METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL CONFERENCING

• US 20130155169A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoover, Scott J., Hilburn, Joseph A., Hubner, Paul V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,007,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827

Abstract

An approach for providing virtual conferencing is described. A virtual conference platform receives, in real-time, images representing users of the respective mobile devices, selects a virtual environment among a plurality of virtual environments, and integrates the images into the selected virtual environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating a video conferencing session involving a plurality of mobile devices;

receiving, in real-time, images representing users of the respective mobile devices;

selecting a virtual environment among a plurality of virtual environments; and

integrating the images into the selected virtual environment.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the images based on the selected virtual environment.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an input into the mobile devices indicating a selection of the virtual environment, wherein the selecting of the virtual environment is based on the detection of the input.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an image representing a designated user; and

rendering the image representing the designated user with an emphasis added.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

detecting an input into the mobile devices indicating a selection of the designated user, wherein the image representing a designated user is selected based on the detected input.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, in real-time, collaboration information, wherein the collaboration information is accessible by the mobile devices;

receiving, in real-time, requests to modify the collaboration information from a plurality of the mobile devices; and

modifying, in real-time, the collaboration information based on the received requests.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

integrating the collaboration information into the selected virtual environment.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

selecting a designated user among a plurality of users based on the received requests to modify;

selecting an image representing the designated user; and

rendering the image representing the designated user with an emphasis added.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one or more avatars based on the selected virtual environment; and

mapping a portion of one or more of the images onto the one or more avatars.

10. A method comprising:

initiating a video conferencing session, wherein the video conferencing session involves a plurality of mobile devices;

sending, in real-time, images representing a user of a particular mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the sent images and images representing one or more users of the respective one or more mobile devices are integrated into a virtual environment;

receiving, in real-time, images relating to the video conferencing session, wherein the received images are integrated images of the virtual environment and the images representing the one or more users of the respective one or more mobile devices.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

detecting an input into the particular mobile device indicating a selection modifying the integration of the sent images, wherein the integration of the sent images is modified based on the detected input.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

initiate a video conferencing session involving a plurality of mobile devices;

receive, in real-time, images representing users of the respective mobile devices;

select a virtual environment among a plurality of virtual environments; and

integrate the images into the selected virtual environment.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

modify the images based on the selected virtual environment.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

detect an input into the mobile devices indicating a selection of the virtual environment, wherein the selecting of the virtual environment is based on the detection of the input.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

select an image representing a designated user; and

render the image representing the designated user with an emphasis added.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

detect an input into the mobile devices indicating a selection of the designated user, wherein the image representing a designated user is selected based on the detected input.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive, in real-time, collaboration information, wherein the collaboration information is accessible by the mobile devices;

receive, in real-time, requests to modify the collaboration information from a plurality of the mobile devices; and

modify, in real-time, the collaboration information based on the received requests.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

integrate the collaboration information into the selected virtual environment.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

select a designated user among a plurality of users based on the received requests to modify;

select an image representing the designated user; and

render the image representing the designated user with an emphasis added.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

select one or more avatars based on the selected virtual environment; and

map a portion of one or more of the images onto the one or more avatars.

21. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

initiate a video conferencing session, wherein the video conferencing session involves a plurality of mobile devices;

send, in real-time, images representing a user of a particular mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the sent images and images representing one or more users of the respective one or more mobile devices are integrated into a virtual environment;

receive, in real-time, images relating to the video conferencing session, wherein the received images are integrated images of the virtual environment and the images representing the one or more users of the respective one or more mobile devices.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a detection of an input into the particular mobile device indicating a selection modifying the integration of the sent images, wherein the integration of the sent images is modified based on the detected input.