communication 2o comprises at least one telephone-and-v ideo combination apparatus at a first user base, πitei connected to a second telephone-and-video apparatus at a second user base, remote therefrom, v ia a dedicated communication line

Further according to the invention the communication line is of 25 the optical fibre tv pe capable of conveying relatively large volumes of data in relatively short time periods Still further according to the invention the communication line is of the type commoi ly referred to as an ISDN (Integrated Service Data Network) 2 A Line.

Still even furthet according to the invention the apparatus 5 provided at each user base is interconnected to a large-screen video monitor such as a television or like apparatus.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the telephone-and-video apparatus provided at each user base are similar and of the t pe conventionally marketed as ^"video phones" by o communication companies such as ^"Siemens^" or the like.

Still ev en further according to the invention a metering system is prov ided at each user base, associated w ith the telephone-video- combination apparatus, adapted to monitor the time spent by a user thereof ι Still ev en further according to the invention the metering sv ste compi ises a metering dev ice, matched w ith the telephone-and- v ideo combination apparatus, adapted to automatically monitor the usei time at each base and conv ert same into a predetermined monetarv equiv alent 2iι Still even further according to the inv ention the monitoring dev ice is capable oϊ^{^} providing a printed invoice reflecting the user time, converted monetary v alue and accordingly a balance owing by a user of the system.

According to another aspect of the invention the system 2> comprises a timetable arrangement adapted to serve in regulating synchronized use of two user bases where parties at each location intend to communicate at a predetermined time. Still even further according to the invention applicant foresees that numerous user bases will be provided at different international locations in the main centres to thus provide a network of user bases capable of interaction and accordingly enable mtei -communication 5 Still even further according to the invention applicant foresees that a usei base will be piovided with a number of telephone-and- video appaiatus and monitor combinations, each housed in substantially pπvate zones to aid private communication between useis at diffeient bases ιo Accoidihg to still anothei aspect of the invention a method of communication is piovided including the steps of pioviding mtei connected telephone-and-video combination appaiatus at at least two usei bases i emote fiom each othei. svnchionizmg the piesence of at least one usei at each usei base n accoiding to a pi edetei mined tune schedule. activating the components of the svstem accoiding to the time schedule. allowing communication tluough use of the components of the s stem bv the lespective useis at each usei base, and 2o - monitoiing the usage of each usei at each lespective base

Description of the drawing

A piefeπed embodiment of the invention will now be descπbed bv wav of example onlv with iefeience to the accompanying drawing which depicts a schematic diagram of the components of a system of 25 communication Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a communication system 10 comprises at least two user bases 12 and 14. Each base 12 and 14 is provided with similar apparatus in the form of a telephone-and-video combination device 16, preferably in the form of a product marketed under the trade name "Video Phone" by the communications company Siemens

^"Video Phone" 16 is interconnected to a large screen television monitor or the like 1 8 to provide improved visual capabilities at each user base 12

^"Video Phones^" 16 are further interconnected via a dedicated communication line 20 in the form of an ISDN ( Integrated Sei vice Data Network) 2 A line w hich is of the fibre-optic type

Each user base is further provided w ith a similar metering dev ice 22 interposed on communication line 20. between two mtei connected ^"Video Phones^" 16 Each metering device 22 is capable of monitoi ing. and l ecording the user time of a usei (not show n ) at a user base 12 or 14 as the case may be, conv erting same to a predetermined monetary v alue applicable to that user base 12 or 14 0 and pi v id g a printed report and/or inv oice (not shown) for the usei ( not show n) at the user base 12 or 14

It w ill be appreciated that, upon activation of system 10, users at bases 12 and 14 will be able to communicate both audially and v isually in real time, which communication may be monitored and for

T w hich use they can be charged through use of the system 10.

Applicant foresees that numerous user bases similar to 12 and 14 will be located at international centres and that communication between prospective users will be regulated through use of a synchronised time schedule serving to cause respective users to attend a user base similar to 12 or 14 at such international locations in a synchronised manner.

Applicant has found that use of system 10 to be beneficial in instances where a user is not capable of audio communication such as in the case of deaf and/or dumb user for which the visual communication means provided by system 10 sufficiently assists nonverbal communication techniques. Applicant still further foresees that a user base similar to 12 and/or 14 may be provided with a number of ^"Video Phone^" 16 - and monitor 18 combinations, coupled with a metering device 22. m relatively private conditions to enhance privacy for users w hilst communicating through use of system 10. It w ill still even further be appreciated that there are no doubt many v ariations in detail possible with a communication system and/or method according to the invention without departing from the scope and or the spirit of the appended claims

Claims

1 A system of communication comprising at least one telephone-and-

video combination apparatus at a first usei base, interconnected to a second

telephone-and-video appaiatus at a second user base, remote therefrom, via a

dedicated communication line

2 A svstem as claimed in claim 1 compiising a communication line of

the optical fibie -tvpe with capabilities to convev ielatively laige volumes of

data ielatively short time peπods

^ A svstem as claimed in claim 2 compiising a communication line of

the tvpe conimonlv lefeπed to as an ISDN line

4 A svstem as claimed anv one ol the pieced g claims in which the

appaiatus piovided at each usei base is mtei connected to a laige-scieen

v ideo monitoi

5 A svstem as claimed m anv one of the piecedmg claims compiising

telephone-and-video appaiatus of the tvpe conventionally maiketed as

^' v ideo phones^"

6 A svstem as claimed in any one of the piecedmg claims comprising a

meteiing system at each user base associated with the telephone-video- combination apparatus, adapted to monitor the time spent by a user of the

system.

7. A system as claimed in claim 7 in which the metering system

comprises a metering device matched with the telephone-and-video

combination apparatus, which is adapted to automatically monitor the user

time at each base and convert it into a predetermined monetary equivalent,

and provide a legible readout thereof

8 A sv stem as claimed in claim 8 comprising a metering system capable

of automaticallv prov iding a printed inv oice reflecting the user time,

conv erted monetary value and accordingly a balance owing by a user of the

system

9 Λ sv stem as claimed anv o( the pi ecedmg claims comprising a

timetable arrangement adapted to serv e in regulating synchronized usage of

tw o interconnected user bases in the ev ent that parties at each location

intends to communicate at a predetermined time

10 A sv stem as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a

netw ork of interconnected user bases capable of providing communication

links between respective bases on demand.

1 1 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a

user base is provided with a number of individual telephone-and-video apparatus and monitor combinations, each housed in substantially private

zones.

12. A method of communication including the steps of: providing

interconnected telephone-and-video combination apparatus at at least two

user bases remote from each other; synchronizing the presence of at least

one user at each user base according to a predetermined time schedule;

activating the components of the system according to the time schedule;

allowing communication through use of the components of the system by

respective users at each user base, and monitoring the usage of each user at

each respective base

1 3 A sv stem of communication substantially has described hereinbefore

w ith reference to the accompanying diagram

14 A method of communication substantially as described hereinbefore

w ith reference to the accompanying diagram