Spherical Background Rotation for Video Call Vantage Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video generation technologies struggle to maintain a natural background illusion when the vantage point changes during video recording or calls, especially in mobile settings with limited or unattractive ambient conditions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic system and method that generates a composite video stream with spherical background effects by extracting foreground images and superimposing them onto a stationary spherical background image, which automatically adjusts its orientation and location to match the movement of the image capturing device, maintaining the illusion of a natural background.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed background image is used in video generation, then the background provides a stable visual context, but the background appears artificial and unnatural when the vantage point changes during video recording

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackground stabilityVSAvoidnatural appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a static background image to a dynamic spherical background that automatically rotates and adjusts its orientation in response to camera movement. The system detects camera motion and dynamically updates the background's rotation parameters to match the vantage point changes, making the background appear natural and adaptive rather than fixed and artificial.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically moving the camera to change vantage points with a computational method. Instead of requiring actual camera repositioning to achieve different background views, the system uses image processing and spherical background rotation to simulate the effect of camera movement, substituting mechanical camera motion with digital background transformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the background image is rotated to match camera movement, then the natural background illusion is maintained, but the system complexity increases due to additional processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevantage point adaptationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring camera movement parameters and using this information to adjust the spherical background's rotation in real-time. The system creates a closed-loop control where camera motion detection feeds into background rotation adjustment, ensuring the background adapts automatically to maintain the natural illusion without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing a single spherical background system that serves multiple functions: it provides the visual background, adapts to various camera movements, maintains consistent orientation relationships, and works across different recording scenarios. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into one unified solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a spherical background is used instead of a flat background image, then the background can rotate to match camera movement, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackground rotation capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing and preparing the spherical background in advance, including pre-calculating rotation parameters and pre-positioning background elements. This preparation work is done before the actual video recording begins, so that during recording the system can quickly adjust the background rotation based on camera movement without requiring complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing processing time during the critical recording phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12108192B2Electronic system and method providing a shared virtual environment for a video call using video stitching with a rotatable spherical background

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

An electronic system, a method, and a computer program product generate an image stream with spherical background effects for multiple participants presented in a shared virtual venue during a video call. The method includes generating a composite image stream of the first foreground image superimposed at a first assigned location and a second foreground image superimposed at a second assigned location on a spherical background image. The method includes communicating the composite image stream to first and second electronic devices oriented to respective first and second vantage points associated with the first and second assigned locations of a virtual venue presented within the spherical background image. The method includes rotating the spherical background image relative to the first and the second vantage point presented to a respective display device of the first and the second electronic devices in relation to movement of a corresponding first participant and second participant.