Patent · US Expired

Video conferencing system with physical cues

US7092001B2 · kind B2 · utility

129Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 26, 2003
Grant dateAug 15, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2024

Classification

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

Abstract

A video-conferencing system is described that provides physical cues regarding remote participants. Each remote participant is physically represented at a video conference by a robotic unit that includes a monitor, camera, microphone and speaker. In this way, a physical presence of the remote participant is conveyed at the conference, so that other participants are more likely to involve the remote participant. Moreover, the remote participant has access to a gesture determination system, which inputs gesture information about the remote participant that expresses a state of mind of the participant. Such gesture information may include leaning forward to show interest, or leaning back to show disinterest. The gesture information is transmitted to the robotic unit, which is actuated so as to reflect the gesture information, and thereby express the state of mind of the remote participant in a physical, intuitive way.

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