Teleconferencing method and system for providing face-to-face, non-animated teleconference environment
First Claim
1. An image generator for use in a teleconferencing system comprising:
- a differentiator for comparing a differential reference image to an input video image from a first station and for generating a differential image in response thereto; and
a compositor associated with a remote station for receiving said differential image and for combining that differential image with a predetermined composite image to provide a composite image which may be displayed at the remote station to provide a single, complementary, integrated, non-cartoon-animated and face-to-face environment.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system provides a face-to-face video conference utilizing a video mirror. The method and apparatus comprise a first station having a first predetermined sensory setting; a second station having a second predetermined sensory setting; and an imaging system for capturing an image or sub-image at the first station, displaying at least a portion of the image or sub-image at the second station such that it becomes generally visually integrated with the second predetermined sensory setting. Also, disclosed is apparatus and method for effecting a face-to-face presence environment regardless of whether the first and second predetermined sensory settings are the same or different. The stations may be portable and/or modular such that they can be easily constructed or assembled. The stations may also be architectured and/or decorated to further enhance the face-to-face environment created by the video conferencing system and method.
301 Citations
73 Claims
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1. An image generator for use in a teleconferencing system comprising:
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a differentiator for comparing a differential reference image to an input video image from a first station and for generating a differential image in response thereto; and a compositor associated with a remote station for receiving said differential image and for combining that differential image with a predetermined composite image to provide a composite image which may be displayed at the remote station to provide a single, complementary, integrated, non-cartoon-animated and face-to-face environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A conferencing system comprising:
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a first station comprising a first sensory area defining a first aura; a second station comprising a second sensory area defining a second aura; and an image system for generating a first station image of at least a portion of said first sensory area and also for displaying said first station image at said second station such that said first and second auras become visually combined to provide a single, complementary, integrated, non-cartoon-animated and face-to-face presence environment at said second station. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An image system for use in a conference environment comprising a station having a first conference area and a remote station having a remote video area, said image system comprising:
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a compositor for compositing a first signal which generally corresponds to a video image of a portion of said first conference area with a composite reference signal to provide a composite image signal; and a display for displaying said composited image signal at said remote video area such that said first and second stations appear complementarily integrated to provide a single and non-cartoon-animated teleconference environment. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for providing a virtual presence conference in a teleconferencing system having a first station and a second station comprising the step of:
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capturing an image at said first station; situating a background behind said image, said background defining a first aura; displaying said image at a predetermined location in the second station comprising a second aura such that said image becomes visually integrated with said, thereby causing said first image to become complementarily integrated to provide a single, non-cartoon-animated and face-to-face teleconference environment at said second station. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 72, 73)
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48. A method for teleconferencing comprising the steps of:
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teleconnecting a first station having a first setting to a second station having a second setting; and displaying an image of at least a portion of said first setting, at said second station such that, when said composite image is displayed at said second station, said first and second settings to facilitate providing a single, complementary, integrated, non-cartoon-animated and face-to-face presence environment at said second station. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method for generating a single, complementary, visually integrated and seamless image at a station using at least one remote image received from a remote station comprising the steps of:
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(a) capturing said remote image at said remote station; (b) generating a predetermined composite image; (c) combining said remote image with said predetermined composite image to provide said seamless image, said seamless image not including any cartoon animation; and (d) displaying said seamless image at said station to provide a single, complementary and visually integrated teleconference environment. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method of generating an image for a video conference comprising the steps of:
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capturing a non-cartoon-animated image of a person at one station, filtering said captured image to provide a non-cartoon-animated filtered image; compositing the non-cartoon-animated filtered image with a predetermined composite image to provide a composite image; displaying the composite image at a remote station, such that a single, integrated, complementary and non-cartoon-animated teleconferencing environment is created in said at least one of said stations or said remote station. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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69. A method for generating a video scene at a station comprising the steps of:
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capturing a first image; combining at least one remote image with the first image to provide a non-cartoon-animated combined image; and displaying the non-cartoon-animated combined image at the station to facilitate providing a predetermined aura at the station where said non-cartoon-animated combined image facilitates providing a single, integrated, complementary, non-cartoon-animated environment at said station. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71)
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Specification