Multiple resolution capture in real time communications

• US 8,031,222 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Crinon, Regis J., Qiu, Jingyu, Shtiegman, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): Giles; Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/740,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.12, 348/14.13, 348/143, 348/152, 348/155, 348/207.1, 348/219.1, 348/390.1, 348/423.1
• US Class Current: 348/14.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

During remote communication session, there can be situations where information needs to be sent at a high resolution. Sending information at a high resolution allows for the capture of detail that can be lost without the use of a high resolution. A web camera can obtain information in both a higher resolution and standard resolution. A sending component can send this information encoded with markers that allow a receiving component to process and display the information.

Claims

1. A web camera system, comprising:

a web camera;

a resolution mode component that can change level of resolution capture of the web camera during a communication session for live conferencing, wherein the resolution mode component can enable the web camera to capture information initially in a first level of resolution, change to capture a document in a second level of resolution, and then return to capture information in the first level of resolution;

a marking component that adds marks after a portion of an emitted bitstream containing information that is captured in a first resolution quality to signify at least a beginning of information that is captured in a second resolution quality; and

a processor component that creates an intelligent record of information captured by the web camera.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein level of resolution capture is changed for audio capture.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein level of resolution capture is changed for visual capture.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a multi-image component that creates super-resolution images from information obtained by the web camera.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a photograph component that associates information captured by the web camera with an identifier.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising an identifier component that launches a mode at the start of the communication session to obtain associated information.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transfer component that emits information captured by the web camera.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the resolution mode component automatically switches level of resolution for the web camera to obtain information.

9. A method, comprising:

transmitting information captured during a communication session at a first resolution level;

changing, by a processor, level of resolution capture during the communication session for live conferencing;

transmitting additional captured information at a second resolution during the communication session, the additional captured information comprising a high-resolution capture of a document;

applying markers to a video bitstream made of captured information, wherein the markers signify a change in level of resolution of at least one portion of information; and

creating an intelligent copy of captured information at the second resolution.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising associating information captured during a communication session with an identifier.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising processing captured information to create information that is of a super-resolution quality.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising entering a capture mode in a first resolution quality automatically after obtaining information in a first resolution quality and switching to a capture mode in a second resolution quality.