Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~2180
SPECIPICATION
General character of the class of article and kind f` process 5 -:
to which this in~entive idea relatçs ar~:
- devices and processes usecl in the transmission, processing, and reception
of visual ima~es between distant parties usin~ basic voice grade 2 wire lines
in the local !oops of the public telephone network connection.
SiLC refers to Single Line Connectivity as a process and a device.
SiLC is a device which uses an electronic process as a tool to receive
inpu~, store, output and transmit ima~es, te~t, data, and voice in organi~ed
sequences enabling all these infomation media to be telecommunicated using
the most common facility, a 2 wire voice grade local loop, to access the public
telephone network~ In essence, SiLC enables connection of a standard
telephone line with a standard television receiver or video monitor so that
visual images can be transmitted more easily to distant locations using only
the basic telephone network. The device is of economical size ~same size as
a modem) which means it is easily portable and connectable for shared use.
SiLC connectivity accomodates interface and interaction (using 2 wire
telephone connections) among:
-standard local access lines and single line telephones
-computing devices via common serial ports,
-digital video through cameras, monitors, and VCR's
using standard composite or "S' video formats,
-standard keyboards for text input,
-standard control devices such as a "mouse" or remote control,
SiLC is a unique, singular device and process which allows visual
and verbal information to be transmitted, received and stored SiLC's
internal memory capability plus unique software allows for simplified
interface between the two-wire voice grade public telephone network and
output display equipment. This` eliminates a requirement for a separate
computer controlled device to handle visual-image data sent from a distant
source if no visual images are to be transmitted back.
SiLC can also be used on 4 wire connections if necessary or available.
In essence, SiLC enables connection of a standard telephone line wi~h a
standard television receiver so that visual images can he transmitted to or
rrom distant locations using only the basic telephone network.
2~82180
6 : -
SiLC enables u~iqitous convenient interface among e~isting
communication technologies and networks. This facilitates ease of access to
visual information and promotes commonality of visual as well as verbal
interaction in a single ~ransaction.
SiLC provides control, stora~e and connectivity. SiLC's internal
network allows connection with:
-a control module which in turn can connect with: -
-an external keyboard.
-a telephone dial pad or numeric key pad, r
-input-output through voice detection equipment.
-standard composite and "S" video output which in turn connects - .
video ou~puts to television, monitor, VCR or viewing screens. - .;
-a modem which connects with standard serial devices such as
computers, fa~. or printers. .:-an options port for connections with other devices such as a "mouse". ~ .
-composite input including video input sources such as camera. . ... -
-access to the public telephone network. -
These connections allow SiLC fast, convenient inter-connectability with
familiar common voice, image, text, and data input and output devices whose
si~nals can now he transmitted and received over the pu~lic telephone
network e~pediently, conveniently and economically.
SiLC is a multi sensory device and methodology. SiLC is not a multi
media device (in the currently popular definition of multi media which ~:
applies to simultaneous display of images from different sources within a
single CPU on the screen at a single location~
The voice-image storage receives input from the control module
which connects with an external telephone set and an external keyboard.
Input to voice-image storage, and memory storage is received from e~ternal
sources through the composite input. The unique memory connects via the
modem to the public telephone network, control devices such as a mouse, or
any serial device such as computers, fax, and/or printers.
The voice-image storage output can connect to video display devices
such as a monitor, television set or VCR or to any device that accepts a
composite or "S" video signal. Then either transmitted images or images
stored within SiLC can be displayed on screen.
.. . . ......... . .. ..
2~82180
SiLC works as an unattended answer and record device for voice
telephone calls and as an unattended VCR for receiving transmilted visual
messa~es or for data transmissions from modems or other SiLC devices.
SiLC includes and allows an integration of many readily available
products and technologies. SiLC adds unique memory capacity, ROM and
software capability to allow visual information to be transmitted between
speciali~ed interfaces before or during voice conversations, or independently
of immediate voice conversation.
A SiLC audio visual conversation can be accomplished significantly
more expediantly and economically than connections with e~isting
multimedia methodologies because only a single basic telephone connection
is required at each end.
SiLC is independant of existing proprietary transmission or
computation technologies. SiLC is connectable with the most commun
terminals and is transparent once a connection is established. Other
technologies may need connection to a proprietary host or terminal.
SiLC offers enhanced portability, sharability, and connectivity.
- 208~180
~ .i
The nature of the articles or process previously known or u~ed
which~are intended to be improved or replaced by resort to~bis iaventiQ~
In existing telecommunications technology, transmitting or receivin~
still or moving visual images in a condition of adequate clarity often requires
a high quality or specialized line connection (the local loops to the switched - ~
network~. For audio and high quality visual information ~elecommunications . -`:
to be part of the same transaclion, in existing technology and methodology, - .--
two (2) distinct telecommunications connections lines or local loops from the
subscriber premises to the central offic public ne~work connçction must be
in operation simultaneously between the sending point and the receiving
point (one for the voice - audio and the second for the image - data). ~ -
Transmission of motion video requires high speed digital transmission
facilities (eg 2~ + D) which are broader band width than normal voice grade
public telephone networks. Multi sensory media telecommunication (images
as generated by computers) also requires digital or broader band facilities to ~. -
achieve its motion objectives. This necessitates 4 wire or two parallel 2 wire -
connections (eg Centre~ data) at each end of the conversation. - .
