Video communication device and operation thereof

• US 9,843,766 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2015
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Isselhardt, Dion M., Miller, Garret, Brocklehurst, Kyle, Tanabian, Moe
• Primary Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US14/944,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20170064250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401, 348 1407, 348 1411, 348 1412, 348 1416, 348 1408, 4554561, 4554563, 455457
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A device may include a communication circuitry configured to receive device data from a paired device and a processor coupled to the communication circuitry. The processor may be configured to determine an ambient condition including physical presence of a user of the paired device relative to the paired device using to the device data. The device may also include a screen coupled to the processor. The screen may be configured to display an avatar of the user of the paired device and adjust a visual characteristic of the avatar responsive to the physical presence.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a communication circuitry configured to receive device data from a paired device;

a processor coupled to the communication circuitry and configured to determine a first ambient condition comprising physical presence of a user of the paired device relative to the paired device based on image processing of the device data from the paired device; and

a screen coupled to the processor and configured to display an avatar of the user of the paired device and adjust a visual characteristic of the avatar responsive to the physical presence;

wherein the visual characteristic of the avatar is adjusted on the screen of the device prior to establishing a video call with the paired device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the physical presence indicates a change in distance between the user of the paired device and the paired device; and

the screen adjusts the visual characteristic of the avatar responsive to the change in distance.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processing includes facial recognition.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein:

the processor is configured to determine the user of the paired device from a plurality of users determined to be physically present relative to the paired device using the facial recognition.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the processor determines a second ambient condition from the device data and a categorization of the second ambient condition; and

the processor adjusts a further visual characteristic of the avatar responsive to the second ambient condition, wherein the further visual characteristic indicates the categorization of the second ambient condition.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the physical presence is determined based on audio processing of the device data from the paired device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the audio processing includes human voice detection.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera configured to capture visual data of surroundings of the device;

wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to send the visual data to the paired device.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein:

during a video call, the processor is configured to determine a direction a user of the device is looking based on image processing of the visual data captured by the camera of the device, and adjust a position of a window within a field of view of video received from the paired device responsive to the determined direction the user is looking, wherein the window defines a portion of the field of view of the video received from the paired device displayed on the screen of the device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the screen displays video received from the paired device during a video call and overlays a graphic on the video during the video call responsive to a user input detected from the user of the paired device; and

the graphic is specified by the user input.

11. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving, using a processor of a first device, device data from a second device paired with the first device;

determining, using the processor, a first ambient condition comprising physical presence of a user of the second device in relation to the second device based on image processing of the device data from the second device;

displaying, on a screen of the first device, an avatar of the user of the second device; and

adjusting a visual characteristic of the avatar on the screen responsive to the physical presence;

wherein the visual characteristic of the avatar is adjusted on the screen of the first device prior to establishing a video call between the first device and the second device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the device data specifies a change in distance between the user and the second device, and adjusting a visual characteristic further comprises:

adjusting the visual characteristic of the avatar responsive to the change in distance.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the image processing includes facial recognition.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining the user of the second device from a plurality of users determined to be physically present relative to the second device using facial recognition.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a second ambient condition from the device data and a categorization of the second ambient condition; and

adjusting a further visual characteristic of the avatar responsive to the second ambient condition, wherein the further visual characteristic indicates the categorization of the second ambient condition.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the physical presence is determined based on audio processing of the device data from the paired device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the audio processing includes human voice detection.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

capturing visual data of surroundings of the first device using a camera; and

sending the visual data to the second device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

during a video call, determining a direction a user of the first device is looking based on image processing of the visual data captured by the camera of the first device; and

adjusting a position of a window within a field of view of video received from the second device responsive to the determined direction the user is looking, wherein the window defines a portion of the field of view displayed on the screen of the first device.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying video received from the second device during a video call; and

overlaying a graphic on the video during the video call responsive to a user input detected from the user of the second device, wherein the graphic is specified by the user input.