Set-Top Box Video Conferencing via Network Gateway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies do not effectively provide video conferencing services to television devices without the need for dedicated equipment, limiting remote visual communication for various applications such as business meetings, education, and collaboration.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables video conferencing services through a television host device, such as a set-top box, connected to a television-service-provider network, allowing it to participate in video-communication sessions by sending requests through a packet-switched network to establish communication paths with other endpoints, using protocols like SIP and VCB for routing and session management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video conferencing services are provided through dedicated equipment, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables television set-top boxes to perform multiple functions by integrating video conferencing capabilities into existing infrastructure. The set-top box serves both traditional television broadcasting and IP-based video conferencing functions, allowing a single device to handle diverse communication needs without requiring dedicated video conferencing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary between the IP network and the television service provider network. It mediates communication between video conferencing endpoints and traditional TV infrastructure, enabling reliable communication through protocol translation and network bridging without requiring endpoints to have complex multi-protocol capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If existing television infrastructure is used for video conferencing, then ease of operation is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as a mediator that shields endpoints from network complexity. Users interact with familiar television interfaces while the gateway handles protocol translation, network routing, and communication reliability assurance, making the system easy to operate without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages communication sessions through the gateway, which handles call setup, teardown, and network resource allocation without requiring user intervention. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while ensuring reliable communication through automated protocol management.
3Reliability
If dedicated video conferencing equipment is deployed, then communication quality is improved, but loss of time for setup and deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The television infrastructure and set-top boxes are pre-configured with video conferencing capabilities before use. The gateway device is pre-established to handle protocol translation, so when a user initiates a video conference, no additional equipment setup is required—communication begins immediately using existing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
By making set-top boxes multi-functional devices that support both traditional TV and video conferencing, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated equipment. Users can deploy video conferencing instantly using equipment already present in their homes, dramatically reducing deployment time while maintaining communication quality through the gateway's protocol management.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and methods are described for providing video conferencing services to a television-service subscriber via a television host device and a television-service-provider network. A request to participate in a video-communication session is sent from a television host device to a network entity. Based on the request, the network entity establishes a video-communication session between the television host device and at least one video-communication endpoint.