Avatar Control in Videoconferencing Reducing Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost of videoconferencing technology, particularly in wireless communication terminals, are hindered by the need for high-bandwidth networks and processing capabilities, and users, especially younger generations, are reluctant to participate due to concerns about showing their real-time appearance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of avatars, which are computer-generated two or three-dimensional representations of individuals, are used to control and modify graphical representations based on identified portrait characteristics, such as facial gestures, voice characteristics, and repetitive movements, allowing for mood indication and reducing network and processing bandwidth requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time full motion videoconferencing is implemented, then communication quality and realism are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates simplified 2D or 3D avatar copies of users instead of transmitting full-motion video. These avatars are generated from portrait characteristics and animated based on voice characteristics, providing a representative visual presence without requiring full video processing capabilities at the terminal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical video processing system with a voice-driven avatar animation system. Instead of capturing, encoding, and transmitting full video streams requiring high processing power, the system uses voice characteristic analysis to drive pre-generated avatar models, significantly reducing computational requirements
2Reliability
If real-time full motion videoconferencing is implemented, then communication quality is improved, but network bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits lightweight avatar representations and animation commands instead of full-motion video streams. The avatars are 2D images or 3D models that require minimal data to represent, and only voice characteristic changes need to be transmitted to update avatar expressions and movements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential visual representation elements (portrait characteristics for avatar appearance, voice characteristics for animation) from the full video stream. This extraction approach eliminates redundant data while preserving the core communication function of visual presence
3Reliability
If users display their real-time appearance, then communication authenticity is improved, but user comfort and participation decrease due to reluctance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces avatars as intermediary representations between the user and the communication partner. The avatars serve as mediators that convey user presence and emotions without requiring users to expose their actual appearance, thus maintaining authenticity while protecting user comfort and privacy
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates stylized avatar copies that represent users visually without showing their real appearances. These copies capture essential expressive characteristics through voice-driven animation, providing authentic communication representation while allowing users to maintain privacy and comfort
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and associated wireless communication terminals are disclosed that control the display of avatars on communication terminals. A person's portrait characteristics are identified in a video stream from a video source. A portrait command is selected among a plurality of portrait commands that are known to the recipient communication terminal in response to the identified person's portrait characteristics in the video stream. The selected portrait command is transmitted to a recipient communication terminal. The recipient communication terminal can then modify a displayed avatar in response to received portrait command.