Presenter control during a video conference

• US 9,264,660 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Petterson, Frank, Vivekanandan, Janahan, Carpenter, Thor
• Primary Examiner(s): Riegler, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Mong-Shune
• Application Number:
  US13/436,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 715/756, 715/863, 348/14.09, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• 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 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

Embodiments generally relate to presenter control during a video conference. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, where the user interface displays a first user video stream in a current presenter position and displays a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position. The method also includes detecting at least one gesture from the second user, where the detecting of the at least one gesture indicates that the second user intends to be a current presenter. The method also includes causing the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position in response to the detecting.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, wherein the user interface displays a first user video stream in a current presenter position and displays a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position;

detecting a first hand movement from the first user;

detecting a second hand movement of the second user that indicates that the second user intends to be a current presenter, wherein the second hand movement corresponds to sign language;

determining a first average amount of movement associated with the first hand movement from the first user based on a first magnitude of the first hand movement across a predetermined distance of the first user video stream;

assigning a first heuristic value based on the first average amount of movement;

determining a second average amount of movement associated with the second hand movement from the second user based on a second magnitude of the second hand movement across the predetermined distance of the second user video stream;

assigning a second heuristic value based on the second average amount of movement;

comparing the first heuristic value with the second heuristic value; and

causing the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position in response to the second heuristic value being greater than the first heuristic value.

2. A method comprising:

providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, wherein the user interface displays a first user video stream in a current presenter position and displays a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position;

detecting at least one gesture from the second user, wherein the at least one gesture is a limb movement, wherein the detecting of the at least one gesture indicates that the second user intends to be a current presenter;

determining an average amount of movement associated with the at least one gesture from the second user based on a magnitude of the limb movement across a predetermined percentage of a display of the video conference;

assigning a heuristic value based on the average amount of movement; and

causing the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position based on the heuristic value meeting a predetermined threshold value.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting an increase in volume from the first user;

determining that the increase in volume indicates that the first user wants to be the current presenter; and

causing the user interface to display the first user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the second user video stream in the secondary presenter position based on the heuristic value.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one gesture is a subset of American Sign Language.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the average amount of movement incorporates pauses in the limb movement.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the causing of the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position is in response to a detection of the at least one gesture and a detection of voice.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting at least one predefined key stroke, wherein the causing of the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in secondary presenter position is in response to the detecting of the at least one predefined key stroke.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface displays the second user video stream in the current presenter position until at least one subsequent gesture from a different user is detected such that the at least one subsequent gesture indicates that the different user intends to be the current presenter.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface displays the second user video stream in the current presenter position for at least a predefined time period.

10. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to perform operations comprising;

providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, wherein the user interface displays a first user video stream in a current presenter position and displays a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position;

detecting at least one gesture from the second user, wherein the at least one gesture is a limb movement, wherein the at least one gesture is a predefined gesture that indicates that the second user intends to be a current presenter;

determining an average amount of movement associated with the at least one gesture from the second user based on a magnitude of the limb movement across a predetermined percentage of a display of the video conference;

assigning a heuristic value based on the average amount of movement; and

causing the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position based on the heuristic value meeting a predetermined threshold value.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one gesture is a predefined gesture that indicates that the second user intends to be the current presenter.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one gesture is a hand wave.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one gesture corresponds to a predetermined sign language.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one gesture corresponds to American Sign Language.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to perform:

detecting an increase in volume from the first user;

determining that the increase in volume indicates that the first user wants to be the current presenter; and

causing the user interface to display the first user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the second user video stream in the secondary presenter position based on the heuristic value.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the causing of the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position is in response to a detection of the at least one gesture and a detection of voice.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to perform operations comprising detecting at least one predefined key stroke, wherein the causing of the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in secondary presenter position is in response to the detecting of the at least one predefined key stroke.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the user interface displays the second user video stream in the current presenter position until at least one subsequent gesture from a different user is detected such that the at least one subsequent gesture indicates that the different user intends to be the current presenter.