Abstract: A multimedia collaboration system that integrates separate real-time and asynchronous networks--the former for real-time audio and video, and the latter for control signals and textual, graphical and other data--in a manner that is interoperable across different computer and network operating system platforms and which closely approximates the experience of face-to-face collaboration, while liberating the participants from the limitations of time and distance. These capabilities are achieved by exploiting a variety of hardware, software and networking technologies in a manner that preserves the quality and integrity of audio/video/data and other multimedia information, even after wide area transmission, and at a significantly reduced networking cost as compared to what would be required by presently known approaches. The system architecture is readily scalable to the largest enterprise network environments.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 1996
Date of Patent:
September 1, 1998
Assignee:
Vicor, Inc.
Inventors:
Lester F. Ludwig, J. Chris Lauwers, Keith A. Lantz, Gerald J. Burnett, Emmett R. Burns
Abstract: A multimedia collaboration system that integrates separate real-time and asynchronous networks--the former for real-time audio and video, and the latter for control signals and textual, graphical and other data--in a manner that is interoperable across different computer and network operating system platforms and which closely approximates the experience of face-to-face collaboration, while liberating the participants from the limitations of time and distance. These capabilities are achieved by exploiting a variety of hardware, software and networking technologies in a manner that preserves the quality and integrity of audio/video/data and other multimedia information, even after wide area transmission, and at a significantly reduced networking cost as compared to what would be required by presently known approaches. The system architecture is readily scalable to the largest enterprise network environments.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 1996
Date of Patent:
May 26, 1998
Assignee:
Vicor, Inc.
Inventors:
Lester F. Ludwig, J. Chris Lauwers, Keith A. Lantz, Gerald J. Burnett, Emmett R. Burns
Abstract: A multimedia collaboration system that integrates separate real-time and asynchronous networks--the former for real-time audio and video, and the latter for control signals and textual, graphical and other data--in a manner that is interoperable across different computer and network operating system platforms and which closely approximates the experience of face-to-face collaboration, while liberating the participants from the limitations of time and distance. These capabilities are achieved by exploiting a variety of hardware, software and networking technologies in a manner that preserves the quality and integrity of audio/video/data and other multimedia information, even after wide area transmission, and at a significantly reduced networking cost as compared to what would be required by presently known approaches. The system architecture is readily scalable to the largest enterprise network environments.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 1, 1993
Date of Patent:
November 18, 1997
Assignee:
Vicor, Inc.
Inventors:
Lester F. Ludwig, J. Chris Lauwers, Keith A. Lantz, Gerald J. Burnett, Emmett R. Burns
Abstract: A multimedia collaboration system that integrates separate real-time and asynchronous networks--the former for real-time audio and video, and the latter for control signals and textual, graphical and other data--in a manner that is interoperable across different computer and network operating system platforms and which closely approximates the experience of face-to-face collaboration, while liberating the participants from the limitations of time and distance. These capabilities are achieved by exploiting a variety of hardware, software and networking technologies in a manner that preserves the quality and integrity of audio/video/data and other multimedia information, even after wide area transmission, and at a significantly reduced networking cost as compared to what would be required by presently known approaches. The system architecture is readily scalable to the largest enterprise network environments.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 1996
Date of Patent:
April 1, 1997
Assignee:
Vicor, Inc.
Inventors:
Lester F. Ludwig, J. Chris Lauwers, Keith A. Lantz, Gerald J. Burnett, Emmett R. Burns