Moving Camera Guide Track for Video Conference Blind Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video conferencing solutions using Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras often result in undesirable video feeds due to blind spots, hidden participants, and misleading gaze direction, which can lead to reduced eye contact and an inadequate viewing experience for remote participants.
Innovation Solution
A video-enabled communication system with a control unit that includes a processor and imaging controller, allowing the camera to move linearly, curvilinearly, or arcuately to capture images of participants and objects of interest, using a guide track assembly and audio tracking to ensure all participants are in view and maintain eye contact, mimicking the experience of being in the same room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed PTZ camera is used at the center of the display screen, then the device complexity is reduced, but blind spots and hidden participants occur resulting in poor video quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed PTZ camera into a dynamic system where the camera carriage moves along a guide track to different positions around the display screen. This dynamic positioning allows the camera to capture all participants without blind spots while maintaining reasonable system complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the camera system by moving it along a guide track surrounding the display screen. This dimensional change allows the camera to access multiple viewing angles and positions, eliminating blind spots and hidden participants that occur with centralized fixed camera arrangements.
2Ease of operation
If the camera remains stationary, then the device complexity is minimized, but gaze direction becomes misleading and eye contact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from audio tracking and video analysis to automatically adjust camera position and orientation. This feedback mechanism enables the camera to follow speakers and maintain proper gaze direction without manual intervention, improving ease of operation while managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system performs self-adjustment by automatically positioning itself based on detected speaker locations and gaze directions. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual camera operation, improving ease of use while the automated control algorithms manage system complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple fixed cameras are used to cover all participants, then complete participant visibility is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single camera universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions through movement along the guide track. The camera can capture different participants, angles, and perspectives sequentially, replacing the need for multiple fixed cameras while maintaining complete participant visibility and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the camera dynamic and movable, the system allows one camera to assume the roles of multiple fixed cameras. The camera moves to different positions to capture various participants and angles, achieving complete coverage with a single device and thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a video-enabled communication system that can include a camera to acquire an image of an object of interest (such as a local participant) during a video communication session and a control unit, coupled with the camera. The control unit causes movement of the camera from a first spatial location to a second spatial location relative to a selected point of reference to enable the camera to capture different images for display, by a remote display device, to a remote participant to the video communication session.