Removing a Self Image From a Continuous Presence Video Image

• US 20130176379A1
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Yaakov Moshe, Leviav, Eyal
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• 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

Upon receiving a continuous presence video image, an endpoint of a videoconference may identify its self image and replace the self image with other video data, including an alternate video image from another endpoint or a background color. Embedded markers may be placed in a continuous presence video image corresponding to the endpoint. The embedded markers identify the location of the self image of the endpoint in the continuous presence video image. The embedded markers may be inserted by the endpoint or a multipoint control unit serving the endpoint.

Claims

1. A method that removes a self image of a first conferee from a continuous presence video image that will be presented to the first conferee of a continuous presence video conference, comprising:

determining a location of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image; and

replacing the self image with other video data in the continuous presence video image that will be presented to the first conferee.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image comprises:

collecting information from the first conferee by marking a border of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein marking a border of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image comprises:

placing a cursor associated with a remote control device on the border.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image comprises:

receiving information from a multipoint control unit that controls the continuous presence video conference.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the self image comprises:

replacing the self image in the continuous presence video image with a background color.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the self image comprises:

replacing the self image in the continuous presence video image with a replacement video image.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a background frame memory that stores a replacement video image; and

a self image remover processor that is configured to;

obtain a decoded continuous presence video image to be presented to a first conferee of a continuous presence video conference;

determine a location of a self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image;

retrieve the replacement video image from the background frame memory;

places the replacement video image in the location of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image; and

transfer the continuous presence video image to be presented to the first conferee.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the self image remover processor determines the location of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image from information marking borders of the self image.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information marking borders of the self image is collected from an endpoint associated with the first conferee.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information marking borders of the self image comprises information received from a remote control pointed at a border of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information marking borders of the self image comprises information corresponding to a position of a cursor associated with a remote control.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the self image remover processor determines the location of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image from information received from a multipoint control unit that controls the continuous presence video conference.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stored replacement video image comprises a background color.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium, on which are stored instructions comprising instructions that when executed by a video conferencing apparatus cause the video conferencing apparatus to:

determine a location of a self image of a first conferee of a continuous presence videoconference in a continuous presence video image; and

replace the self image with other video data in the continuous presence video image that will be presented to the first conferee.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions that cause the video conferencing apparatus to determine a location of the self image comprise instructions that when executed cause the video conferencing apparatus to:

identify a marker corresponding to a border of the self image of the first conferee embedded in the continuous presence video image; and

calculate a location of the self image in the continuous presence video image based on the marker.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions that cause the video conferencing apparatus to determine a location of the self image comprise instructions that when executed cause the video conferencing apparatus to:

collect information from the first conferee marking a border of the self image of the first conferee in the continuous presence video image.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions that cause the video conferencing apparatus to determine a location of the self image comprise instructions that when executed cause the video conferencing apparatus to:

receive information from a multipoint control unit that controls the continuous presence video conference.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions that cause the video conferencing apparatus to replace the self image with other video data comprise instructions that when executed cause the video conferencing apparatus to:

replace the self image in the continuous presence video image with a background color.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions that cause the video conferencing apparatus to replace the self image with other video data comprise instructions that when executed cause the video conferencing apparatus to:

replace the self image in the continuous presence video image with a stored replacement video image.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions stored thereon further comprise instructions that when executed by the video conferencing apparatus cause the video conferencing apparatus to:

transfer the continuous presence video image to be presented to the first conferee.