Tiering and manipulation of peer's heads in a telepresence system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of processing data at a local station to produce data representing images of participants at remote stations, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at the local station data representing the images of the participants at the remote stations and data indicating facings of the participants at the remote stations with respect to cameras at the remote stations;
processing at the local station the data representing the images of the participants at the remote stations to isolate the participant in the image from image background;
merging, at the local station, data representing the processed images of the participants at the remote stations to generate data representing an output image in which a first processed participant image appears to partially overlay a second processed participant image and in which the first processed participant image appears in the output image horizontally translated relative to the second processed participant image by a distance determined in response to the data indicating the facings of the first and second participants; and
providing the data representing the output image at an output of the local station suitable for coupling to a display device.
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Abstract
In a telepresence system, a local station receives images of participants at remote stations processed to isolate the remote participant in the image from image background. The local station merges the images of the participants at the remote stations to generate an output image in which a first remote participant appears to partially overlay another participant. The output image undergoes display at the local station.
122 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of processing data at a local station to produce data representing images of participants at remote stations, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at the local station data representing the images of the participants at the remote stations and data indicating facings of the participants at the remote stations with respect to cameras at the remote stations; processing at the local station the data representing the images of the participants at the remote stations to isolate the participant in the image from image background; merging, at the local station, data representing the processed images of the participants at the remote stations to generate data representing an output image in which a first processed participant image appears to partially overlay a second processed participant image and in which the first processed participant image appears in the output image horizontally translated relative to the second processed participant image by a distance determined in response to the data indicating the facings of the first and second participants; and providing the data representing the output image at an output of the local station suitable for coupling to a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19)
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9. Apparatus comprising:
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an input buffer receiving and storing data representing images of a plurality of participants, each at one of a plurality of remote stations, and to receive and store data representing facings of the participants at the remote stations with respect to cameras at the remote stations; a video controller coupled to the input buffer and processing the data representing the images to isolate the participant in the image from the image background and to generate data representing an output image in which a first processed participant image appears to partially overlay a second processed participant image and in which the first processed participant image appears in the output image horizontally translated relative to the second processed participant image by a distance determined in response to the data indicating the facings of the first and second participants; and an output buffer coupled to the video controller and storing the data representing the output image and supplying the data representing the output image at an output suitable for coupling to a display device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification