Communication System and Method

Abstract

A method of transmitting video data comprising: establishing a bidirectional video channel between a first terminal and a second terminal in a packet-based communication network; beginning a live, face-to-face video call over the established channel by generating first video data from a video camera of the first terminal, transmitting the first video data to the second terminal for display on a screen of the second terminal, receiving second video data generated from a video camera of the second terminal, and displaying the second video data on a screen of the first terminal; generating third video data at the first terminal from a source other than the video camera of the first terminal; receiving a user selection at the first terminal; and in response to the user selection, transmitting the third video data to the second user over the established channel of the packet-based communication network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . One or more computer-readable storage memory comprising processor-executable instructions which, responsive to execution by at least one processor, are configured to:
 establish a bidirectional video channel between a first terminal and a second terminal in a packet-based communication network, wherein the first terminal is configured to be connected to a plurality of alternate sources;   begin a live, face-to-face video call over the established channel by generating first video data from a video camera of the first terminal, transmitting the first video data to the second terminal for display on a screen of the second terminal, receiving second video data generated from a video camera of the second terminal, and displaying the second video data on a screen of the first terminal;   generate third video data at the first terminal from at least one source from the plurality of alternate sources other than said video camera of the first terminal;   receive input associated with a selection of one or any combination of the plurality of sources at the first terminal; and   in response to the input associated with the selection, enable transmission of, in addition to the first video data, the third video data generated at the first terminal to the second terminal over said established channel of the packet-based communication network for display on the screen of the second terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to generate the third video data are further configured to:
 receive a broadcast television signal using a television receiver of the first terminal receiver; and   operate a signal processing apparatus of the first terminal to process the received television signal for transmission over the packet-based communication network.   
     
     
         3 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first terminal is a television set. 
     
     
         4 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first terminal is a set-top box for connection to a television set. 
     
     
         5 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to generate the third video data are further configured to:
 receive an auxiliary video signal via an auxiliary input of the first terminal for connection to an external video playback device; and   operate a signal processing apparatus of the first user terminal to process the auxiliary video signal for transmission over the packet-based communication network,   wherein the first user terminal comprises:
 a television set; or 
 a set-top box for connection to the television set. 
   
     
     
         6 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 1  wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to transmit the third video data over said channel together with the first video data for simultaneous display on the screen of the second terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 1  wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to transmit the third video data over said channel in place of the first video data for display on the screen of the second terminal instead of the first video data. 
     
     
         8 . One or more computer-readable storage memory comprising processor-executable instructions which, responsive to execution by at least one processor, are configured to:
 begin a live, face-to-face video call over a bidirectional video channel between a first terminal and a second terminal in a packet-based communication network by:
 generating first video data from a video camera associated with the first terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to be connected to a plurality of alternate sources; 
 transmitting the first video data to the second terminal for display on a screen of the second terminal; 
 receiving second video data generated from a video camera of the second terminal; and 
 displaying the second video data on a screen of the first terminal; 
   generate third video data at the first terminal from at least one source from the plurality of alternate sources other than said video camera of the first terminal;   receive input associated with a selection of one or any combination of the plurality of sources at the first terminal; and   in response to the input associated with the selection, enable transmission of, in addition to the first video data, the third video data generated at the first terminal to the second terminal over said established channel of the packet-based communication network for display on the screen of the second terminal.   
     
     
         9 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to generate the third video data are further configured to:
 receive a broadcast television signal using a television receiver of the first terminal receiver; and   operate a signal processing apparatus of the first terminal to process the received television signal for transmission over the packet-based communication network.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 8 , wherein the first terminal is a television set. 
     
     
         11 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 8 , wherein the first terminal is a set-top box for connection to a television set. 
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to generate the third video data are further configured to:
 receive an auxiliary video signal via an auxiliary input of the first terminal for connection to an external video playback device; and   operate a signal processing apparatus of the first user terminal to process the auxiliary video signal for transmission over the packet-based communication network,   wherein the first user terminal comprises:
 a television set; or 
 a set-top box for connection to the television set. 
   
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 8  wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to transmit the third video data over said channel together with the first video data for simultaneous display on the screen of the second terminal. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer-readable storage memory of  claim 8  wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to transmit the third video data over said channel in place of the first video data for display on the screen of the second terminal instead of the first video data. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 beginning a live, face-to-face video call over a bidirectional video channel between a first terminal and a second terminal in a packet-based communication network by:
 generating first video data from a video camera associated with the first terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to be connected to a plurality of alternate sources; 
 transmitting the first video data to the second terminal for display on a screen of the second terminal; 
 receiving second video data generated from a video camera of the second terminal; and 
 displaying the second video data on a screen of the first terminal; 
   generating third video data at the first terminal from at least one source from the plurality of alternate sources other than said video camera of the first terminal;   receiving input associated with a selection of one or any combination of the plurality of sources at the first terminal; and   in response to the input associated with the selection, enabling transmission of, in addition to the first video data, the third video data generated at the first terminal to the second terminal over said established channel of the packet-based communication network for display on the screen of the second terminal.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein generating the third video data are further comprises:
 receiving a broadcast television signal using a television receiver of the first terminal receiver; and   operating a signal processing apparatus of the first terminal to process the received television signal for transmission over the packet-based communication network.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the first terminal is a television set. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein generating the third video data further comprises:
 receiving an auxiliary video signal via an auxiliary input of the first terminal for connection to an external video playback device; and   operating a signal processing apparatus of the first user terminal to process the auxiliary video signal for transmission over the packet-based communication network,   wherein the first user terminal comprises:
 a television set; or 
 a set-top box for connection to the television set. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15  further comprising transmitting the third video data over said channel together with the first video data for simultaneous display on the screen of the second terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15  further comprising transmitting the third video data over said channel in place of the first video data for display on the screen of the second terminal instead of the first video data.