Video display modification for video conferencing environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9876988-B2
Application number	US-201213548438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2012
Priority date	Jul 13, 2012
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, methods, and software for facilitating a video conference environment. In at least one implementation, video captured of a scene is received. A modification to display of the video is identified based at least in part on a share of a display space associated with an object in the scene relative to a share of another display space associated with another object in another scene. The modification to the display of the video is then initiated. In another implementation, the modification may also be based on a target share indicated by way of an interactive graphic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing system comprising:
one or more computer readable storage media;
a processing system operatively coupled to the one or more computer readable storage media; and
program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for facilitating a video conference, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processing system, direct the processing system to at least:
receive video captured of a first scene comprising a first object corresponding to a first participant in the video conference;
receive video captured of a second scene comprising a second object corresponding to a second participant in the video conference;
display the video captured of the first scene and the video captured of the second scene simultaneously in the video conference;
identify a zoom operation to perform on the video captured of the first scene to equalize a size of the first object with the size of the second object as displayed in the video conference; and
perform the zoom operation on the video captured of the first scene to reduce a difference between a first share of the first display space occupied by the first object and a second share of the second display space occupied by the second object until they are equal.

2. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the zoom operation is based on display information, wherein the display information further comprises minimum acceptable size criteria for the first object.

3. The computing system of claim 2 wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in on the first object.

4. The computing system of claim 2 wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out on the first object.

5. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processing system, further direct the processing system to:
prior to identifying the zoom operation, receive an indication of a preferred share of each of a plurality of display spaces to be occupied by a plurality of objects corresponding to a plurality of participants in the video conference;
identify an initial zoom operation based at least in part on an initial second share of the second display space occupied by the second object and the preferred share;
initiate the initial zoom operation.

6. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processing system, further direct the processing system to, prior to identifying the zoom operation, receive a selection of the second display space from the plurality of display spaces on which to base, at least in part, the identifying of the zoom operation.

7. A method for facilitating a video conference comprising:
receiving video captured of a first scene comprising a first object corresponding to a first participant in the video conference;
receiving video captured of a second scene comprising a second object corresponding to a second participant in the video conference;
displaying the video captured of the first scene and the video captured of the second scene simultaneously in the video conference;
identifying a zoom operation to perform on the video captured of the first scene to equalize a size of the first object with the size of the second object as displayed in the video conference; and
performing the zoom operation on the video captured of the first scene to reduce a difference between a first share of the first display space occupied by the first object and a second share of the second display space occupied by the second object until they are equal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in on the first object.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out on the first object.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises:
prior to identifying the zoom operation, receiving an indication of a preferred share of each of a plurality of display spaces to be occupied by a plurality of objects corresponding to a plurality of participants in the video conference; and
identifying an initial zoom operation based at least in part on an initial second share of the second display space occupied by the second object and the preferred share;
initiating the initial zoom operation.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises, prior to identifying the zoom operation, receiving a selection of the second display space from a plurality of display spaces on which to base, at least in part, the identifying of the zoom operation.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the zoom operation is based on display information and wherein the display information further comprises minimum acceptable size criteria for the first object.

13. A method of operating a video conferencing system comprising:
receiving video captured of a first scene comprising a first object corresponding to a first participant in a video conference;
receiving video captured of a second scene comprising a second object corresponding to a second participant in the video conference;
identifying a zoom operation to perform on the video captured of the first scene to equalize a size of the first object with the size of the second object as displayed in the video conference;
transmit the video of the first scene and the video of a second scene to be displayed in a video conference environment; and
instruct the video conference environment to perform the zoom operation on the video captured of the first scene to reduce a difference between a first share of the first display space occupied by the first object and a second share of the second display space occupied by the second object until they are equal.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in on the first object.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out on the first object.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises:
prior to identifying the zoom operation, receiving an indication of a preferred share of each of a plurality of display spaces to be occupied by a plurality of objects corresponding to a plurality of participants in the video conference; and
identifying an initial zoom operation based at least in part on an initial second share of the second display space occupied by the second object and the preferred share;
instruct the video conference environment to perform the initial zoom operation.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises, prior to identifying the zoom operation, receiving a selection of the second display space from a plurality of display spaces on which to base, at least in part, the identifying of the zoom operation.

Assignees

• Tandon Ankit
• Aichner Robert
• Cutler Ross
• Velayutham Senthil
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Tandon Ankit
• Aichner Robert
• Cutler Ross
• Velayutham Senthil

Classifications

• H04N7/152 Primary

  Multipoint control units therefor · CPC title

• H04N7/157

  defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents (computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827) · CPC title

• H04N7/141

  between two video terminals, e.g. videophone (telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085) · CPC title