Apparatus for video access and control over computer network, including image correction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for communicating multiple live video feeds over the Internet. Users may be able to view a plurality of remote locations in real time. In one embodiment, text, graphics, and other video information supplement one or more video pictures to provide an educational and entertaining system. In accordance with the present invention, information is accessible to users who are viewing multiple video pictures. The information relates and describes what is being viewed. Users who have different types of equipment, with different data rates, are able to access and use the system of the present invention. In another embodiment, users may interactively communicate with a video lecturer by asking questions and receiving answers. The invention may be connected to, and in communication with, broadcast and/or cable television systems.

1 . An apparatus for communicating audio and video signals to user terminals, the apparatus comprising: 
 a web site, connected to a plurality of user terminals, comprising: 
 a means for receiving digitally compressed audio and video;  
 an audio-video server for providing a plurality of digital video signals;  
 a means for switching and combining the plurality of digital video signals;  
 an administrative unit, connected to the means for switching and combining, which directs which signals are switched and combined; and  
 a means, connected to the switching and combining means, for communicating the digital audio and video signals to the user terminals as video streams.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the web site further comprises: 
 an audio and video storage device, connected to the receiving means, which stores at least some received audio and video;    a data storage device, connected to the receiving means, which stores textual and graphical data;    a database server, connected to the administrative unit, the switching means, the audio and video storage device and the data storage device;    wherein the administrative means directs the database server to retrieve and supply to the switching means the audio and video information from the audio and video storage device and the textual and graphical data from the data storage device.    
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for use with a computer network, the apparatus comprising: 
 a web server, which receives compressed video and outputs one or more video streams to communications equipment;    communications equipment, operably connected to the web server and a plurality of user terminals, and having a plurality of input/output ports and a means for determining the data rate of each connected user terminal, wherein the video streams provided to user terminals are provided at the data rate determined by the determining means.    
     
     
         4 . A system for obtaining and communicating video, comprising: 
 a means for obtaining video;    a first matrix switch, in operative communication with the obtaining means, which switches the obtained video;    an output device, in operative communication with the first matrix switch, which outputs the switched video;    wherein users receive the video from the output device.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for obtaining includes a receiver that receives video.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the means for obtaining further includes a video compressor.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the receiver is a broadcast television receiver.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the receiver is adapted to receive compressed video over a communication network.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a paging receiver.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a cable headend.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a network controller.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a set top terminal.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a cable television system.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for obtaining comprises a file server that stores video.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a second matrix switch connected to a plurality of video servers, wherein the first matrix switch is in operative communication with the obtaining means via the second matrix switch and the video servers.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the video is distorted wide-angle video, the system further comprising: 
 an administrative unit which removes the distortion from a segment of the stored video.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a paging system transmitter.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a television broadcast transmitter.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to an operations center.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a cable headend.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a network controller.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a network manager.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a set top terminal.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a cable television system.  
     
     
         25 . A method of providing interactive presentations to users, comprising the steps of: 
 connecting to at least one user via a communications media; obtaining video of a plurality of remote sites for communication to the user;    receiving a request from the user concerning video at a single remote site;    communicating, via the communications media, at least part of the video concerning the requested remote site to the user.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of compressing video concerning the requested remote site.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of obtaining video comprises the step of retrieving the video from a video storage device.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of obtaining video comprises the step of receiving the video from a communications media.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the steps of: 
 retrieving data concerning the requested remote site;    retrieving graphics concerning requested remote site; and    wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of providing the retrieved data and graphics to the user.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of obtaining video further comprises the step of acquiring video of a plurality of different views of a single remote site.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of sending video of a single view of the remote site to the user.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the acquired video is distorted wide-angle video, and wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of removing distortion from a portion of the video.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the acquired video is video from a plurality of cameras, and wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of sending video from a single camera to the user.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a question concerning the remote site;    generating reply data to the received question; and    wherein the step of communicating includes the step of transmitting the reply data to the user.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of generating further comprises the steps of: 
 presenting the question to a person knowledgeable about the remote site; and    receiving reply data from the person.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the reply data comprises pre-stored graphics and text, and wherein the step of generating further comprises the step of retrieving the prestored graphics and text.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the reply data further comprises pre-stored video data and the step of generating further comprises the step of retrieving the pre-stored video data.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the question is a request for information concerning the remote site.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the step of: 
 receiving information concerning the remote site; and    wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of sending the information to the user.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising step of: 
 receiving information concerning the data rate of the user's communications system; and wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of matching to the user's data rate.    
     
     
         41 . A method of providing an interactive lecture to users, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining video of a lecturer;    connecting to one or more users via a communications medium;    receiving questions from the users;    presenting the questions to the lecturer;    acquiring the lecturer's response to one or more questions;    communicating the video and the lecturer's response to the one or more users via the communications medium.