MANAGING SCENE TRANSITIONS FOR VIDEO COMMUNICATION
First Claim
1. A video communication system, comprising:
- an image display device adapted to display video images;
at least one image capture device which acquires video images of a local environment having an individual therein, according to defined video capture settings;
an audio system having an audio emission device operable to generate sound in the local environment and an audio capture device operable to sense sound in the local environment, said audio system operating in accordance with audio settings; and
a computer cooperating with the at least one image capture device, the audio system, an image processor and a communication controller to generate video signals based upon the acquired video images and to cause output video images to a remote individual during the communication event;
said computer further providing a contextual interface including an intra-scene analysis algorithm for identifying potential intra-scene transitions during the communication event and a scene capture management algorithm for determining intra-scene adjustments in video capture settings when an intra-scene transition is detected; and
the contextual interface further including a transition test with an inter-scene analysis algorithm, for identifying potential inter-scene transitions in the activities of the individuals, and a transition process structure for determining inter-scene adjustments in video capture settings,wherein the intra-scene transitions include changes in the video signal or audio signal that reduce a communicative impact of the video communication event and wherein the inter-scene transitions include changes in the video signal or audio signal that suggest that a nature of the video communication event has changed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Video communication systems and methods for operating the same are provided. The system has a computer cooperating with at least one image capture device which acquires video images of a local environment having an individual therein, an audio system, an image processor and a communication controller to acquire video images based upon the acquired video images and to cause output video images to a remote individual during the communication event; said computer further providing a contextual interface including an intra-scene analysis algorithm for identifying potential intra-scene transitions during the communication event and a scene capture management algorithm for determining intra-scene adjustments in video capture settings when an intra-scene transition is detected; and the contextual interface further including a transition test with an inter-scene analysis algorithm, for identifying potential inter-scene transitions in the activities of the individuals, and a transition process structure for determining inter-scene adjustments in video capture settings.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A video communication system, comprising:
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an image display device adapted to display video images; at least one image capture device which acquires video images of a local environment having an individual therein, according to defined video capture settings; an audio system having an audio emission device operable to generate sound in the local environment and an audio capture device operable to sense sound in the local environment, said audio system operating in accordance with audio settings; and a computer cooperating with the at least one image capture device, the audio system, an image processor and a communication controller to generate video signals based upon the acquired video images and to cause output video images to a remote individual during the communication event; said computer further providing a contextual interface including an intra-scene analysis algorithm for identifying potential intra-scene transitions during the communication event and a scene capture management algorithm for determining intra-scene adjustments in video capture settings when an intra-scene transition is detected; and the contextual interface further including a transition test with an inter-scene analysis algorithm, for identifying potential inter-scene transitions in the activities of the individuals, and a transition process structure for determining inter-scene adjustments in video capture settings, wherein the intra-scene transitions include changes in the video signal or audio signal that reduce a communicative impact of the video communication event and wherein the inter-scene transitions include changes in the video signal or audio signal that suggest that a nature of the video communication event has changed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing video for communication between an individual engaged in activities in a local environment and a remote viewer during a communication event using a video communication system, comprising:
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capturing video images with a video communication system using image capture devices and image processing, whose operation is defined by video capture settings, during a video communication event of one or more video scenes which involve the individual and their local environment; statistically analyzing the video images of video scenes with scene analysis algorithms provided within a contextual interface, to identify activities corresponding to intra-scene transitions or inter-scene transitions; testing the validity of any identified intra-scene or inter-scene transitions; determining any changes in the video capture settings consistent with the validated scene transitions; and automatically modifying the ongoing video image capture relative to a video scene in accordance with both the identified changes in the video capture settings and a video capture scene adjustment algorithm; wherein the intra-scene transitions include changes in the video signal or audio signal that reduce a communicative impact of the video communication event and wherein the inter-scene transitions include changes in the video signal or audio signal that suggest that a nature of the video communication event has changed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for automatically controlling content acquired during a communication event using a video communication system at a local site, the method comprising the steps of:
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defining a video context and an associated video capture mode appropriate for the activities of an individual or individuals within a current video scene that is occurring within the communication event at the local site; acquiring video images according to the defined current video capture mode with the video communication system, and transmitting associated video signals to a remote video communication system; monitoring the video images using metrics of intra-scene transitions and associated intra-scene transition confidence values to identify changes in activity that are consistent with the defined video context for the current video scene; monitoring the video images with a transition test using metrics of inter-scene transitions and associated inter-scene transition confidence values to identify changes in activity that are indicative of a changes to an alternate video context; selecting either the defined video context or the alternate video context depending on whether the intra-scene confidence values or the inter-scene confidence values statistically indicate a significant change in activity; and automatically modifying the acquisition of subsequent video images based upon the selected video context and associated video capture mode settings. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification