Single Camera Hybrid Optical Digital Framing for Video Conferencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video conferencing systems often require multiple cameras to provide an optimal viewing experience, which increases costs, complexity, and technical requirements, making it inaccessible to some users who desire advanced auto-framing features.
Innovation Solution
A single camera system that uses a hybrid optical/digital camera with a controller to optically and digitally frame a video conferencing environment, allowing for seamless integration with existing software applications by generating a video stream of an apparent field-of-view within the actual field-of-view, while monitoring changes in the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple cameras are used to provide optimal viewing experience and monitoring capabilities, then the viewing quality and monitoring coverage are improved, but the system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a single camera to perform multiple functions: optical framing for video streaming and digital framing for monitoring. The camera device alternates between capturing actual field-of-view for monitoring changes and apparent field-of-view for optimal video streaming, eliminating the need for separate cameras while maintaining both monitoring capability and viewing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by dynamically switching the camera's operational mode between optical framing and digital framing based on detected changes in the environment. When changes are detected, the camera uses optical framing to monitor; when stable, it uses digital framing to stream, creating a time-based dynamic system that adapts to environmental conditions
2Reliability
If optical zoom is used to reframe the video stream around participants, then the viewing experience is improved, but the monitoring coverage of areas outside the framed space is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing a cycle where the camera alternates between capturing actual field-of-view (monitoring mode) and apparent field-of-view (streaming mode). This periodic switching ensures that monitoring coverage is maintained during actual field capture while viewing quality is preserved during apparent field streaming, with the cycle repeating based on detected environmental changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by adding a temporal dimension to the framing approach. Instead of simultaneously maintaining both wide monitoring coverage and zoomed viewing quality in space, the system transitions between states over time, using the time dimension to alternate between monitoring priority and viewing quality priority
3Loss of information
If a second camera is used to monitor unframed spaces, then the monitoring coverage is improved, but the system cost and technical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by making the single camera device perform both monitoring and streaming functions that would traditionally require two separate cameras. The same hardware is used to capture both actual field-of-view for monitoring and apparent field-of-view for streaming, eliminating redundant equipment while maintaining comprehensive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple cameras into a single camera device by combining optical framing capabilities with digital framing capabilities. This consolidation integrates monitoring and streaming functions into one unified system, reducing component count and simplifying the overall system architecture
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally provides for advanced single camera video conferencing systems, and methods related thereto. The advanced single camera video conferencing system features a hybrid optical/digital camera, herein a camera device, having a controller that is configured to execute one or more of the methods set forth herein. In one embodiment, a method includes optically framing, a first portion of a video conferencing environment to provide an actual field-of-view, digitally framing a second portion of the video conferencing environment to provide an apparent field-of-view that is encompassed within the actual field-of-view, generating a video stream of the apparent field-of-view, surveying the actual field-of-view to generate survey data, and detecting changes in the survey data over time. The method may be performed using a single camera device using a single image sensor.