Videoconferencing system with enhanced telepresence using a single wide aspect ratio camera
First Claim
1. A method for video conferencing between a near end conference unit, the near end conferencing unit comprising a controller, a wide-aspect ratio camera, one or more codecs, and a transceiver, and a far end conference unit, the method comprising:
- capturing a wide aspect ratio video frame using the wide-aspect ratio camera;
accessing configuration information of the far end conferencing unit by the controller, the configuration information including a number of display devices at the far end conference unit;
selecting, by the controller, a plurality of adjacent, non-overlapping, and horizontally aligned portions of the captured wide aspect ratio video frame, the number of plurality of portions being equal to the number of display devices at the far end conference unit;
adjusting wide-aspect ratio camera controls, by the controller, such that a required number of near end participants are encompassed within the selected plurality of portions;
encoding, by the one or more codecs, each of the plurality of portions into a separate encoded data stream; and
transmitting, by the transceiver, the plurality of separate encoded data streams to the far end conference unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A videoconferencing system for enhanced telepresence employs a single wide aspect ratio high resolution camera for capturing video images of near end conference participants. Captured video image can be divided into adjacent portions, where video images corresponding to each portion is separately encoded and sent to a far end videoconferencing system to be displayed on adjacently placed display devices. Misalignment in displayed images at the far end can be mitigated by selecting portions that are non-overlapping and horizontally aligned. Number and size of the portions can be determined based on configuration information of the far end videoconferencing system.
15 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for video conferencing between a near end conference unit, the near end conferencing unit comprising a controller, a wide-aspect ratio camera, one or more codecs, and a transceiver, and a far end conference unit, the method comprising:
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capturing a wide aspect ratio video frame using the wide-aspect ratio camera; accessing configuration information of the far end conferencing unit by the controller, the configuration information including a number of display devices at the far end conference unit; selecting, by the controller, a plurality of adjacent, non-overlapping, and horizontally aligned portions of the captured wide aspect ratio video frame, the number of plurality of portions being equal to the number of display devices at the far end conference unit; adjusting wide-aspect ratio camera controls, by the controller, such that a required number of near end participants are encompassed within the selected plurality of portions; encoding, by the one or more codecs, each of the plurality of portions into a separate encoded data stream; and transmitting, by the transceiver, the plurality of separate encoded data streams to the far end conference unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for video conferencing between a near end conference unit, the near end conferencing unit comprising a controller, a wide-aspect ratio camera, one or more codecs, and a transceiver, and a far end conference unit, the method comprising:
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capturing a wide aspect ratio video frame using the wide-aspect ratio camera; selecting, by the controller, a plurality of portions of the captured wide aspect ratio video frame; adjusting wide-aspect ratio camera controls, by the controller, such that a required number of near end participants are encompassed within the selected plurality of portions; encoding, by the one more codecs, each of the plurality of portions into a separate encoded data stream; and transmitting, by the transceiver, the plurality of separate encoded data streams to the far end conference unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A near end videoconferencing unit is configured to communicate with a far end videoconferencing unit, comprising:
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a wide aspect ratio video camera for capturing a wide aspect ratio video frame; a plurality of codecs coupled to the wide aspect ratio video camera so as to receive the wide aspect ratio video frame from the wide aspect ratio video camera, each codec encoding one of a plurality of portions of the wide aspect ratio video frame to generate a separate encoded data stream; and a transceiver, coupled to the plurality of codecs, so as to receive the separate encoded data streams from the plurality of codecs and transmit the plurality of separate encoded data streams to the far end conferencing unit; and a controller coupled to the interface, the plurality of codecs, the wide aspect ratio video camera and the transceiver, wherein the controller; receives configuration information of the far end video conferencing unit via the transceiver; selects the plurality of portions of the wide aspect ratio video frame based on the received configuration information; and adjusts the wide aspect ratio video camera controls such that a required number of near end participants are encompassed within the selected plurality of portions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification