Multi-party Video Call Image Segmentation and Layout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-party video call systems using a multipoint control unit (MCU) cannot diversify the layout of the video call screen, limiting user customization and convenience.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a receiver module to receive a composite image from a server, an image separating module to separate individual images, and a display module to arrange and display these images according to a predetermined layout on a video call terminal, allowing for customizable screen arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multipoint control unit (MCU) is used to receive and combine voices and images from multiple portable terminals, then multi-party video call functionality is enabled, but the layout of the multi-party video call screen cannot be diversified
Solution Approach 1:
The composite image received from the MCU is segmented into individual participant images through the image separating module. This segmentation enables each participant's image to be independently arranged and displayed according to different layout patterns, thereby achieving layout diversification while maintaining the existing MCU-based system architecture.
2Ease of operation
If a composite image of multi-party video call participants is received and displayed on a portable terminal screen, then all participants can be viewed simultaneously, but the images cannot be arranged according to user preferences or customized layouts
Solution Approach 1:
The display module dynamically arranges the separated participant images according to predetermined layout patterns or user-selected configurations. This dynamic arrangement capability allows the system to adapt to different user preferences and scenarios (such as spotlight mode, grid mode, or circular mode) without requiring complex manual arrangement operations from users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single composite image display to a multi-dimensional arrangement space where individual participant images can be positioned in different spatial configurations. This dimensional transformation enables diverse layout patterns while maintaining simplicity in the underlying receiving and separating operations.
3Productivity
If the MCU combines multiple voices and images into one unified stream, then transmission is simplified, but the terminal cannot display individual participant images in different positions or configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains the efficient unified transmission approach of the MCU while introducing segmentation at the receiving end. The image separating module divides the composite image into individual participant images, enabling flexible display configurations without compromising the transmission efficiency achieved through the MCU's unified stream approach.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an apparatus for a multi-party video call, a server for controlling a multi-party video call, and a method of displaying a multi-party image. The apparatus for a multi-party video call includes a receiver module configured to receive a composite image of multi-party video call participants from a server, an image separating module configured to separate images of the respective multi-party video call participants from the composite image received by the receiver module, and a display module configured to arrange the separated images according to a predetermined layout and display the separated images on a screen.