Interaction based on facial recognition of conference participants

• US 20080088698A1
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Mukul, Kumar, Sanjeev, Patel, Labhesh, Khouri, Joseph F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,847,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes capturing a facial image of a participant to a video conference session from a video stream of the video conference session. A database containing a plurality a stored facial images is then accessed in an attempt to match the facial image with one of the stored facial images. Each stored facial image is associated with information in the database associated with a person, the information being retrieved in the event of a match. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing a facial image of a participant to a video conference session from a video stream of the video conference session;

accessing a database containing a plurality a stored facial images, each stored facial image being associated with information associated with a person;

matching the facial image with one of the stored facial images; and

retrieving the information associated with the one of the stored facial images.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating, as a user interface selectable object, the facial image of the participant to the video conference session.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the capturing is performed in response to input received from a user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the database to include the captured facial image.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising establishing communication between an endpoint device running the user interface and the person associated with the one of the stored facial images.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the capturing is performed in response to the participant joining the video conference session.

7. A method comprising:

receiving input Identifying a facial image of a participant from a video feed to a video conference session;

creating a selectable object of the facial image;

in response to input selection of the selectable object during the video feed, initiating a database query in an attempt to match the facial image with one of a plurality of stored facial images, each stored facial image being associated with information associated with a person; and

in the event of a match between a particular stored facial image and the facial image, retrieving the information associated with the particular stored facial image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the person associated with the particular stored facial image is one of a group of persons attending the video conference session from a single endpoint device.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising capturing the facial image of the participant to the video conference session.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the input selection is generated by a user interface.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising establishing communications between an endpoint device running the user interface and the person associated with the one of the stored facial images.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the communications comprises an instant message sent from the endpoint device running the user interface to an endpoint device of the person associated with the one of the stored facial images.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the information includes a temporary mapping to a communications device of the person.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a display; and

a program that runs on a personal computer (PC) to produce a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display, the GUI providing a user of the PC with an ability to select a facial image of a participant from a video feed of a video conference session, selection of the facial image by the user during the video feed causing the PC to send output to a server hosting the video conference session, in response to receiving the output, the server accessing a database in an attempt to match the facial image with one of a plurality of stored facial images, each stored facial image being associated with information about a person, in the event of a match between a particular stored facial image and the facial image the server sending the information of the person associated with the particular stored facial image to the PC, the program being operable to display the information on the display.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the user interface further provides the user with the ability to request the server to establish communications between the user and the person associated with the particular stored facial image in response to a click of a button on an input cursor device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the click occurs when a cursor positionable by the input cursor device is positioned over the facial image.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the communications comprises an instant message session.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the communications comprises an email message.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the communications comprises a telephone call.

20. Logic encoded in one or more media for execution and when executed is operable to:

during a video conference session, capture a facial image of a participant to the video conference session;

access a database containing a plurality a stored facial images, each stored facial image being associated with information about a person;

match the facial image with one of the stored facial images;

retrieve the information about the person associated with the one of the stored facial images; and

send the information an endpoint device connected to the video conference session in response to input received from the endpoint device.

21. The logic of claim 20 wherein the input comprises a user interface selection of the facial image of the participant.

22. The logic of claim 20 wherein the media, when executed, is further operable to establish communications between a user of the endpoint device and the person associated with the one of the stored facial images.

23. The logic of claim 22 wherein the communications are established in response to a click of a button on an input cursor device associated with the user interface.

24. The logic of claim 20 wherein the information includes identity information.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the communications comprises an instant message sent from the endpoint device of the user and the person associated with the one of the stored facial images.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a display; and

means for producing a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display, the GUI providing a user of the PC with an ability to select a facial image of a participant from a video feed of a video conference session, selection of the facial image by the user during the video feed causing the PC to send output to a server hosting the video conference session, in response to receiving the output, the server accessing a database in an attempt to match the facial image with one of a plurality of stored facial images, each stored facial image being associated with contact information about a person, in the event of a match between a particular stored facial image and the facial image the server sending an anonymous link to the PC, the means for displaying the anonymous link on the display, the means also for initiating communications with the person using the contact information responsive to selection input of the anonymous link.

27. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising one or more instructions executable at the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to;

list a plurality of communication modes available for interacting with a conference participant, the list being generated in response to a first input from a user interface selecting a facial image of the conference participant from a video feed of a video conference session; and

establish communications between the user and the conference participant responsive to a second input from the user interface selecting one of the plurality of communication modes.