Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing video communications

• US 10,536,669 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Akin, Jeremiah Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/619,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20170289501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1407, 348 1408, 348 1416, 353 74, 353 28, 250221, 310309, 345 30, 345 31, 345427, 345156, 345207, 345419, 347241, 359363, 359481, 356 73, 351209, 382103, 382117, 382145, 606 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for conducting a video conference. A location of one or more sets of eyes in an image may be determined. The relative location of an image capture device and/or a portion of a display device may be adjusted based on the determined location.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conducting a video conference, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

generating an image of one or more sets of eyes from a reflection of the one or more sets of eyes off a reflective element with an image capture device that is aimed at the reflective element without being aimed at the one or more sets of eyes;

determining a location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image; and

changing a location of the reflective element based on the location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image, the reflective element comprising a partially reflective plane that is oriented to reflect the one or more sets of eyes toward the image capture device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprising changing a location of the image capture device based on the determined location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective element is disposed between the one or more sets of eyes and a display, the reflective element comprising a partially reflective plane that is oriented at about 45 degrees relative to a plane of the display.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein changing the location of the reflective element further comprises moving the reflective element towards or away from the display.

5. An apparatus for conducting a video conference, the apparatus comprising:

a first controllable track for changing a location of a reflective element, the reflective element oriented to reflect one or more sets of eyes toward an image capture device, the image capture device aimed at the reflective element without being aimed at the one or more sets of eyes; and

an image processing device for determining a location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an image capture device carrier for carrying the image capture device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a second controllable track configured to change a location of the image capture device carrier.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the image capture device is configured to pan toward the location of at least one of the one or more sets of eyes.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the changing operation changes a location of the image capture device based on the determined location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the determining operation determines the location of the one or more sets of eyes based on a direction of a source of speech.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more set of eyes corresponds to a video conference participant, wherein the reflective element is disposed between the one or more sets of eyes and a display. the reflective element comprising a partially reflective plane that is oriented at about 45 degrees relative to a plane of the display.

12. A method for conducting a video conference, the method comprising:

generating an image of one or more sets of eyes from a reflection of the one or more sets of eyes off a reflective element with an image capture device that is aimed at the reflective element without being aimed at the one or more sets of eyes;

determining a location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image; and

changing a location of the reflective element based on the location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image, the reflective element comprising a partially reflective plane that is oriented to reflect the one or more sets of eyes toward the image capture device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining operation determines the location of the one or more sets of eyes based on a direction of a source of speech.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising panning the image capture device toward the location of at least one of the one or more sets of eyes.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more set of eyes corresponds to a video conference participant.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the changing operation changes a location of the image capture device based on the determined location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying instructions that when executed by a processor, perform operations comprising:

generating an image of one or more sets of eyes from a reflection of the one or more sets of eyes off a reflective element with an image capture device that is aimed at the reflective element without being aimed at the one or more sets of eves;

determining a location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image; and

changing a location of the reflective element based on the location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image, the reflective element comprising a partially reflective plane that is oriented to reflect the one or more sets of eyes toward the image capture device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the determining operation determines the location of the one or more sets of eyes based on a direction of a source of speech.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising panning the image capture device toward at least one of the one or more sets of eyes.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the changing operation changes a location of the image capture device.