Video conferencing system with physical cues
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an audio-visual input system at a first location that is operable to receive audio-visual information associated with a user;
a gesture determination system at the first location that is operable to determine gesture information associated with a state of mind of the user based on the received audio-visual information associated with the user; and
a tele-embodiment unit at a second location that is operable to receive the gesture information and automatically engage in movement corresponding to the gesture information, whereby the movement of the tele-embodiment unit expresses the state of mind of the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video-conferencing system is described that provides physical cues regarding remote participants. Each remote participant is physically represented at a video conference by a robotic unit that includes a monitor, camera, microphone and speaker. In this way, a physical presence of the remote participant is conveyed at the conference, so that other participants are more likely to involve the remote participant. Moreover, the remote participant has access to a gesture determination system, which inputs gesture information about the remote participant that expresses a state of mind of the participant. Such gesture information may include leaning forward to show interest, or leaning back to show disinterest. The gesture information is transmitted to the robotic unit, which is actuated so as to reflect the gesture information, and thereby express the state of mind of the remote participant in a physical, intuitive way.
143 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an audio-visual input system at a first location that is operable to receive audio-visual information associated with a user; a gesture determination system at the first location that is operable to determine gesture information associated with a state of mind of the user based on the received audio-visual information associated with the user; and a tele-embodiment unit at a second location that is operable to receive the gesture information and automatically engage in movement corresponding to the gesture information, whereby the movement of the tele-embodiment unit expresses the state of mind of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
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10. A method comprising:
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receiving audio-visual input from a conference participant; determining expression information associated with a non-verbal communication of the conference participant based on the received audio-visual input from the conference participant; transmitting the audio-visual input and the expression information to a conference location; rendering the audio-visual input at an audio-visual output associated with a tele-embodiment unit at the conference location; and moving the tele-embodiment unit automatically, based on the expression information, to reflect the non-verbal communication of the conference participant. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A video-conferencing system comprising:
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a plurality of participant input systems corresponding to a plurality of participants, each input system operable to receive audio-visual input from its corresponding participant; and a plurality of physical conference units located at a conference location that is remote from a location of each of the participant input systems, each of the physical conference units corresponding to one of the plurality of participants and including audio-visual output capabilities, wherein the physical conference units convey a physical presence of their corresponding participants at the conference location based on the received audio-visual inputs from their corresponding participants. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification