Multi-Camera Stream Selection for Clear Participant Video Tiles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conferencing software limits the visibility and focus of in-person conference participants by representing them within a single user interface tile, leading to potential miscommunication and reduced engagement due to suboptimal video stream selection from multiple cameras.
Innovation Solution
A system determines the best available video stream for each conference participant by processing multiple camera feeds, considering factors like face visibility, gaze direction, and obscuration, to individually render each participant in a dedicated user interface tile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single camera is used to capture all participants in a conference room, then the device complexity is reduced, but the visibility and focus quality for individual participants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conference room into multiple zones with dedicated cameras for each participant, allowing individual focus while maintaining overall system simplicity. Each participant has their own camera positioned to capture them from the front, enabling clear visibility without requiring a complex multi-camera system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a camera position determination module as an intermediary that automatically identifies participant locations and assigns appropriate cameras to each participant. This mediator enables the system to dynamically select the best camera for each participant based on their position, improving visibility without increasing hardware complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras with different fields of view are used, then the coverage of the conference room is improved, but the video stream quality for individual participants deteriorates due to reduced focus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the conference room into separate zones with dedicated cameras for each participant. Instead of using a few cameras with wide fields of view that cannot focus on individuals, the system uses multiple cameras positioned to capture each participant from the front, ensuring both comprehensive coverage and individual focus quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by positioning cameras specifically for each participant based on their location in the conference room. Each camera is optimized to capture its designated participant from the front, providing high-quality video for that specific location while maintaining overall system coverage.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple cameras are used to capture conference participants, then the quantity of video streams is increased, but the difficulty of selecting the best stream for each participant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera position determination module as an intermediary that automatically identifies participant locations and assigns appropriate cameras to each participant. This mediator simplifies the selection process by pre-determining which camera should capture which participant based on their position, reducing the complexity of selecting the best stream from multiple options.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining camera assignments based on participant positions without requiring manual intervention. The camera position determination module autonomously identifies the best camera for each participant, simplifying the overall system operation and reducing selection complexity.
4Ease of operation
If a single camera is used for the conference room, then the system operation is simplified, but the communication quality deteriorates due to reduced focus on individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conference room into multiple zones with dedicated cameras for each participant, allowing individual focus while maintaining overall system simplicity. Each participant has their own camera positioned to capture them from the front, enabling clear visibility and good communication quality without requiring complex operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a camera position determination module as an intermediary that automatically identifies participant locations and assigns appropriate cameras to each participant. This mediator simplifies operation by handling camera selection automatically, while improving communication quality through better individual visibility and focus.
Data Source
AI summary
A best available video stream is determined for each of multiple conference participants within a conference room including multiple cameras based on scores determined for video streams obtained from the cameras. The scores are determined based on representations of the conference participants within the video streams, for example, based on percentages of conference participant faces visible within the video streams, directions of conference participant faces relative to the cameras, directions of eye gaze of the conference participants relative to the cameras, and/or degrees to which conference participant faces are obscured within the video streams. The best available video streams are output for rendering within separate user interface tiles of conferencing software.