초록 ▼

A method and system providing wireless personal telepresence facilitating collaboration by two or more persons, each in different locations, on a task at one of the locations and requiring visualization by multiple persons. A portable wireless unit captures/transmits video depicting the technician's

A method and system providing wireless personal telepresence facilitating collaboration by two or more persons, each in different locations, on a task at one of the locations and requiring visualization by multiple persons. A portable wireless unit captures/transmits video depicting the technician's first-hand field of view while keeping her hands free to perform the task. The expert employs a management console for visualization of the task being performed by the technician while communicating in real time with the technician. The management console also provides control over video and audio functions including record, playback, freeze frame and image attributes. Communication between the two persons is accomplished by exchanging digitally compressed video and audio via a voice or data network, either public or private. A community server augments the system by supporting three or more participants and enabling communication across public networks.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A system for providing wireless collaboration between a first person and a second person over a network, the system comprising: a management console disposed with the first person, the management console for compressing video and audio generated by the first person and transmitting the

We claim: 1. A system for providing wireless collaboration between a first person and a second person over a network, the system comprising: a management console disposed with the first person, the management console for compressing video and audio generated by the first person and transmitting the compressed video and audio over the network; a portable wireless unit disposed with the second person at a location remote to the management console, the portable wireless unit for wirelessly receiving decompressed video and audio generated by the first person and rendering the decompressed video and audio to the second person; and a presence server disposed for wirelessly relaying video and audio communications from the network to the portable wireless unit, the presence server for receiving from the network compressed video and audio generated by the first person, decompressing the compressed video and audio, and wirelessly transmitting the decompressed video and audio to the portable wireless unit. 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first person comprises an expert and the second person comprises a technician, the expert employing the management console to assist the technician with a task being performed by the technician. 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable wireless unit and the presence server are colocated while maintaining the wireless communication therebetween. 4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the management console formats the video and audio generated by the first person. 5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the management console detects the available bandwidth on the network and adjusts frame rate and picture quality associated with the video. 6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable wireless unit further comprises equipment selected from the group consisting of miniature video cameras, displays, microphones, and speakers/earphones. 7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the presence server deformats the decompressed video and audio prior to transmitting the decompressed video and audio. 8. A system for providing wireless collaboration between a first person and a second person over a network, the system comprising: a management console disposed with the first person, the management console for receiving from the network compressed video and audio generated by the second person, decompressing the compressed video and audio, and rendering the decompressed video and audio to the first person; a portable wireless unit disposed with the second person at a location remote to the management console, the portable wireless unit for wirelessly transmitting video and audio generated by the second person; and a presence server disposed for wirelessly relaying video and audio communications from the portable wireless unit to the network, the presence server for wirelessly receiving from the portable wireless unit the video and audio generated by the second person, compressing the video and audio, and transmitting the compressed video and audio over the network. 9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the first person comprises an expert and the second person comprises a technician, the expert employing the management console to visualize a task being performed by the technician. 10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the portable wireless unit and the presence server are colocated while maintaining the wireless communication therebetween. 11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the management console deformats the video and audio generated by the second person. 12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the portable wireless unit further comprises equipment selected from the group consisting of miniature video cameras, displays, microphones, and speakers/earphones. 13. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the presence server formats the decompressed video and audio prior to transmitting the decompressed video and audio. 14. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the presence server detects the available bandwidth on the network and adjusts frame rate and picture quality associated with the video. 15. A method for providing wireless collaboration between a first person and a second person over a network, the method comprising: compressing video and audio at a management console, the video and audio being generated by the first person; transmitting the compressed video and audio over the network; receiving the compressed video and audio from the network at a presence server; decompressing the compressed video and audio at the presence server; wirelessly transmitting the decompressed video and audio from the presence server; wirelessly receiving the decompressed video and audio at a portable wireless unit, the portable wireless unit being disposed with the second person at a location remote to the management console; and rendering the decompressed video and audio to the second person. 16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising: formatting the video and audio generated by the first person at the management console; and deformatting the decompressed video and audio at the presence server. 17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising detecting the available bandwidth on the network at the management console and adjusting frame rate and picture quality associated with the video. 18. A method for providing wireless collaboration between a first person and a second person over a network, the method comprising: capturing video and audio generated by the second person at a portable wireless unit; wirelessly receiving the video and audio from the portable wireless unit at a presence server; compressing the video and audio at the presence server; transmitting the compressed video and audio from the presence server over the network; receiving the compressed video and audio at a management console connected to the network, the management console being disposed with the first person at a location remote from the portable wireless unit; decompressing the compressed video and audio at the management console; and rendering the decompressed video and audio to the first person. 19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising: formatting the video and audio generated by the second person at the presence server; and deformatting the decompressed video and audio at the management console. 20. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising detecting the available bandwidth on the network at the presence server and adjusting frame rate and picture quality associated with the video.