Patent · US Active

Controlled three-dimensional communication endpoint

US8976224B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
17References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 2012
Grant dateMar 10, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 2, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N2213/003
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A controlled three-dimensional (3D) communication endpoint system and method for simulating an in-person communication between participants in an online meeting or conference and providing easy scaling of a virtual environment when additional participants join. This gives the participants the illusion that the other participants are in the same room and sitting around the same table with the viewer. The controlled communication endpoint includes a plurality of camera pods that capture video of a participant from 360 degrees around the participant. The controlled communication endpoint also includes a display device configuration containing display devices placed at least 180 degrees around the participant and display the virtual environment containing geometric proxies of the other participants. Placing the participants at a round virtual table and increasing the diameter of the virtual table as additional participants are added easily achieves scalability.

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