Dynamic Presenter Image Overlay for Video Conference Channel Pane Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video conferencing systems lack immersive and collaborative features, leading to user isolation and inefficiencies in document editing, as shared documents are separated from their authors, preventing the use of live visual reactions and non-verbal cues that enhance communication.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows for dynamic, adjustable presenter images to be superimposed on virtual channels, enabling immersive presentations and document editing by continuously capturing and repositioning the presenter's image to maintain visibility and focus attention, while supporting collaborative editing and mixed pre-recorded/live presentations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the presenter's image is displayed prominently in video conferencing, then the presenter's visibility and engagement are improved, but the shared documents and channel information become obscured and less visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third spatial dimension by placing the presenter's video feed behind the shared document pane, creating a layered composition where the document appears in the foreground and the presenter in the background. This dimensional arrangement allows both elements to be visible simultaneously without obscuring each other, resolving the contradiction between presenter visibility and document visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses transparency as an intermediary property, making the shared document pane semi-transparent so that both the document content and the presenter's image behind it remain visible. This intermediary solution allows information to pass through the document layer, maintaining visibility of both the presenter and the shared materials.
2Adaptability or versatility
If shared documents are separated from their authors in video conferencing, then multiple participants can view documents independently, but live visual reactions and non-verbal cues are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separated elements of document viewing and author visualization by compositing the presenter's video feed with the shared document display. This combination allows participants to view documents independently while simultaneously seeing the author's live visual reactions, gestures, and non-verbal cues overlaid or positioned with the document content.
Solution Approach 2:
By placing the presenter's image in the background dimension behind the document foreground, the system enables independent document viewing while preserving the author's visual presence. The spatial separation in layers maintains both the independence of document display and the connection to the author's non-verbal communication.
3Loss of information
If the presenter's image is made semi-transparent to reduce obscuring, then document visibility is improved, but the presenter's emotional states and visual cues become less distinct
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only specific regions of the presenter's image semi-transparent rather than the entire image. The face and upper body regions that convey emotional states maintain higher opacity and clarity, while other areas may be more transparent. This localized differentiation preserves emotional expression visibility while allowing document content to show through less critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color and transparency variations to differentiate between regions of the presenter's image. By adjusting the transparency and color properties locally across different parts of the presenter's visual feed, the system maintains emotional expression clarity in key areas while enabling document visibility in other areas.
Data Source
AI summary
Managing a video conference includes presenting, to a plurality of participants of the video conference, a channel pane containing information for the video conference that is controlled by a presenter, the channel pane being provided on a background that is visible to the plurality of participants and superimposing a dynamic image of the presenter on the background. The dynamic image of the presenter is continuously captured by a camera. Managing a video conference also includes adjusting the dynamic image of the presenter to prevent obscuring the information of the channel pane and/or to focus attention of the participants to specific information of the channel pane. The dynamic image of the presenter may be adjusted in response to the channel pane being enlarged and/or moved and/or by shrinking and/or by making the dynamic image semi-transparent. The channel pane may include a physical medium that the presenter actuates.