Avatar Communication Using Expression Data for Low-Bandwidth Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Real-time video communication requires substantial bandwidth, making it impractical for large-scale interactions and can be difficult to implement in applications involving automated systems, while some users prefer to communicate through personas or virtual identities.
Innovation Solution
An avatar communication system using avatar models and expression data to generate personalized, multimodal communication, reducing bandwidth requirements by using morph target animation or skeletal rigging to create avatar images, allowing customization and representation through virtual identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If real-time video communication is used, then user engagement and communication quality are improved, but bandwidth consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses avatar models as simplified copies of real users that can represent users in communication sessions. Instead of transmitting actual video feeds, the system generates avatar images that replicate user presence and expressions, significantly reducing bandwidth requirements while maintaining engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential visual elements needed for communication - facial expressions and key movements - and represents them through avatar models. This extraction approach removes the need to transmit full video streams, reducing bandwidth consumption while preserving the core communicative value.
2Ease of operation
If real-time video communication is used, then face-to-face interaction quality is improved, but scalability to large-scale interactions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Avatar models serve as scalable copies that can represent multiple users simultaneously in large-scale interactions. The system can instantiate numerous avatar instances without the linear bandwidth increase that would occur with real video streams, enabling scalable communication sessions with many participants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication experience into separate components: audio/data transmission and visual avatar representation. This segmentation allows the visual component to be independently optimized using lightweight avatar models, enabling large-scale interactions without overwhelming network resources.
3Ease of operation
If real-time video communication is used, then personal connection is improved, but implementation complexity for automated systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses standardized avatar models as universal copies that can represent both human users and automated systems. This approach maintains personal connection through consistent visual representation while simplifying implementation, as automated systems can adopt the same avatar framework without requiring complex video integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The avatar model serves as a universal representation that works across different communication contexts and system types. The same avatar framework can represent human users, AI agents, and automated systems, providing a unified implementation approach that reduces complexity while maintaining personal connection.
Data Source
AI summary
An avatar communication system can enable display on a local user device of an avatar image corresponding to a remote user. The avatar image can be generated using an avatar model and expression data. The expression data can be extracted from image data of the remote user acquired by a remote device. The local user device can be configured to display or provide communication data received from the remote device, together with the avatar image. The image data used to generate the avatar image can be obtained contemporaneously with the communication data or may be associated with the communication data. The expression data and the communication data can be obtained through the same channel, or through separate channels. The local user device can generate expression data of the local user and provide the expression data to the remote device, together with communication data of the local user.