Virtual conference room
First Claim
1. A video conference system, comprising:
- a first conference room and a second conference room, the conference rooms electronically coupled together to permit transmission of images from each room to the other room for viewing, each conference room having;
a large format display system for projecting images; and
a camera positioned with respect to the large format display system to capture an image of the conference room and a participant in the room, without substantially obscuring the participant'"'"'s view of the large format display system, so as to provide the perception that the participant in the room is looking directly at a participant in the other conference room;
wherein the large format display system defines an aperture, the camera located behind the aperture;
wherein the aperture is located so as to coincide with a visually insignificant area of the image of the other conference room as displayed on the large format display system;
wherein the visually insignificant area corresponds to an image of an unobtrusive physical object located in the other conference room.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced video conferencing system and method includes at least two conference rooms, the conference rooms connected together electronically to permit the transmission of images and sound from one room to the other room. Each room has a large format display system for projecting images and a camera positioned with respect to the large format display system to capture images of the conference room and its participants while the participants are looking at the large format display system, without obscuring the participants'"'"' view of the display system, so as to provide the perception that the participants in one conference room are looking directly at the participants in the other conference room. The enhanced video conferencing system may also include an additional camera for capturing an image of an item located at a pre-determined location within the conference room for ultimate transmission to the other conference room for viewing.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A video conference system, comprising:
a first conference room and a second conference room, the conference rooms electronically coupled together to permit transmission of images from each room to the other room for viewing, each conference room having; a large format display system for projecting images; and a camera positioned with respect to the large format display system to capture an image of the conference room and a participant in the room, without substantially obscuring the participant'"'"'s view of the large format display system, so as to provide the perception that the participant in the room is looking directly at a participant in the other conference room; wherein the large format display system defines an aperture, the camera located behind the aperture; wherein the aperture is located so as to coincide with a visually insignificant area of the image of the other conference room as displayed on the large format display system; wherein the visually insignificant area corresponds to an image of an unobtrusive physical object located in the other conference room. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of video conferencing between a first conference room and a second conference room, comprising:
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receiving in the first conference room an image of the second conference room; projecting the image onto a first large format display system in the first conference room at or near life size; capturing an image of the first conference room and a participant in the first conference room, without substantially obscuring the participant'"'"'s view of the first large format display system, so as to provide the perception that the participant in the first conference room is looking directly at a participant in the second conference room; and transmitting the captured image to the second conference room for viewing; wherein the first large format display system defines an aperture, a camera for capturing the image of the first conference room being located behind the aperture, wherein the aperture is located so as to coincide with a visually insignificant area of the image of the second conference room as displayed on the first large format display system, and wherein the visually insignificant area corresponds to an image of an unobtrusive physical object located in the second conference room. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of video conferencing between a first conference room and a second conference room, comprising:
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receiving in the first conference room an image of the second conference room; projecting the image onto a first large format display system in the first conference room at or near life size; capturing an image of the first conference room and a participant in the first conference room using a camera located at a position within the first conference room that is substantially medial to the first large format display system and at or about eye level of a participant, the camera substantially hidden from the view of the participant in the conference room; and transmitting the captured image to the second conference room for viewing; wherein at least one of the rooms contains; a plurality of overhead indirect lighting fixtures which do not direct light towards the display system and create a shadow zone in front of the display system, thereby increasing image contrast of the display system; a plurality of side indirect lighting fixtures; a table; and a light source underneath the table. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of making a video conference system between two rooms, the method comprising:
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placing a large format display system in each room; placing a first camera in each room in a position within the room that is substantially medial to the large format display system and at or about eye level of a participant in the room, the camera substantially hidden from the view of the participant in the room; and electronically coupling the two rooms together to bidirectionally communicate audio and video information; wherein each large format display system defines an aperture, the first camera in each room being located behind the aperture, wherein the aperture is located so as to coincide with a visually insignificant area of the image of the other room as displayed on the large format display system, and wherein the usually insignificant area corresponds to an image of an unobtrusive physical object located in the other conference room. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of making a video conference system between two rooms, the method comprising:
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placing a large format display system in each room, the large format display system having a projection screen disposed along or into a wall of the room; placing a camera in a position within each room so that a participant in the room has a line of sight to a medial portion of the large format display system, the line of sight being within the field of view of the first camera in the room, the camera substantially hidden from the view of the participant in the room; electronically coupling the two rooms together to bidirectionally communicate audio and video information; and placing in each room; a plurality of overhead indirect lighting fixtures which do not direct light towards the display system and create a shadow zone in front of the display system, thereby increasing image contrast of the display system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A video conference system, comprising:
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a first conference room and a second conference room, the conference rooms electronically coupled together to permit transmission of images from each room to the other room for viewing, each conference room having; a large format display system for projecting images; and a camera positioned with respect to the large format display system to capture an image of the conference room and a participant in the room, without substantially obscuring the participant'"'"'s view of the large format display system, so as to provide the perception that the participant in the room is looking directly at a participant in the other conference room, further comprising in each conference room; a plurality of overhead indirect lighting fixtures which do not direct light towards the display system and create a shadow zone in front of the display system, thereby increasing image contrast of the display system.
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Specification