Animation Operation Method for Gesture-Driven Video Conference Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

In video conferences or web meetings, users may participate without cameras due to communication environment restrictions or privacy concerns, making it difficult to recognize the status or interest of communication partners through displayed icons, leading to challenges in achieving smooth communication.

Innovation Solution

An animation operation method that correlates predetermined motions of an ear animation with corresponding hand or finger motions detected by a device, allowing the animation to operate only when specific motions are detected, thereby reflecting only necessary motions at intended timings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users participate in video conferences without cameras due to communication environment restrictions or privacy concerns, then user privacy and communication flexibility are improved, but the ability to recognize the status or interest of communication partners deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidstatus recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates animated character copies that replicate and express the non-verbal intentions and status of users through gesture recognition. The animation operation device captures user gestures and generates corresponding animated character movements, serving as a visual copy that conveys user status without requiring actual video input, thus resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and status recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If animations operate continuously to express non-verbal information, then communication expressiveness is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication expressivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by triggering animations only when specific gesture conditions are detected rather than operating continuously. The animation operation device monitors user gestures and activates animations periodically based on detected events, maintaining communication expressiveness while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous animation operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts animation operation based on detected gesture conditions. Instead of static continuous operation, the animation state changes dynamically - remaining inactive until a triggering gesture is detected, then activating to express the corresponding non-verbal information, thus optimizing energy usage while maintaining expressiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12211134B2Animation operation method, animation operation program, and animation operation system

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

An animation operation method includes: correlating a predetermined motion of an animation with a predetermined motion of at least one of a hand and a finger of a user which is detected by a detection device; and performing the predetermined motion of the animation corresponding to the predetermined motion when the predetermined motion is detected by the detection device.