Avatar Synchronization for Bandwidth-Constrained Video Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video communication technologies face bandwidth limitations, particularly in 2G/3G wireless networks, which affect the quality of video calls and require significant data transmission, making concurrent video calls burdensome on the communication infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and synchronizing avatars in real-time or near real-time during video communication, allowing users to select and animate avatars based on their facial characteristics, which reduces the need for transmitting live images, thereby minimizing bandwidth usage while maintaining user engagement and satisfaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time video transmission is used to communicate user images, then user engagement and communication quality are improved, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital twin (avatar) that copies and synchronizes the user's facial movements and expressions in real-time. Instead of transmitting the user's actual video feed, the system transmits synchronization data that animates the pre-created avatar model, significantly reducing bandwidth requirements while maintaining visual communication quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the heavy computational task of avatar rendering from the lightweight transmission of synchronization parameters. The avatar model is created once and stored locally, then only small synchronization data packets are transmitted in real-time, dividing the bandwidth burden into manageable segments
2Adaptability or versatility
If avatar synchronization is implemented across multiple devices, then user accessibility and communication flexibility are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs avatar creation and model generation in advance, before the actual communication session begins. This preliminary action allows the heavy processing to be done once, and then the pre-prepared avatar can be quickly synchronized across multiple devices without repeating the complex creation process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal avatar model that can be synchronized across multiple different devices and platforms. The avatar serves multiple functions: it can be used for video calls, stored in cloud databases, transmitted between devices, and animated with synchronization data, providing multi-functional versatility that simplifies the overall system architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A video communication system that replaces actual live images of the participating users with animated avatars. A method may include initiating communication between a first user device and a remote user device; receiving selection of a new avatar to represent a user of the first user device; identifying a new avatar file for the new avatar in an avatar database associated with the first user device; determining that the new avatar file is not present in a remote avatar database associated with the remote user device; and transmitting the new avatar file to the remote avatar database in response to determining that the new avatar file is not present in the remote avatar database.