Michael A Mills

US Patent:

62887394, Sep 11, 2001

Filed:

Sep 5, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/926256

Inventors:

Jon Benedict Hales - Grand Prairie TX
Michael David Mills - Pittsburgh PA
Nancy Elizabeth Hendrick Miracle - Colleyville TX

Assignee:

Intelect Systems Corporation - Richardson TX

International Classification:

H04N 714
H04N 7173
G06F 1516

US Classification:

348 1407

Abstract:

The distributed video communications system includes a plurality of nodes (10). Each of the nodes interfaces with a network that is comprised of a messaging layer (16) and a data transmission layer (14). Data is transmitted from each of the nodes to the data transmission layer in a multicast protocol such that all of the other nodes have access to the information transmitted thereto. Each of the nodes has configuration information stored in a conference configuration block (22) which is received through the messaging layer (16). A conference can be initiated by any of the nodes (10) by transmitting information as to the conferees in a conference to the other of the nodes in the conference. Each of the nodes (10) independently determines from the configuration information associated therewith the manner in which data is to be extracted from the messaging layer (14) and the manner in which it is displayed. The information consists of video and audio information which is compressed and/or decompressed utilizing a wavelet algorithm.