Movable Camera Eye Contact in Video Conferencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In video conferencing, participants often appear to be staring away from the camera due to the angle at which their image is captured, making it difficult for others to perceive eye contact.
Innovation Solution
A video conferencing terminal system that includes a capture and display apparatus with a movable image capture device and display device, controlled by a processing system to adjust the camera's position so that the participant's eyes appear centered in the frame, creating the illusion of direct eye contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the image capture device captures the participant while they are viewing the display device, then the participant can be captured in the frame, but the participant appears to be staring away from the camera making eye contact unperceivable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the image capture device movable rather than fixed. The capture device dynamically adjusts its position and orientation to track the participant's face and maintain optimal framing. This allows the system to adapt to the participant's movements and maintain eye contact detection accuracy throughout the video conference interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the display device to show the participant their own captured image in real-time. This visual feedback loop allows the participant to see themselves as captured, enabling them to adjust their gaze and positioning to maintain eye contact with the camera, thereby improving the perceived visual engagement quality.
2Ease of operation
If the image capture device is positioned to capture the participant's face directly, then eye contact can be perceived, but the participant cannot view the display device simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The movable image capture device dynamically repositions itself to follow the participant's gaze and face movements. This dynamic tracking capability allows the system to maintain optimal capture angles regardless of where the participant is looking, enabling them to view the display device while still maintaining eye contact with the camera when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a fixed, single-position capture setup to a multi-dimensional capture system that can move in various directions. By adding positional and orientational degrees of freedom to the capture device, the system can capture the participant from different angles and positions simultaneously, resolving the conflict between direct face capture and display device viewing.
3Device complexity
If the image capture device is fixed in position, then the system structure is simple, but the captured image angle cannot be adjusted to center the participant's eyes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed capture device with a movable one that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. This dynamic capability allows the system to precisely center the participant's eyes in the frame by tracking their face movements and adjusting the capture angle in real-time, achieving high eye centering accuracy without complex manual adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for conducting a video conference. A location of one or more sets of eyes in an image may be determined. The relative location of an image capture device and/or a portion of a display device may be adjusted based on the determined location.