A system and method for an interactive, Internet-based videoconferencing multicast operation which utilizes a video production studio with a live instructor giving lectures in real-time to multiple participating students. The videoconference multicasting permits the students to interact with the instructor and other installations during the course of the lecture. In the case of software training, the system and method also utilize Internet-based application sharing and collaboration to permit the students at remote locations to drive a studio-based computer with the software for which the training is being given. The software screen is then used as a background with the instructor being able to literally point to areas of the screen which are being discussed. The instructor has a set of monitors in the studio which allow him/her to see the students on-location. In this fashion, the students can see at their computer screens the instructor “walking” around their computer screen pointing at various items in the screen. Furthermore, a system and method for on-line testing, evaluation and reporting is disclosed wherein test questions, which can be created on the fly by a test administrator, are stored in a database and associated with one or more test numbers and whereby each time a student requests to take a test, the test is “built” and the order of the questions is randomized to avoid cheating. Test evaluation data is cross-correlated and made instantaneously available to students and their sponsoring employer.

System and method for live interactive distance learning

A method is provided in one example and includes capturing panoramic image data through a first camera in a camera cluster, and capturing close-up image data through a second camera included as part of a spaced array of cameras. The presence of a user in a field of view of the second camera can be detected. The close-up image data and the panoramic image data can be combined to form a combined image. In more specific embodiments, the detecting includes evaluating a distance between the user and the second camera. The combined image can reflect a removal of a portion of panoramic image data associated with the user in a video conferencing environment.

System and method for providing depth adaptive video conferencing

A system and method for alerting participants in a videoconference that one or more participants are improperly framed by the videoconference camera is provided. An embodiment comprises a temporary self-view picture-in-picture image appearing when the number of faces detected by the videoconference camera changes. A face detection algorithm is used to determine when the number of faces being detected by the videoconference camera has changed. The self-view picture-in-picture image displays, for a duration of time, a representation of the image being captured by the videoconference camera, allowing participants who are not properly framed by the videoconference camera to adjust their position to that their faces are captured by the videoconference camera.

Pop-up PIP for people not in picture

Systems and methods for providing camera configuration for points in a multi-point videoconference system are provided. First configuration information is determined for a first point of a multi-point videoconferencing system. Second configuration information is determined for a second point of the multi-point videoconferencing system. One or more first cameras at the first point or one or more second cameras at the second point of the multi-point videoconferencing system are reconfigured based on the first configuration information or the second configuration information.

Method and system for videoconference configuration

A system and method for creating a virtual round table videoconference is described. An embodiment of the system comprises a plurality of displays arranged in an arc configuration with a table to create a virtual round table. Cameras are arranged around the plurality of displays such that when a participant looks at a display with an image of a remote participant, the camera associated with the display captures an image of the participant's gaze, making eye contact with the camera. The image is displayed at the remote participant's endpoint creating the effect of eye contact between the participants. In another embodiment, audio speakers are arranged to provide directional sound such that the video source for a display and the audio source for the associated speaker are from the same endpoint.

Virtual round-table videoconference

A corner detector capable of detecting each corner position of a predetermined area from an input signal with a simple structure. There is provided memory means (9B) for storing memorizing an input signal (keyT) and corner detection means (9C) for detecting a point where the signal level becomes the reference signal level or more at first by reading an input signal stored in the memory means sequentially in horizontal direction from an upper limit and a lower limit of a retrieval scope and in vertical direction from the left end to the right end of the retrieval scope, and detecting a point where the signal level becomes the reference signal level or more at first by reading an input signal stored in the memory means sequentially in a diagonal direction at a predetermined angle from each angle of the retrieval scope to detect from the detected points four points whose positions differ. With such means, each corner position of the area of the detection object can be detected with a simple structure and quickly.

Corner detection device and corner detection method

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the respective corner positions of a specific area from an input signal with simple constitution. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a storage means which stores the input signal keyT and a corner detecting means 9C which detects a point where the signal level rises above a reference signal level for the 1st time by reading the input signal out of the storage means horizontally in order from the upper limit to the lower limit of a retrieval range and reading it out vertically in order from the left end to the right end of the retrieval range, detects a point where the signal level rises above the reference signal level for the 1st time by reading the input signal out of the storage means 9B obliquely at a specific angle in order from each corner of the retrieval range, and detects the corner positions by detecting four points differing in position among detected points. Consequently, the respective corner positions of the area to be detected can be detected in a short time with the simple constitution.

Device and method for corner detection

Area 6 having a blue colour tone is arranged to represent an insertion position of a source video image in a second image (eg a studio) 21 The image of the studio is supplied to a chromakey device 7 as a video signal V BK and to one input of mixer 8 The chromakey device 7 outputs a target key signal keyT having the configuration ABCD of insertion area 6 The corner detector 9 uses the reference signal level S LEV input by the operator and compares it with keyT chromakey device 7 The corner detector 9 operates by reading one, frame of image data from keyT and storing it The data is then read from the memory firstly in the horizontal direction then in the vertical direction and finally in a number of diagonal directions each time comparing the level keyT with S LEV in order to detect the corners of the area 6 and thus generate an address signal S1 showing the four comer positions of the area This address signal S1 is supplied to the subsequent three-dimensional conversion address generator 11 for conversion to the configuration of the square ABCD prior to combining with the studio image signal

Kurashige Masafumi

Papers

Corner detection device and corner detection method

Device and method for corner detection

Image corner detection for chromakey processing