Patent Application
20080144082
The present invention relates in general to communication networks, and more specifically, to a method and system for communicating in a network.
A communication network allows two or more users to communicate with each other with the help of communication devices. Examples of the communication devices include, but are not limited to, telephones, mobile phones, intercoms, computers, laptops and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Further, for communication between two or more communication devices, communication links needs to be established between the two or more communication devices. Typically, the process of establishing the communication links is initiated when a user transmits a communication request by dialing the numbers associated with the pertinent communication devices. Other users receiving the communication request at the pertinent communication devices can respond by accepting or denying the communication request.
To facilitate communications over relatively smaller areas, intercom networks are employed. Conventional intercom networks include a plurality of interconnected communication devices. Typically, in an intercom network, a point to point connection can be established between two communication devices for communication. Today, many homes and offices employ intercom networks for in-house communications. For example in a home furnished with intercom networks, a mother in a kitchen can talk to a child in a bedroom by pressing a button and establishing a connection between the communication devices in the kitchen and the bedroom. However, if the child is not in the bedroom, the mother would not be able to communicate with the child. The mother will then need to find the current location of the child and connect to the communication device at that location. Moreover, if a person on the other side does not respond, a caller might have to shout over the communication device.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments, and to explain various principles and advantages, all in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that the elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated, relative to other elements, to help in improving an understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.
Before describing in detail the particular method and system for communicating in a network, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to the method and system for communicating in a network. Accordingly, the method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent for an understanding of the present invention, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements that are not expressly listed or inherent in such a process, method, article or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or apparatus that comprises the element. The term “another,” as used in this document, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “includes” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for directing communications in a network. The network includes a plurality of image collecting devices. The method includes receiving at least one identifier associated with a communication target at a first communication device connected to the network. Further, the method includes acquiring one or more images from at least one of the plurality of image collecting devices connected to the network. Furthermore, the method includes comparing the at least one identifier, received at the first communication device, with the one or more acquired images. Moreover, the method includes establishing, based on the comparison, communication between the first communication device and at least one other communication device connected to the network and co-located with one of the plurality of image collecting devices.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a communication device adapted to operate within a network. The network includes a plurality of communication devices and a plurality of image collecting devices. The communication device includes an interface for receiving at least one identifier associated with a communication target. Further, the communication device includes a receiver for acquiring one or more images from at least one of the plurality of image collecting devices connected to the network. Furthermore, the communication device includes a processor for comparing the acquired one or more images with the at least one identifier. Moreover, the communication device includes a means for establishing communication between the communication device and at least one other communication device connected to the network, based on the comparison.
On receiving the identifier from the user, the communication device 102 sends the at least one identifier to each communication device connected to the network 100. Further, at least one image collecting device of the plurality of image collecting devices co-located with the communication devices capture images of an area around them. The plurality of image collecting devices can be, for example, a video camera, a thermal image sensor and/or a still image camera. The plurality of image collecting devices capture one or more images based on a predefined condition. For one embodiment of the present invention, the predefined condition can be receiving the at least one identifier from the communication device 102. For another embodiment of the present invention, the predefined condition can be receiving the at least one identifier from a central server. The central server can send the at least one identifier, when the user at one of the communication devices in the network 100 enters a key identifying the communication target. For yet another embodiment of the present invention, the predefined condition can be based on a predefined time interval. For example, the predefined time interval can specify the intervals at which the images can be acquired. Once the predefined condition is satisfied, the at least one image collecting device can start capturing images of its surrounding. At step 206, the communication device 102 acquires one or more images from at least one of the plurality of image collecting devices connected to the network 100. Alternatively, at step 206, the one or more images from the at least one of the plurality of image collecting devices are acquired by a central server. At step 208, the one or more images acquired from the at least one of the plurality of image collecting devices are compared with the at least one identifier received by the communication device 102. When the one or more images are acquired by the central server, the comparison between the at least one identifier and the one or more images take places on the central server. If at step 208, one of the one or more images acquired from the plurality of image collecting devices matches with the at least one identifier, then the flow diagram is redirected to step 210. At step 210, a communication link is established between the communication device 102 and at least one other communication device connected to the network 100. The at least one other communication device is the one which is co-located with at least one image collecting device that captures the one or more images that match with the at least one identifier. The method is terminated at step 212.
For one embodiment of the present invention, the user at the communication device 102 can select the at least one identifier from the menu of identifiers. The at least one identifier is then sent to each of the communication devices connected to the network 100. Each of the plurality of image collecting devices co-located with the communication devices connected to the network 100, capture one or more images of the area around them at predefined time intervals after receiving the at least one identifier from the communication device 102. Each of the other communication devices then compare the at least one identifier with the one or more images acquired from at least one co-located image collecting device. If the one or more images acquired by at least one of the other communication devices matches the at least one identifier, then a communication link is established between the at least one communication device and the communication device 102.
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Various embodiments of the present invention provide an efficient way of communicating in the network 100. The at least one identifier is used to confirm the presence of a communication target in the vicinity of a communication device. During the process of communicating with a particular person, or a class of persons, the initiator does not need prior knowledge regarding the location of that particular person or class or persons. Instead the initiator selects an identifier that identifies the person or class of persons he/she wishes to communicate with and can proceed to place the call. In case of intercom systems, where a person calls another person and starts talking directly, the present invention can prevent screaming by a person who is trying to call, in case the other person is not present at the location.
It will be appreciated that the method and system for communicating in a network described herein may comprise one or more conventional processors and unique stored program instructions that control the one or more processors, to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the system described herein. The non-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, signal drivers, clock circuits, power source circuits, and user input devices. As such, these functions may be interpreted as steps of method and system for communicating in a network. Alternatively, some or all the functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function, or some combinations of certain of the functions, are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could also be used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been described herein.
It is expected that one with ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, will be readily capable of generating such software instructions, programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.
In the foregoing specification, the invention and its benefits and advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one with ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including any amendments made during the pendency of this application, and all equivalents of those claims, as issued.
