Telepresence System Orientation Calibration for Synchronized Viewing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for sharing content among a distributed audience often result in asynchronous experiences due to latency and orientation issues, leading to a diluted cultural experience and complaints of 'spoiling' outcomes in real-time events.

Innovation Solution

A method that establishes orientation information for participants to share images in a common orientation, allowing synchronized viewing and interaction across distributed sites through the use of telepresence systems, where participants' images are displayed with orientation information to maintain a psychological impression of a common space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If content is shared across distributed audiences using traditional video conferencing systems, then content can be viewed simultaneously, but images of participants appear with incorrect orientations relative to the shared content and each other

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization of content viewingVSAvoidorientation of participant images

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration by detecting the physical locations and orientations of display screens and video cameras before content sharing begins. This pre-establishment of spatial relationships ensures that participant images are automatically oriented correctly without requiring manual adjustment during the viewing session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of camera angles and screen orientations with an automated electronic system that uses detection algorithms to calculate and apply the correct orientation transformations digitally, substituting physical adjustment mechanisms with computational processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If video cameras and display screens are placed at arbitrary locations in telepresence sites, then system deployment is flexible, but participant images appear with incorrect orientations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of site configurationVSAvoidorientation accuracy of participant images

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and calibration of camera and screen positions and orientations before content sharing begins. This pre-establishment of spatial relationships allows flexible physical deployment while ensuring accurate image orientation through automated calculation of transformation parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes orientation parameters of participant images based on detected spatial relationships between cameras and screens at different sites. The system calculates rotation and transformation parameters to correct orientation regardless of arbitrary physical placements, maintaining accuracy through parameter adjustment rather than physical reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If traditional video conferencing systems are used, then content can be shared among participants, but the cultural experience is diluted due to asynchronous viewing and inability to share reactions in real-time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing capabilityVSAvoidshared cultural experience and real-time reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the content viewing experience with real-time participant reaction sharing by simultaneously displaying both the shared content and live video feeds of participants' reactions. This combination creates a unified telepresence experience where cultural sharing is enhanced by visible real-time emotional and verbal responses from all participants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time feedback loops where participants can see each other's reactions and responses as they occur, enabling dynamic interaction and adjustment during content viewing. This immediate feedback mechanism restores the social and cultural dimensions of shared experiences that are lost in traditional asynchronous viewing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9160965B2Telepresence communications system and method

Publication Date: 2015.10.13 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS

AI summary

The sharing an image of a local participant in a group with at least one other participant in that group commences by establishing, for that local participant, orientation information indicative of an orientation of the communication channel local participant relative to a display screen and a video camera. The local participant sends his or her image of the local participant along with the orientation information to at least one other participant. The orientation information enables display of the image of the local participant with a common orientation recognized by the at least one other participant.