Systems and method for enhancing teleconferencing collaboration

• US 7,916,165 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Original Assignee: Applied Minds, Inc.
• Inventors: Hillis, W. Daniel, Ferren, Bran
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/462,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 379/202.01, 270/260, 270/261, 715/753, 715/751, 715/755
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

An advanced video teleconferencing (AVTC) system uniquely combines a number of features to promote a realistic “same room” experience for meeting participants. These features include an autodirector to select audio and video sources and to compose shots, a collaboration interface for each participant to communicate nonverbal information, directional LEDs to privately alert participants, audio reflected from the main display, and a collaborative table to share a view of objects or papers on a table. When implemented with sufficient bandwidth for take advantage of these features and to keep latency time low, this AVTC system results in a highly realistic and productive teleconferencing experience.

Claims

1. A video teleconferencing system comprising:

at least one site, each of said at least one site having at least one station, each of said at least one station accommodating one of a plurality of participants;

a videocamera associated with each station, said video camera positioned wherein a participant at said each station is located within said videocamera'"'"'s field of view;

a plurality of microphones, wherein each of said participants is positioned within the acoustic range of at least one of said microphones;

an automated video switching system that automatically selects, from among a plurality of video signals provided by said videocameras at said at least one site, a video signal for transmission to one or more remote videoconferencing sites, based on;

an audio activity level of at least one of said microphones; and

selection parameters specified by an active operating mode among a plurality of available operating modes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said active operating mode is specified by at least one of said participants.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said active operating mode is automatically determined by said automated video switching system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said selection parameters can be adjusted by at least one of said participants.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein selection parameters for additional available operating modes can be specified by an administrator of said system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said automated video switching system stores sequences of said active operating mode, each of said sequences reflecting a particular meeting dynamic.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said available operating modes comprise a speech mode wherein said selection parameters ensure that a video signal among said video signals that displays an image of a specified participant among said participants at a first site is displayed continuously to all participants at other sites.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said available operating modes comprise a lecture mode wherein said selection parameters ensure that:

two specified participants among said participants, at a first and second of said at least one site, respectively, view only video signals among said video signals displaying images of each other, and

other participants among said participants, at sites among said at least one site other than said first and second of said at least one site, alternately view video signals among said video signals displaying a first one of said two specified participants and then a second one of said two specified participants.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said available operating modes comprise a view force mode wherein said selection parameters ensure that said automated video switching system at a first of said at least one site selects for transmission a video signal specified by one of said participants at a second of said at least one site.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said available operating modes comprise a fast switching mode wherein said selection parameters ensure that said automated video switching system selects from among said video signals at an increased frequency, wherein said automated video switching system tracks rapid exchanges between said participants.

11. A method for video teleconferencing comprising the steps of:

providing at least one site, each of said at least one site having at least one station, wherein each of said at least one station accommodates one of a plurality of participants, each site including;

a plurality of videocameras, wherein each of said participants is positioned within the field of view of at least one of said videocameras; and

a plurality of microphones, wherein each of said participants is positioned within the acoustic range of at least one of said microphones;

automatically selecting, from among a plurality of video signals provided by said videocameras at said at least one site, a video signal for transmission to one or more remote videoconferencing locations, based on any of;

an audio activity level of a least one of said microphones; and

selection parameters specified by an active operating mode among a plurality of available operating modes.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

specifying said active operating mode by at least one of said participants.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

automatically determining said active operating mode by an automated video switching system.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

adjusting said selection parameters by at least one of said participants.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

specifying selection parameters for additional available operating modes by a system administrator.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

storing sequences of said active operating mode by an automated switching system, wherein each of said sequences reflects a particular meeting dynamic.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said available operating modes comprise a speech mode, wherein said selection parameters ensure that a video signal among said video signals that displays an image of a specified participant among said participants at a first site is displayed continuously to all participants at other sites.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said available operating modes comprise a lecture mode wherein said selection parameters ensure that:

two specified participants among said participants, at a first and second of said at least one site, respectively, view only video signals among said video signals displaying images of each other, and

other participants among said participants, at sites among said at least one site other than said first and second of said at least one site, alternately view video signals among said video signals displaying a first one of said two specified participants and then a second one of said two specified participants.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said available operating modes comprise a view force mode wherein said selection parameters ensure that said automated video switching system at a first of said at least one site selects for transmission a video signal specified by one of said participants at a second of said at least one site.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said available operating modes comprise a fast switching mode wherein said selection parameters ensure that said automated video switching system selects from among said video signals at an increased frequency, wherein said automated video switching system tracks rapid exchanges between said participants.