Transition Control in a Videoconference

• US 20140085404A1
• Filed: 09/21/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mauchly, J. William, Kleinsteiber, Aaron, Yang, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method for transition control in a videoconference comprises receiving a plurality of video streams from a plurality of cameras, displaying a first video stream of the plurality of video streams, detecting a stream selection event for display of a second video stream of the plurality of video streams, determining a transition category for a transition from the first video stream to the second video stream, and selecting a display transition based on the transition category for displaying the transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an interface operable to receive a plurality of video streams from a plurality of cameras;

at least one monitor operable to display a first video stream of the plurality of video streams; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to;

detect a stream selection event for display of a second video stream of the plurality of video streams;

determine a transition category for a transition from the first video stream to the second video stream; and

select a display transition based on the transition category for displaying the transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to transmit the display transition to an endpoint.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor is further operable to display the display transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a processor operable to determine a transition category for transition from the first video stream to the second video stream comprises a processor operable to:

analyze the first and second video streams; and

detect a conversation between the first and second video streams;

wherein the transition category comprises a conversation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stream selection event comprises one of the following:

audible recognition of a spoken name, detection of a hand gesture, sequential selection of video streams from the plurality of cameras, addition of an endpoint to a videoconference, or manual video stream selection at an endpoint.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transition category comprises questioning such that an endpoint signals an intention to direct a question to a participant in the first video stream of the plurality of video streams.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transition category comprises roll call such that two or more video streams from a plurality of endpoints are identified for sequential display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transition category comprises lecture such that a participant in the first video stream of the plurality of video streams addresses a participant in a second video stream for a particular amount of time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display transition allows for visibility of at least a portion of the first video stream and at least a portion of the second video stream during the transition.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the display transition is a wipe.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the display transition is a crossfade.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the display transition comprises a combination of multiple transition types.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of video streams from a plurality of cameras;

displaying a first video stream of the plurality of video streams;

detecting a stream selection event for display of a second video stream of the plurality of video streams;

determining a transition category for a transition from the first video stream to the second video stream; and

selecting a display transition based on the transition category for displaying the transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting the display transition to an endpoint.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying on at least one monitor the display transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a transition category for transition from the first video stream to the second video stream comprises:

analyzing the first and second video streams; and

detecting a conversation between the first and second video streams;

wherein the transition category comprises a conversation.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the stream selection event comprises one of the following:

audible recognition of a spoken name, detection of a hand gesture, sequential selection of video streams of the plurality of cameras, addition of an endpoint to a videoconference, or manual video stream selection at an endpoint.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the transition category comprises questioning such that an endpoint signals an intention to direct a question to a participant in the first video stream of the plurality of video streams.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the transition category comprises roll call such that two or more video streams from a plurality of endpoints are identified for sequential display.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the transition category comprises lecture such that a participant in the first video stream of the plurality of video streams addresses a participant in a second video stream for a particular amount of time.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the display transition allows for visibility of at least a portion of the first video stream and at least a portion of the second video stream during the transition.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the display transition is a wipe.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the display transition is a crossfade.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the display transition comprises a combination of multiple transition types.

25. Logic embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

receive a plurality of video streams from a plurality of cameras;

display a first video stream of the plurality of video streams;

detect a stream selection event for display of a second video stream of the plurality of video streams;

determine a transition category for a transition from the first video stream to the second video stream; and

select a display transition based on the transition category.

26. The medium of claim 25, further comprising code operable to transmit the display transition between to an endpoint.

27. The medium of claim 25, further comprising code operable to display on at least one monitor the display transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.

28. The medium of claim 25, wherein code operable to determine a transition category for transition from the first video stream to the second video stream comprises code operable to:

analyze the first and second video streams; and

detect a conversation between the first and second video streams;

wherein the transition category comprises a conversation.

29. The medium of claim 25, wherein the stream selection event comprises one of the following:

audible recognition of a spoken name, detection of a hand gesture, sequential selection of video streams of the plurality of cameras, the addition of an endpoint to a videoconference, or manual video stream selection at an endpoint.

30. The medium of claim 25, wherein the transition category comprises questioning such that an endpoint signals an intention to direct a question to a participant in the first video stream of the plurality of video streams.

31. The medium of claim 25, wherein the transition category comprises roll call such that two or more video streams from a plurality of endpoints are identified for sequential display.

32. The medium of claim 25, wherein the transition category comprises lecture such that a participant in the first video stream of the plurality of video streams addresses a participant in a second video stream for a particular amount of time.

33. The medium of claim 25, wherein the display transition allows for visibility of at least a portion of the first video stream and at least a portion, of the second video stream during the transition.

34. The medium of claim 33, wherein the display transition is a wipe.

35. The medium of claim 33, wherein the display transition is a crossfade.

36. The medium of claim 33, wherein the display transition comprises a combination of multiple transition types.