This effectively doubles the local telephone line requirements and ~.
thus increases the telecommunication cost of the transaction. .- -
In many telephone subscriber locations only one single line connection
is available. Multiple local loops or lines to each subscriber premises do not
e~ist (for reasons of absence of predictable ongoing demand or for economic
reasons or scarcity of available outside plant facilities). This is especially
evident in rural areas, or non industrialized older urban areas (or in
developing nations~
In locations which do have multiple lines, the vast majority of
subscribers usually only have sufficient lines to provide an acceptable grade~ :of service to accomodate needs for voice conversation holding times which
are brief (5 minutes or less per call, 2% blockage of attemped calls~.
Creation or upgrading of telephone network outside plant facility is :
capital intensive and time consuming Provision of high capability facility is
vulnerable to reduced prioritization or cancellation by the network provider
in times o~ economic instability or capital scarcity. This limits universality :and spontaneous access to multi sensory telecommunications
. .~
2~82180
Provisioning of specialized facilities is difficult to justify until
the economic benefits are clearly evident of additional/multiple lines
to accommodate data based interaction. The average telephone user is
thus prevented from economically/conveniently tes~ing and experimentatin~
with multi sensory telecommunication or evaluating of its potential.
Yideophones (combined voice and image transceivers using basic 2
wire local loop connections~ are now available to offer a limited slow scan
television image from a small TV camera of the user party but videophones
are limited in their ability to deal with fine resolution presentation graphics
detailed text print fonts, and distant or moving images.
Existing devices and technologies for combining various media
within a telecommunication transaction require separation of the voice
component from the data~image signal component onto two or more
separate communication channels (pairs of wires).
Future high capacity network technolo~ies (eg IS~N) anticipate a
single communication connection but will require unique network
configuration (eg 2B+ d) and significant reconstruction of the telephone
network to be accessible to the masses of existing telephone user locations
(and then probably only in developed~ high demand locations).
Without SiLC, multi sensory telecommunication is limited to
thoge who already have access to multi-line telecommunication service.
The absence of ubiqutous high-capability accessibility already limits
ease of telecommunication for the majority of potential beneficiaries of
multi sensory communication. Economic reality likely will inhibit the
construction of advanced technology telecommunication plant in areas
of low population density and in poorer developing nations. These
conditions significantly restrict the availability and use of telecommunication
that can combine interactive audible and higher quality visual message
content, or that can access visual data bases (such as drawin~s, charts, or
video images) to expedite completion of the transaction.
SiLC can accommodate intercepting devices which rectify variances in
the speed of group 1, 2 and 3 fax machines by acting as an intermediary to
receive and store, then relay the transmission to the receiving machine at
the optimum speed. Thus newer, faster machines don't have to slow down to
deal with older technology fax machines. Group 3 fa~ machines have
increased accessibility and group I machines have longer utility.
,. ~
1 8 0
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o
and process overcomes the difficulties and inco~nvenience
previous practices or ~osals.
In essen~e, SiLC enables connection of a standard telephone line with a
standard video monitor nr television receiver so that visual images can be
transmitted to distant locations using only the basic telephone network.
SiLC results from the combination of
-electronic storage of dlgitally based recorded images,
-uni~ue random access memory RAM~ capability, plus . .-:.
-uni~ue read only memory (ROM~ and software.
SiLC includes and allows an inte~ration of many readily available .
products and technologies. SiLC adds unique memory capacity. ROM and -
software capability to allow visual information to be transmitted between
specialized interfaces before or during voice conversations, or independently
of immediate voice conversation. . ~ .
The SiLC device has internal connections for a high speed modern
video output, video circuit, composite input, and control module; all of which
accomodate further external access to input or output through standard
telephone sets, standard telephone lines, keyboards. video sources, common
serial devices such as computers, fax or printers, VCRs or television monitors,
RF or mouse control devices, and numerical keypads.
SiLC combines the ability to transmi~ and receive voice and
assembled-data-based images with unique Read Only Memory (ROM) and
with unique storage Random Access Memory (RAM) to create capability to
use a single telephone connection to include a variety of available media
inputs (whether stored or live) including: telephone voice, facsimile,
computers, video cameras/ recorders/ monitors (visual output mechanisms
using composite or 'S' video signals).
' '; :'~:
SiLC's internal memory capability plus unique software allows for
simplified interface between the two-wire voice grade public telephone
network and output display equipment. This eliminates a requirement for a ~ : -
separate computer controlled device to handle visual-image data sent from a
distant source if no visual images are to be transmitted back. (SîLC can also
be used on 4 wire connections if necessary or available.)
:: : ::, . ' ' , . ' :
, - ~: . . : .
2~32180
`
SiLC is a unique, singular device and process which allows 11
visual and verbal information to ~e transmitted, received and stored.
The device is of economical size (the samesize as a modem~ which
means it is portable and easily connectable.
