Telepresence systems and methods therefore

• US 9,462,223 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telepresence Technologies LLC (Buffalo Pacific LLC)
• Original Assignee: Telepresence Technologies LLC (Buffalo Pacific LLC)
• Inventors: White, Peter McDuffie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US14/714,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20150249805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1516
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A telepresence system enhances the perception of presence of a remote person involved in a video conference. The system preferably has a two-way mirror, which is between the observer and the display device, positioned at an angle to reflect a backdrop surface. The backdrop surface may or may not appear superimposed in a position behind the image of a person from the remote location. The system preferably minimizes image distortion via an optical path for the camera line of sight that is substantially longer than the physical distance between the user and the camera. The system may be asymmetrical, in that one camera is on axis with the user'"'"'s line of sight while the other camera is off axis with the user'"'"'s line of sight.

Claims

1. A telepresence system comprising:

a first telepresence communication system in a first location, said first telepresence communication system comprising;

a first image display device having a first image area, said first image area being positioned for viewing from a first observation zone in said first location,

a two-way mirror positioned between said first observation zone and said first image area,

a first camera positioned for viewing a first reflection of said first observation zone off of said two-way mirror, and

a first codec communicatively coupled to said first image display device and said first camera, said first codec being configured to receive a first video stream from a network and to transmit a second video stream to said network, said first video stream being for display on said first image area of said first image display device, said second video stream being generated from said first camera; and

a second telepresence communication system in a second location remote from said first location, said second telepresence communication system comprising;

a second image display device having a second image area, said second image area being positioned for viewing from a second observation zone in said second location,

a second camera positioned for viewing a direct, un-reflected view of said second observation zone, and

a second codec communicatively coupled to said second image display device and said second camera, said second codec being configured to receive said second video stream from said network and to transmit said first video stream to said network, said second video stream being for display on said second image area of said second image display device, said first video stream being generated from said second camera.

2. The telepresence system of claim 1, wherein said first telepresence communication system comprises a second mirror, said first camera further being positioned to view a second reflection of said first reflection of said first observation zone off of said second mirror.

3. The telepresence system of claim 1, wherein said first telepresence communication system comprises a blackout panel positioned along a line of sight of said first camera through said two-way mirror.

4. The telepresence system of claim 1, wherein said second camera is fixedly attached to said second image display device.

5. The telepresence system of claim 1, wherein said first telepresence communication system comprises a panel, said first camera being positioned for viewing said first reflection of said first observation zone off of said two-way mirror and through said panel.

6. The telepresence system of claim 5, wherein said panel is positioned such that a reflection of said panel off of said two-way mirror viewable from said first observation zone appears within said first image area of said first image display device.

7. The telepresence system of claim 5, wherein said panel is positioned such that a reflection of said panel off of said two-way mirror viewable from said first observation zone appears at a depth further from said first observation zone than said first image area of said first image display device.

8. The telepresence system of claim 1, wherein said network includes an IP network.

9. The telepresence system of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a telepresence operations center, said first codec and said second codec being communicatively coupled to said telepresence operations center.

10. A method comprising:

transmitting from a first telepresence communication system a first video stream to a second telepresence communication system remote from said first telepresence communication system, said first video stream being generated from a first camera in said first telepresence communication system, said first camera being positioned to directly view a first observation zone;

receiving at said second telepresence communication system said first video stream from said first telepresence communication system;

displaying said first video stream on a second image area of a second display device in said second telepresence communication system, said second image area being viewable from a second observation zone;

transmitting from said second telepresence communication system a second video stream to said first telepresence communication system, said second video stream being generated from a second camera in said second telepresence communication system, said second camera being positioned to view a reflection of said second observation zone off of a two-way mirror, said two-way mirror being disposed between said second observation zone and said second image area;

receiving at said first telepresence communication system said second video stream from said second telepresence communication system; and

displaying said first video stream on a first image area of a first display device in said first telepresence communication system, said first image area being viewable from said first observation zone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting and receiving said first video stream is through a network, and said transmitting and receiving said second video stream is through said network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said network includes an IP network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said network comprises a telepresence operations center, said transmitting said first video stream and said second video stream being through said telepresence operations center.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting said first video stream and receiving said second video stream includes using a first codec in said first telepresence communication system, and said transmitting said second video stream and receiving said first video stream includes using a second codec in said second telepresence communication system.

15. A system comprising:

a network;

a first telepresence communication system communicatively coupled to said network using a first codec in said first telepresence communication system, said first codec being configured to transmit and receive a video stream and an audio stream to and from said network, said first codec being communicatively coupled to a first image display device and a first camera in said first telepresence communication system, said first telepresence communication system comprising a two-way mirror, a first image area of said image display device being viewable from a first observation zone through said two-way mirror, said first camera being position to view said first observation zone as a first reflection off of said two-way mirror; and

a second telepresence communication system communicatively coupled to said network using a second codec in said second telepresence communication system, said second codec being configured to transmit and receive a video stream and an audio stream to and from said network, said second codec being communicatively coupled to a second image display device and a second camera in said second telepresence communication system, a second image area of said second image display device being directly viewable from a second observation zone, said second camera being position to directly view said second observation zone.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said network is an IP network.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said network comprises a telepresence operations center, said first codec and said second codec being communicatively coupled to said telepresence operations center in said network.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said first telepresence communication system comprises a second mirror, said first camera further being positioned to view said first observation zone as a second reflection of said first reflection off of said second mirror.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said first telepresence communication system comprises a blackout panel positioned along a line of sight of said first camera through said two-way mirror.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said first telepresence communication system comprises a panel, said first camera being positioned viewing said first reflection of said first observation zone off of said two-way mirror and through said panel, said panel being positioned such that a reflection of said panel off of said two-way mirror viewable from said first observation zone appears at a depth further from said first observation zone than said first image area of said first image display device.