Copresence Workspace Projection for Low-Distraction Collaboration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video conferencing systems face challenges in enabling effective remote collaboration due to connectivity issues, bandwidth concerns, background distractions, and information overload, making it difficult for participants to work on the same content simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A portable copresence system using a projector, mirrors, and an image capturing device creates a shared workspace where participants' inputs are integrated, with silhouette representations of users based on proximity, allowing for real-time collaboration on a physical medium, and reducing bandwidth through lower resolution silhouettes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple video feeds are used to show participants, then contextual information about participants is provided, but information overload and distraction increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontextual informationVSAvoiddistraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential visual information (silhouette representations and hand gestures) from complete video feeds, eliminating unnecessary background and facial details that cause distraction while preserving the critical collaborative information needed for real-time cooperation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the video feed into functional components: silhouette representation for presence indication, hand gesture tracking for interaction detection, and collaborative canvas display for content sharing, processing each component separately to optimize information delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If high resolution video feeds are transmitted, then participant visibility is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticipant visibilityVSAvoidbandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates simplified silhouette copies of participants instead of transmitting full-resolution video feeds, maintaining participant visibility and identity recognition while dramatically reducing the data transmission requirements and associated bandwidth consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the resolution parameter from high-resolution video to low-resolution silhouette representations, adjusting the visual fidelity to the minimum necessary for effective collaboration while optimizing bandwidth efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If participants work on the same physical content simultaneously, then collaboration effectiveness is improved, but connectivity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration effectivenessVSAvoidconnectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary server that receives input from participants at different locations, processes and integrates the inputs, and distributes the collaborative result to all participants, enabling simultaneous collaboration without requiring direct peer-to-peer connectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enhances collaboration by promoting quiet, focused interaction, reducing distractions, and conserving bandwidth while enabling simultaneous brainstorming and easy integration of ideas across locations.

Implementation Method 1

causing the projector to output the collaborative information

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProjection:

Implementation Method 2

a projector mirror configured to reflect the first user input outputted by the projector to a physical medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

receiving, using an optical device of the first computing device, a second user input on the drawing surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20260012560A1Copresence System

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Techniques for improving collaboration in a video conferencing system are described herein. The system can include a projector configured to output a first user input. Additionally, the system can include a projector mirror configured to reflect the first user input outputted by the projector to a physical medium. The physical medium can include a drawing surface and be configured to display the first user input. Moreover, the system can include a first computing device having one or more that cause the first computing system to perform operations. The operations can include receiving, using an optical device, a second user input on the drawing surface. Furthermore, the operations can include generating the collaborative information by integrating the first user input and the second user input. Subsequently, the operations can include causing the projector to output the collaborative information.