Virtual Omni-Directional Camera Array for Videoconferencing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional videoconferencing systems face issues with camera angle and field of view limitations, leading to loss of meeting context, poor audio quality, and difficulty in seeing remote participants' faces due to stationary camera positions and image foreshortening, as well as inadequate microphone coverage.
Innovation Solution
A virtual omni-directional camera array system that uses a video control system (VCS) to select and control video and audio streams from multiple cameras and microphones, creating a composite panoramic view and dynamically adjusting the primary video and audio focus based on speaker identification, allowing for improved video and audio quality in videoconferencing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a PTZ camera is used to zoom in on a presenter, then the presenter's visibility is improved, but the meeting context is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the video feed into multiple virtual camera views (e.g., main presenter view, side participant views, full room context views) that can be displayed simultaneously or switched between, allowing viewers to see both detailed presenter information and overall meeting context at the same time
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a temporal dimension to video switching by using audio-visual synchronization to automatically switch between different camera views based on who is speaking, creating a multi-dimensional viewing experience that preserves both detail and context across time
2Area of stationary object
If a PTZ camera zooms out to include all participants, then the overall view is improved, but speaker expressions are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the video view based on real-time audio input detection, automatically zooming in on the current speaker when they talk and switching to wider views when multiple participants are visible, creating a dynamic viewing experience that adapts to the meeting flow
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses audio feedback from microphones to detect who is speaking and automatically adjusts the video display accordingly, switching between close-up views of individual speakers and wider group views based on the audio signal, ensuring expressions are captured when relevant
3Ease of manufacture
If a stationary camera is mounted along one axis of the conference table, then the camera position is simple, but the angle and field of view are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the viewing experience into multiple virtual camera perspectives, each capturing different angles and portions of the conference table, then combines these segmented views into a comprehensive virtual panorama that provides complete coverage despite using simple stationary physical cameras
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual third dimension by stitching together multiple 2D camera views from different positions around the conference table to generate a 360-degree virtual panorama, effectively expanding the field of view beyond what any single stationary camera could capture
4Area of stationary object
If an omni-directional camera is installed in the center of the conference table, then the field of view is improved, but image foreshortening causes participants at the far end to appear small
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple cameras positioned at different locations around the conference table to capture images from various angles, then uses software to stitch these together into a virtual panorama that eliminates foreshortening effects and presents all participants at equal, accurate scales regardless of their physical distance from the camera center
5Measurement precision
If directional microphones are used to focus on the current speaker, then audio selectivity is improved, but coverage overlap is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges signals from multiple directional microphones positioned at different locations around the conference table, combining their overlapping coverage areas to create a comprehensive audio field that maintains directionality while ensuring complete coverage of all participants
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for a virtual omni-directional camera array, comprising a video control system (VCS) coupled to two or more co-located portable or stationary information processing systems, each enabled with a video camera and microphone, to provide a composite video view to remote videoconference participants. Audio streams are captured and selectively mixed to produce a virtual array microphone as a clue to selectively switch or combine the video streams from individual cameras. The VCS selects and controls predetermined subsets of video and audio streams from the co-located video camera and microphone-enabled computers to create a composite video view, which is then conveyed to one or more similarly-enabled remote computers over a broadband network (e.g., the Internet). Manual overrides allow participants or a videoconference operator to select predetermined video streams as the primary video view of the videoconference.