Conversation Communication System Using Facial Direction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conversation communication systems struggle to properly terminate conversations between distant communicators, often leading to incorrect termination due to reliance on words, gestures, human sensors, or voice detection, which can result in unintended interruption or continuation of communication.
Innovation Solution
A conversation communication system that uses a combination of facial image storage, distance detection, and direction sensing to determine when to continue or terminate communication based on the communicator's position and line of sight relative to a reference point, eliminating the need for multiple registered signs and preventing erroneous continuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If words or gestures are used as termination signs, then conversation termination can be recognized, but many words and gestures need to be registered in advance and false termination may occur when communicators involuntarily output registered signs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the termination detection function from the communicator's active output (words/gestures) and relocates it to the communication device's passive observation (facial direction detection). This eliminates the need for registring multiple termination signs while preventing false termination through automated direction-based detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication device autonomously determines conversation termination by detecting facial direction changes, eliminating the need for communicators to manually signal termination. The system serves itself by automatically interpreting termination intent through non-verbal cues.
2Reliability
If human sensor is used to detect communicator presence, then conversation termination can be determined, but persons remaining in space after communicator leaves are erroneously detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing detection on the communicator's facial direction rather than general presence. The direction detector specifically monitors whether the communicator is facing the communication device, providing precise identification of the communicator's intent and position without being affected by other persons in the space.
3Reliability
If voice detection sensor is used to detect communicator presence, then conversation termination can be determined, but noise in space after communicator leaves is erroneously detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from acoustic signals (voice) and relocates it to visual signals (facial direction). This eliminates false detection from noise while maintaining accurate detection of communicator presence and termination intent through non-verbal visual cues.
4Measurement precision
If distance detection alone is used, then communicator position can be tracked, but direction information is lost leading to inaccurate termination determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges distance detection and direction detection into a unified termination determination system. By combining positional information (distance from device) with orientational information (facial direction), the system achieves both precise position tracking and accurate termination detection.
Data Source
AI summary
In a conversation communication system, a facial image of the communicator is stored, a distance between the communicator and a display and the direction of the face of the communicator are detected. It is determined whether or not the conversation communication is to be continued according to the detected distance and the detected facial direction. When the detected facial direction is a direction facing the display from the front, the conversation communication is to be continued. On the other hand, in a case where the detected facial direction is different, when the detected distance increases afterward, if any of the following conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied, the conversation communication is terminated: (1) the distance is undetectable; and (2) the detected facial direction is, for equal to or longer than a preset period of time, maintained at the direction different from the direction facing the display from the front.