Rear Camera Augmented Reality Communication Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems fail to provide an immersive and user-friendly experience for remote communication sessions, as users are reminded of their physical distance, leading to a disconnect that limits the enjoyability and effectiveness of interactions.
Innovation Solution
A communication system utilizing rear-facing cameras to capture the environment and display other users within that environment, creating an augmented reality view that makes it seem as though participants are present in the same location, enhancing the immersive experience without requiring complex technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional video communication displays are used, then users can see each other remotely, but the physical distance creates a disconnect that reduces immersion and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the user's physical environment and places remote participants within that environment. Instead of showing users in separate video windows, the system captures the local environment via camera and superimposes images of remote participants into the scene, creating a replicated presence that eliminates the psychological distance while maintaining the authenticity of the local setting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional video window interface to a three-dimensional spatial representation. By mapping remote participants into the local environment's spatial context and using depth-aware rendering, the system creates a sense of physical presence and depth perception that conventional flat video displays cannot achieve, thereby enhancing immersion.
2Reliability
If multiple cameras or LiDAR systems are used to create holograms, then immersion is improved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential visual information needed to create the augmented reality effect - specifically, the environment capture from a single rear-facing camera and the participant images from video streams. By taking out only what is necessary rather than implementing full holographic systems with multiple cameras and LiDAR, the solution achieves immersion with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses readily available, inexpensive components - a standard rear-facing camera found in most smartphones and basic image processing - rather than expensive specialized equipment like LiDAR sensors or multiple high-end cameras. This approach achieves the immersive effect using affordable, everyday technology that users already possess.
3Reliability
If avatars are used to present users in a virtual world, then immersion is improved, but user-friendliness and simplicity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing users into a virtual world with avatars (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by bringing the real-world environment to the users and placing virtual participants within it. This reversal maintains user familiarity with their own physical space while achieving immersion, avoiding the need for users to adapt to entirely virtual environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the user's existing rear-facing camera for multiple purposes - both for its intended function and for capturing the environment for the augmented reality effect. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated virtual reality hardware, making the system universally accessible through devices users already own and understand.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of the present disclosure include receiving, with a processor of the first user device, a first image from a first camera, receiving, with the processor, a first live video stream from a network location, generating, with the processor, a live image in real time, by superimposing a portion of the first live video stream received from the network location on to the first image received from the first camera, and displaying, with the processor, the generated live image.