Pan Tilt Camera Tracking for Videotelephony User Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Videotelephony applications on tablet computers and smartphones lack pan and tilt functionality, causing users to move in and out of the camera's field of view during sessions, which affects user experience in activities involving movement.
Innovation Solution
A pan/tilt camera system is integrated with the videotelephony application, allowing the camera unit to select a pan/tilt camera as the default for user tracking, and a holder with pan and tilt functionality is used to maintain the user within the camera's field of view by analyzing image streams and adjusting the camera's position accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a native camera without pan/tilt functionality is used, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the user tracking capability deteriorates causing users to move in and out of field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the camera functionality into two separate components: a stationary native camera for capturing images and a separate pan/tilt mechanism for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the native camera remains simple while the pan/tilt mechanism provides the tracking capability, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and tracking versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary control system is introduced between the user and the camera. This intermediary analyzes user position data and automatically generates pan/tilt commands to keep the user in the field of view, eliminating the need for manual camera operation while maintaining both simplicity and tracking capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pan/tilt functionality is added to the camera, then user tracking capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pan/tilt functionality is segmented as a separate mechanical subsystem rather than being integrated into the camera body. This allows the camera electronics to remain relatively simple while adding tracking capability through an independent positioning mechanism controlled by software algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service tracking where the camera automatically adjusts its position based on detected user movement without requiring manual intervention. The control algorithm autonomously processes user position data and generates appropriate pan/tilt commands, reducing the need for complex user interface mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If the camera is fixed in position, then device complexity is reduced, but the user experience deteriorates when users move around during the session
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors user position through the native camera feed and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the pan/tilt mechanism. This closed-loop feedback system maintains optimal framing without requiring manual adjustment, significantly improving user experience while keeping the control system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting when the user moves out of the optimal field of view and initiating pan/tilt corrections. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual camera operation, improving ease of use while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for tracking a user during a videotelephony session initiated by a videotelephony application program; it includes generating an image stream with a camera external from the smartphone or tablet; at least periodically performing image object analysis from the image stream generated by the external camera to track a position of the user within an image of the image stream; and generating a pan command and/or a tilt command to cause a pan and tilt in order to center the user in the field of view of the external camera.