Automatic positioning of videoconference camera to presenter at presentation device

• US 9,473,740 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Stephen P., Nimri, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hemant
• Application Number:
  US13/659,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 370259-271, 370351-357, 709201-207, 709217-248
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

In a system and method of conducting a videoconference, a videoconferencing unit detects an activation related to a presentation device at a near-end of the videoconference. The unit stores a current orientation of at least one camera and directs the at least one camera at the presentation device. At this point, the unit begins outputting to a far-end at least one of (i) video captured of the presentation device with the at least one directed camera and (ii) content displayed with the presentation device. At some point, the unit detects a deactivation related to the presentation device at the near-end and then redirects the at least one camera to the stored orientation so the videoconference can proceed as before.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a videoconference, comprising:

detecting an activation related to a presentation device at a near-end of the videoconference;

monitoring, in response to the activation, activity on the presentation device with a timer;

storing a current orientation of at least one camera at the near-end;

directing the at least one camera at the presentation device at the near-end;

outputting to a far-end at a same time both (i) a first stream of video captured of the presentation device with the at least one directed camera and (ii) a second stream of content displayed with the presentation device separate from the video of the contents captured with the at least one directed camera;

detecting a deactivation related to the presentation device at the near-end by timing out of the timer without monitored activity; and

redirecting the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the activation comprises detecting a signal from a remote control, a pressure sensitive mat, or an infrared sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the activation comprises detecting a signal from a sensor associated with the presentation device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein detecting the signal from the sensor comprises detecting a sensor signal in response to a stylus moved from a tray on the presentation device, an object coming into proximity of a screen of the presentation device, a finger coming into proximity of the screen of the presentation device, or a button being depressed on the presentation device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera comprises first and second cameras;

and wherein storing the current orientation of the at least one camera comprises storing the current orientation of the first and second cameras.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the at least one camera at the presentation device at the near-end comprises moving the at least one camera from its current orientation to a new orientation directed at the presentation device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera comprises first and second cameras;

and wherein directing the at least one camera at the presentation device at the near-end comprises switching from the first camera directed at the current orientation to the second camera directed at the presentation device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the deactivation comprises overriding the timer by receiving an exit instruction, receiving an incoming call, or disconnecting from an existing call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein redirecting the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end comprises moving the at least one camera from its current orientation to the stored orientation.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the at least one camera comprises first and second cameras;

wherein directing the at least one camera at the presentation device at the near-end comprises switching from the first camera directed at the current orientation to the second camera directed at the presentation device; and

wherein redirecting the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end comprises switching from the second camera directed at the presentation device back to the first camera associated with the stored orientation.

11. A programmable storage device having program instructions stored thereon for causing a programmable control device to perform a method of conducting a videoconference, comprising:

detecting an activation related to a presentation device at a near-end of the videoconference;

monitoring, in response to the activation, activity on the presentation device with a timer;

storing a current orientation of at least one camera at the near-end;

directing the at least one camera at the presentation device at the near-end;

outputting to a far-end at a same time both (i) a first stream of video captured of the presentation device with the at least one directed camera and (ii) a second stream of content displayed with the presentation device separate from the video of the content captured with the at least one directed camera;

detecting a deactivation related to the presentation device at the near-end by timing out of the timer without monitored activity; and

redirecting the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end.

19. The programmable storage device of claim 11, wherein detecting the activation comprises detecting a signal from a remote control, from a pressure sensitive mat, from an infrared sensor, from a sensor associated with the presentation device, in response to a stylus moved from a tray on the presentation device, in response to an object coming into proximity of a screen of the presentation device, in response to a finger coming into proximity of the screen of the presentation device, or in response to a button being depressed on the presentation device.

20. The programmable storage device of claim 11, wherein directing the at least one camera at the presentation device at the near-end comprises moving the at least one camera from its current orientation to a new orientation directed at the presentation device;

and wherein redirecting the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end comprises moving the at least one camera from its current orientation to the stored orientation.

21. The programmable storage device of claim 11,

wherein the at least one camera comprises first and second cameras;

wherein directing the at least one camera at the presentation device at the near-end comprises switching from the first camera directed at the current orientation to the second camera directed at the presentation device; and

wherein redirecting the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end comprises switching from the second camera directed at the presentation device back to the first camera associated with the stored orientation.

22. The programmable storage device of claim 11, wherein detecting the deactivation comprises overriding the timer by receiving an exit instruction, receiving an incoming call, or disconnecting from an existing call.

12. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

a visual component;

a sensor associated with the visual component and obtaining touch data relative to the visual component; and

a videoconferencing unit operatively coupled to a videoconference network, at least one camera, and at least one of (i) the visual component and (ii) the sensor, the videoconferencing unit configured to;

detect an activation related to the at least one of (i) the visual component and (ii) the sensor;

monitor, in response to the activation, activity on the at least one of (i) the visual component and (ii) the sensor with a timer;

store a current orientation of the at least one camera;

direct the at least one camera at the visual component;

output to a far-end at a same time both (i) a first stream of video captured of the visual component with the at least one directed camera and (ii) a second stream of content displayed with the visual component separate from the video of the content captured with the at least one directed camera;

detect a deactivation related to the at least one of (i) the visual component and (ii) the sensor in response to timing out of the timer without monitored activity; and

redirect the at least one camera to the stored orientation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the visual component is selected from a group consisting of a display, a projector screen, an electronic whiteboard, and a dry erase board.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is based on optical sensing, infrared sensing, acoustic sensing, physical sensing, or a combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein to detect the activation, the videoconferencing unit is configured to detect a signal from a remote control, from a pressure sensitive mat, from an infrared sensor, from a sensor associated with the visual component, in response to a stylus moved from a tray on the visual component, in response to an object coming into proximity of a screen of the visual component, in response to a finger coming into proximity of the screen of the visual component, or in response to a button being depressed on the visual component.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein to direct the at least one camera at the visual component, the videoconferencing unit is configured to move the at least one camera from its current orientation to a new orientation directed at the visual component;

and wherein to redirect the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end, the videoconferencing unit is configured to move the at least one camera from its current orientation to the stored orientation.

17. The system of claim 12,

wherein the at least one camera comprises first and second cameras;

wherein to direct the at least one camera at the visual component, the videoconferencing unit is configured to switch from the first camera directed at the current orientation to the second camera directed at the visual component; and

wherein to redirect the at least one camera to the stored orientation at the near-end, the videoconferencing unit is configured to switch from the second camera directed at the visual component back to the first camera associated with the stored orientation.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein to detect the deactivation, the videoconferencing unit is configured to override the timer in response to receiving an exit instruction, receiving an incoming call, or disconnecting from an existing call.