Automatic Video Camera Selection for Teleconferencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing videoconferencing systems require manual adjustment of cameras to capture good views of participants, which becomes impractical in multi-camera setups, especially when seating arrangements vary significantly from meeting to meeting.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing two or more wide-angle cameras with electronic pan-tilt-zoom capabilities and face detection to automatically generate and select virtual close-up views of participants, allowing for dynamic deployment without fixed seating arrangements, and enabling multiple video output streams with life-size, head-and-shoulders views.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual camera steering is used to achieve good participant views, then image quality is improved, but operational complexity and time consumption increase significantly in multi-camera setups
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic camera steering through electronic PTZ (E-PTZ) technology, where the camera system self-adjusts to track and frame participants without manual intervention. The processor automatically detects participant positions and controls camera pan, tilt, and zoom operations based on detected face locations, eliminating the need for manual camera operation while maintaining high image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical camera operation with electronic control systems. Instead of physically adjusting cameras by hand, the system uses electronic signals to control motorized PTZ mechanisms, enabling automated tracking and framing of participants through software-based position calculation and electronic actuation.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed seating arrangements are used with fixed cameras, then setup simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different meeting configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic camera control where PTZ parameters (pan angle, tilt angle, zoom level) are continuously adjusted based on real-time participant positions. The camera system transitions from static fixed positions to dynamic automated tracking, adapting its framing to follow participants as they move or as seating arrangements change between meetings.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated E-PTZ system serves multiple functions: it can handle various seating configurations, track individual participants, capture group shots, and adapt to different meeting dynamics. This single system replaces the need for multiple fixed cameras positioned for specific seating arrangements, providing universal adaptability across different meeting scenarios.
3Reliability
If multiple cameras are deployed to capture all participants, then coverage completeness is improved, but system complexity and manual control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple camera feeds through video composition techniques, merging views from multiple cameras into unified people views. The system processes and composes video streams from multiple cameras, selecting and combining the best portions to create complete coverage of all participants without requiring manual switching or complex multi-camera coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, an apparatus, and a storage medium with executable code to execute a method including accepting camera views of at least some participants of a teleconference, each view from a corresponding video camera, with the camera views together including at least one view of each participant. The method includes accepting audio from a plurality of microphones, and processing the audio from the plurality of microphones to generate audio data and direction information indicative of the direction of sound received at the microphones. The method further includes generating one or more candidate people views, with each people view being of an area enclosing a head and shoulders view of at least one participant. The method also includes making a selection, according to the direction information, of which at least one of the candidate people views are to be transmitted to one or more remote endpoints.