Patent · US Expired

Teleconferencing robot with swiveling video monitor

US6914622B1 · kind B1 · utility

155Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 6, 1998
Grant dateJul 5, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 6, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N7/15
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for the projection of a remote conferee's presence into a group meeting environment by using a combination of videoconferencing/teleconferencing and robotics technology. The remote conferee's face is shown substantially life-size on a video monitor. The remote conferee's eyes appear to be looking directly at the viewer. The video monitor can turn left or right to point at the person speaking, automatically or by manual control, to give the impression that the remote conferee is turning his head to look at the person speaking. The video screen can be raised and lowered to give the impression that the remote conferee is standing up and sitting down. An attention-getting mechanism prompts the attention of the other conferees when the remote conferee wants to interrupt or enter a conversation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.