Telepresence system and active/passive mode display for use therein

• US 7,190,392 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Susan C. Maguire
• Original Assignee: Francis J. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Francis J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce; Jason P.
• Application Number:
  US09/177,356
• Time in Patent Office: 3,063 Days
• Field of Search: 348/8, 348/113, 348/114, 348/115, 348/117, 348/119, 348/121, 348/122, 348/123, 348/124, 348825-843, 348/905, 345/733, 345/751, 345/755, 434/365
• US Class Current: 348/121
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A telepresence server is for connection to a telecommunications network for providing access to a reality engine for a plurality of passive users. The reality engine can be controlled by an active user or a professional director through the network or by a local professional director. Active/passive mode displays can be used by the passive users in a passive mode and an active/passive mode display can be used by the active user in an active mode.

Claims

1. System for providing video images, comprising:

a video camera for providing video signals indicative of said video images captured by said video camera;

a first display, responsive to said video signals, for providing said video images for viewing by a first user;

an n-axis sensor, responsive to n-axis control motions caused by said first user, for providing an n-axis attitude control signal for controlling said video images captured by said video camera;

an n-axis platform having said video camera mounted thereon, responsive to said n-axis attitude control signal, for mechanically executing n-axis platform motions emulative of said n-axis control motions; and

one or more second displays, responsive to said video signals, for providing said video images for viewing by one or more corresponding second users and responsive to said n-axis attitude control signal for mechanically executing n-axis second display motions emulative of said n-axis control motions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said video signals are delivered over a network to said one or more second displays.

3. System, comprising:

at least one reality engine for providing an image signal indicative of images taken from various attitudes; and

a telepresence server, responsive to said image signal, for providing said image signal and an attitude control signal to at least one attitudinally actuatable display via a telecommunications network for attitudinally actuating said display for mechanically guiding a viewing attitude of a user and for displaying said images for said user of said at least one attitudinally actuatable display for passively viewing said images from said various attitudes.

4. System of claim 3, wherein said telepresence server is for providing access to said reality engine for an active user of a display attitudinally actuatable by said active user for providing said attitude control signal to said reality engine and to said telepresence server.

5. System of claim 3, wherein said telepresence server is for providing access to said reality engine for a director.

6. Display device, comprising:

n-axis display platform, responsive in a passive mode to an attitudinal control signal, for mechanically guiding a user'"'"'s head to execute attitudinal movements, and responsive in an active mode to attitudinal movements of a user'"'"'s head for providing sensed signals indicative of said attitudinal movements; and

a display connected to said n-axis display platform, responsive to a video signal, for displaying images corresponding to said attitudinal movements.

7. The display device (163) of claim 6, wherein said n-axis display platform comprises:

a first platform part (180) rotatable (168) about a first (z-) axis (170) and upon which said display (164) is mounted;

a second platform part (185) within which said first platform part is rotatably mounted for rotation about a second (x-) axis (190); and

at least one of a first motor (182) and first sensor (184) fixed in or to said first platform part (180) for rotationally driving and sensing rotations, respectively, of said first platform part about said first (z-) axis (170).

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a third platform part (198) within which said second platform part is rotatably mounted for rotation about a third (y-) axis (200).

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said first and second axes are perpendicular.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising display viewports (176, 178) on said display for use by a user in placing eyes thereon.

11. The display device (163) of claim 6, wherein said n-axis display platform comprises:

a first platform part (180) rotatable (168) about a first (z-) axis (170) upon which said display (164) is mounted;

a second platform part (185) within which said first platform part is rotatably mounted for rotation about a second (x-) axis (190);

a third platform part (198) within which said second platform part is rotatably mounted for rotation about a third (y-) axis (200); and

at least one of a first motor (182) and first sensor (184) fixed in or to said first platform part (180) for rotationally driving and sensing rotations, respectively, of said first platform part about said first (z-) axis (170).

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said first, second, and third axes are mutually perpendicular.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising at least one of a second motor (192) and second sensor (194) fixed in or to said second platform part (185) for rotationally driving and sensing rotations, respectively, of said second platform part about said second axis.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising at least one of a third motor (202) and third sensor (204) fixed in or to said third platform part (198) for rotationally driving and sensing rotations, respectively, of said second platform part (180) about said third (y-) axis (200).

15. The display device (163) of claim 6, wherein said n-axis display platform comprises:

a first platform part (180) rotatable (168) about a first (z-) axis (170), said display having hand grips (172, 174) for use in placing a user'"'"'s hands thereon; and

a second platform part (185) within which said first platform part is rotatably mounted for rotation about a second (x-) axis (190).

16. The display device of claim 6, wherein said display is mechanically connected to said n-axis display platform.

17. The display device of claim 16, wherein said display is mechanically detachable from said n-axis display platform.

18. The display device of claim 6, wherein said active mode and said passive mode are selectable by said user.

19. The display device of claim 6, wherein said attitudinal movements in both said passive mode and said active mode include attitudinal movements in a rotational yaw movement.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein said attitudinal movements in both said passive mode and said active mode include attitudinal movements in a rotational pitch movement.

21. The display device of claim 20, wherein said attitudinal movements in both said passive mode and said active mode include attitudinal movements in a rotational roll movement.