Method for improving video conferencing and video calling

• US 6,507,356 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackel, Lawrence David, Muller, Urs A
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/687,665
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14-3-, 348/14.16, 345/753, 345/700, 345/716, 345/719, 345/723, 345/756, 345/764, 345/781, 345/788, 345/799
• US Class Current: 348/14.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A method for improving video conferencing/calling between participants is disclosed. A video conference/call display window is provided to call participants. The position of the video call window is restricted to a portion of a video display screen which is close to the position of a video camera which is used during the video call. In this manner, a video call participant will be perceived to be looking at the video camera during the video call.

Claims

1. A method for improving eye contact between video conferencing/calling participants, wherein at least one of the video conferencing participants employs a video camera coupled to a computer having a display screen, the method comprising:

providing a boundary for location of a video display window on the display screen; and

restricting the position of the video display window to within the confines of the boundary, wherein the boundary is proximate to the location of the video camera and the video display window is restricted to an upper portion of the display screen proximate to the superior surface of the display screen provided the at least one of the video conferencing participants has positioned the video camera on the top of the display screen.

2. A method for improving a video call between two or more video call participants, each of the participants utilizing a video display and a video camera for participating in the video call, the method comprising:

providing a video call window on the video displays of the participants in the video call; and

restricting the position of the video call windows on the participants'"'"' video displays, wherein the video call windows are restricted to a position relative to the position of the participants'"'"' video cameras, wherein the video call participants are restricted from relocating the video call windows on their respective video displays outside of a predefined area, the predefined area being an area generally proximate to the top portion the video display provided the video camera is positioned on top of the video display.

3. A method for improving a video call between two or more video call participants, each of the participants utilizing a video display and a video camera for participating in the video call, the method comprising:

providing a video call window on the video displays of the participants in the video call; and

restricting the position of the video call windows on the participants'"'"' video displays, wherein the video call windows are restricted to a position relative to the position of the participants'"'"' video cameras, wherein the video call participants are restricted from relocating the video call windows on their respective video displays outside of a predefined area, the predefined area being an area generally proximate to the bottom portion the video display provided the video camera is positioned below the video display.