Using SiLC will enable simultaneous visual and auclio presentation to
be part of a personal telephone conversation. SiLC also enables recorded
audio and visual presentations to be transmitted to an unattended distant
location for future retreival and review at a convenient time (eg. where
several time zones separate people~.
Using SiLC reduces the complexity surrounding connectivity between
terminal devices and communication networks. That simplicity will promote
a linear understanding of the connecting relationships of devices to assist
communications effectiveness. Some academic authorities have estimated
that 60x of voice only conversation can benefit from some form of visual
enhancement.
Using SiLC can increase ease of that intercommunication about the
world. The availability of SiLC will promote more timely, convenient and
complete telecommunication by making multi sensory telecommunication ~ ;
more accessible and more affordable to the majority of users.
Using SiLC allows easier connection of a variety of visual devices for
sendin~, receiving or displaying images using conventional available 2-wire
voice grade telephone line service. SiLC eliminates the need for a separate.
distinct or specialized data communication channel parallel to the voice .
transmission channel.
SiLC allows input and output of voice, image, text, and data via a
single, simple telephone connection using standard connecting jacks, and
connection of other devices using standard jack or plug. :
A SiLC audio visual conversation can be accomplished significantly
more e~pediantly and economically than conversations with e~isting
multimedia methodologies because only a single basic telephone connection ~ .
is required at each end. : :
SiLC is an advance compared to existing alternatives because SiLC is
usable easily anywhere a single telephone line is available. Dedication of a
second access line or speciali~ed communication facilities are not required.
2~82180
SiLC represents a significant opportunity for economical
entryof multi sensory communication among us rs in remote
geographic areas where provisioning of additional telephone plant
requires additional time and expense for construction.
-:
SiLC allows increased efficiency of terminal equipment. The store and ~ ~ -
forward capability of SiLC means that the image does not need to be
displayed on screen at the same speed as it was transmitted, but rather the :: .
transmittable image can be stored in SiLC's memory, then displayed at the - ~ -
desired speed (the same as coincidently displayed images drawn from the
originatin~ compu~er). This minimizes distraction among the viewing
audience and enables greater control for the presentor.
SiLC allows economical, timely use of available telecommunications ~ ~
facilities. Comple~ or long presentations can be assembled and transmi~ted . . - ~
during non-busy (discount rate). periods of the day, held in memory, then
recalled from memory at the distant end during convenient periods. :
. .
SiLC enables convenient 'co-working' among terminals of equal :
capability while optimizing the usability of available other equipment at -
each location. SiLC's voice and image messaging capability reduces the need
for connected equipment to have redundant or dormant capacity.
SiLC's integrated control module eliminates the need for a complete ~ ~:
computer to be at each end of a multi sensory teleconversation. . :
. .
SiLC integral memory capability enables e~isting services and ; : ~:equipment to be usable for multiple tasks, This increases the
connected equipments' versatility, reduces redundancy, and
lengthens the contributory life of aging technology by improving
connectivity among terminals of differing capabilities (through the
store, forward at high speed, and store again capability until all . . ~
related components are available for the presentation). : .
SiLC offers enhanced portability, sharability, and connectivity.
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2~218~
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Full description of the beat wav of usi~ or puttin~
the inventi~7e ide~ into operation. (see drawing attached) 13
The diagram accompanying this filing shows the connec~ion network:
- within the SiLC device itself,
- through to the connections to the components included in the SiLC box,
-continuing through to connections in from and out to common
input and output devices.
NOTE: In the protot,vpe IBetaSiLC' an entire computer CPU including software
is used as a surragate to emulate the control module internal to SiLC. The
final SiLC device will he more compact in size throu~h the elimination from
SiLC of the redundant capabilty that BetaSiLC shares with the nun
telecommunication functioning of other terminating devices.
In ~he final SiLC device all redundancy between the components in the
SiLC bo~ and common external devices will be eliminated so only essential
control capability will ~e retained internally within SiLC.
The SiLC device and process can be used on a standard 2 wire
local loop telephone connection as: - -
-an aid to effective presentation of audio and visual material.
-a device to accomodate connection to unattended input devices
such as surveilance video cameras using e~isting 2 wire telephone
house cable or public network facilities rather than coa~ial cable.
This allows sharing o~ the same cable as adjacent telephone sets.
-a video/graphics storage device
-a modem interface for data tranmission and stora~e.
-a connecting device between an audio or video input devices
(such as between a video camera and the telephone network)
for remote spontaneous tr~nsmission of image and voice
-SiLC is a component in a system for receiving, storing, assemblin~
and displaying graphics, animated and/or still images
-SiLC includes a stand alone modem for sending and receiving data. ~ ~ -
-SiLC provides stand alone connectivity for computers, printers, and
facsimile transceivers
-SiLC is a stand alone device and process which provides connectivity for
voice, data, text and images
-The SiLC unit is also a unique stand alone video capture system.
An image cr~ated on a computer can be loaded into SiLC for storage and/or
for transmission to another SiLC unit or computer.
-SiLC can also be a portable stand alone presentation device
~upon connectlon to any available Television or other output device.)
