Video Muting in Audio-Video Communications
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In video phone technology, users often face situations where they need to maintain privacy during calls, but existing methods either disrupt the communication or require premature termination, as they lack a seamless way to mute the video without affecting the audio.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for audio-video communications that allows either party to initiate a video mute independently or mutually, switching the video transmission from the active camera view to a static image while maintaining audio, with options to un-mute when circumstances change, using dedicated keys or user interfaces on video phones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If users obstruct the video camera with hand placement or barriers to maintain privacy, then privacy is protected, but the communication is disrupted and requires premature termination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio-video communication into independent controllable streams. The video transmission can be selectively muted while audio continues uninterrupted, allowing users to protect privacy during specific activities (changing clothes, grooming) without terminating the overall communication session. This segmentation enables granular control over different media types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic control of video transmission state, allowing users to switch between active video, muted video (with still image placeholder), and un-muted video states during the call. This dynamic adjustment enables flexible privacy management while maintaining communication continuity, as users can temporarily mute video during private moments and resume when ready.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If users terminate video communication prematurely to maintain privacy, then privacy is protected, but the duration of useful communication is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By separating video and audio transmission controls, the patent allows users to extend communication duration by muting only the video component during private activities. The audio stream continues independently, preventing premature termination and maximizing the overall duration of useful communication while maintaining privacy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a video mute function as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the video transmission. This mediator allows privacy protection during specific intervals without affecting the overall communication flow, enabling extended communication duration by facilitating temporary video suspension while maintaining audio connectivity.
3Productivity
If the video camera field of view includes inappropriate activities, then communication continues, but privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic video muting capability that allows users to temporarily suspend video transmission during inappropriate activities (changing clothes, grooming, attending to personal needs) while maintaining audio communication. Users can activate video mute when the camera field of view may include inappropriate content, then resume video when ready, ensuring privacy protection without sacrificing communication continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to proactively mute video before engaging in activities that may compromise privacy, such as changing clothes or grooming. This preliminary action prevents privacy exposure before it occurs, while the audio stream remains active to maintain communication continuity throughout the entire sequence of events.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
There is provided a system and method of audio-video communications including a plurality of end-user terminals coupled via a communications link. Each end-user terminal includes a video processor component, a user interface, a display, a speaker and a microphone, a video camera device and a storage device, all coupled to the processor. The user interface includes a video muting function. The video processor component includes a module responsive to the video muting function for switching from a video source of the video camera to a predetermined video signal. The video muting function includes a selection for muting video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals, muting video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals, muting video, both video sent from and video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals, or muting audio and video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals.