Method and system for presenting a video conference using a three-dimensional object

• US 20060200518A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Moore, Timothy M., Zhong, Wei, Barkley, Warren Vincent, Sinclair, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• 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 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A presentation system receives streams of videos of a video conference and presents the videos on the faces of a three-dimensional object. The presentation system selects which video should be presented more prominently than the other videos. The presentation system generates an image of the three-dimensional object that represents a view location from which the selected video is prominently visible and videos of other conference participants are less prominently visible. The presentation system then displays the image to the conference participant.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for presenting videos of a conference, the conference having videos of the conference participants, the method comprising:

assigning the videos to faces of a three-dimensional object;

identifying a view location from which to view the three-dimensional object; and

generating an image of the three-dimensional object from the view location with the assigned video displayed on the faces of the three-dimensional object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying of the view location includes:

determining a participant who is currently speaking; and

selecting a view location so that the face depicting the video of the speaking participant is prominently displayed.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a face is prominently displayed when the view location is in front of the face.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the view location changes so that the face depicting the video of the currently speaking participant is prominently displayed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a conference leader designates the video that is to be displayed prominently.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a conference participant designates a view angle.

7. The method of claim 1 including:

receiving videos of the conference participants; and

sending the generated image to computer systems of the conference participants for display to the conference participants.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer system is a computer system of a conference participant and including:

receiving videos of the other conference participants; and

displaying the generated image on a display device of the computer system of the conference participant.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional object is a cube.

10. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to present multiple live videos, by a method comprising:

assigning the videos to faces of a three-dimensional object; and

generating an image of the three-dimensional object so that multiple videos on the faces of the three-dimensional object are visible within the image.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the generated image features a video more prominently than other videos within the image.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 including selecting the video to feature more prominently based on audio associated with the video.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the generated image features multiple videos more prominently than other videos within the image when activity is associated with the multiple videos.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the activity is people of the multiple videos engaged in a discussion.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the three-dimensional object is rotated when switching which video is to be prominently displayed.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the generated image prominently features a video of a participant who is currently speaking.

17. A computer system for presenting multiple live videos, comprising:

a component that receives live videos; and

a component that generates an image of a three-dimensional object with multiple videos displayed on faces of the three-dimensional object within the image, wherein a face is displayed prominently within the image based on activity associated with a live video.

18. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the activity associated with the live video is whether a person of the live video is currently speaking.

19. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the live videos are of participants in a conference.

20. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the computer system is a multipoint control unit.