METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING LIGHTING FOR VIDEOCONFERENCING

• US 20100321467A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Goodman, Lee N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,384,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

An approach provides lighting for a videoconferencing system to improve an image of a user of the videoconferencing system. Light is emitted onto the user of a videoconferencing system, and is controlled onto the user in conjunction with capturing of the image of the user by the videoconferencing system to improve the captured image.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

emitting light onto a user of a videoconferencing system; and

controlling the light emitted onto the user in conjunction with capturing of an image of the user by the videoconferencing system to modify the image of the user captured by the videoconferencing system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light is emitted by one or more lights incorporated into a set top box or camera of the videoconferencing system.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light is emitted by a monitor display of the videoconferencing system.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the controlling of the light emitted is performed by controlling the monitor display to display intermittent brightness control frame images to control the light emitted by the monitor display towards the user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the intermittent brightness control frame images are interspersed between video frame images, and wherein the intermittent brightness control frame images are imperceptible by the user.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the controlling of the light emitted is performed by controlling the monitor display to display one or more brightness control areas to control the light emitted by the monitor display towards the user.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the one or more brightness control areas includes an outer frame that extends around a perimeter of a video display area.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a light emitting device; and

a lighting control device configured to control light emitted from said light emitting device onto a user of a videoconferencing system in conjunction with capturing of an image of the user by the videoconferencing system to modify the image of the user captured by the videoconferencing system.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said light emitting device is one or more lights incorporated into a set top box or camera of the videoconferencing system.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said light emitting device is a monitor display of the videoconferencing system.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said lighting control device is configured to control said monitor display to display intermittent brightness control frame images to control the light emitted by said monitor display towards the user.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said intermittent brightness control frame images are interspersed between video frame images, and wherein said intermittent brightness control frame images are imperceptible by the user.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said lighting control device is configured to control said monitor display to display one or more brightness control areas to control the light emitted by said monitor display towards the user.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said one or more brightness control areas includes an outer frame that extends around a perimeter of a video display area.

15. A system comprising:

a video camera configured to be operated with a videoconferencing system to capture images of a user;

a light emitting device; and

a lighting control device configured to control light emitted from said light emitting device onto the user of a videoconferencing system in conjunction with capturing of the images of the user by said video camera to modify the images of the user captured by said video camera.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said light emitting device is one or more lights incorporated into a set top box or said video camera of the videoconferencing system.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said light emitting device is a monitor display of the videoconferencing system.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said lighting control device is configured to control said monitor display to display intermittent brightness control frame images to control the light emitted by said monitor display towards the user, wherein said intermittent brightness control frame images are interspersed between video frame images, and wherein said intermittent brightness control frame images are imperceptible by the user.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said lighting control device is configured to control said monitor display to display one or more brightness control areas to control the light emitted by said monitor display towards the user.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more brightness control areas includes an outer frame that extends around a perimeter of a video display area.