Motorola Mobility LLC

Google Inc.

Motorola Corporation

Google Technology Holdings LLC

Bill Ryan

Jeffrey S Vanhoof

Amit Kumar Agrawal

Daniel M Vacura

Doina I Petrescu

Thomas T Lay

Steven R Petrie

Snigdha Sinha

Rahul Bharat Desai

Jeffrey T Snow

Olivier David Meirhaeghe

Thomas E Gitzinger

Lawrence Alan Willis

Nigil George Valikodath

A communication device, a method, and a computer program product modifies visual characteristics of live videos to enable non-disruptive transition from presenting a freeze frame video to a video communication session. While presenting the freeze frame video, the device captures live video including the participant and current background. The device detects a change in at least one visual characteristic of the live video that can present a visual distraction to other participants of the video communication session while transitioning from presenting the freeze frame video to the video communication session. In response to detecting the change: the device modifies aspects of the live video to provide a modified live video that retains the at least one visual characteristic consistent with the freeze frame video. The device presents the modified live video to the video communication session on transition from presenting the freeze frame video to presenting live video.

Managing visual changes in captured participant's video while transitioning from presenting a freeze frame video during a video call

An electronic device, a method, and a computer program product provides freeze frame videos in place of a live video feed or a low-quality video feed to a video communication session. The electronic device hosts the video communication session between a first participant device and second participant devices. The electronic device receives, from the first participant device, a first video feed of a first participant to the video communication session. The electronic device determines a video segment of the received first video feed to identify as the first freeze frame video, generates the first freeze frame video from the video segment, and stores the first freeze frame video within a server repository. In response to a trigger condition, the electronic device temporarily presents to the video communication session the first freeze frame video in place of the first video feed as video content from the first participant device.

Freeze frame video presentation for select participants during a video communication session

An electronic device, a method, and a computer program product provides freeze frame videos in place of a live video feed to a video communication session. A processor of the electronic device determines that a local participant is connected via the electronic device to an ongoing video communication session with second participants having corresponding second participant devices. The processor captures, via an image capturing device, local video encompassing the local participant. The processor determines a video segment of the local video to identify as a freeze frame video. The processor presents the freeze frame video to the video communication session in response to a trigger condition that pauses a presentation of live video feed of the local participant to the video communication session. The processor loops the presentation of the freeze frame video until an expiration of a threshold maximum time established for presenting the freeze frame video.

Freeze frame video presentation during a video call

A communication device, a method, and a computer program product provide virtual action centers superimposed over secondary segments of a video image preview on a display during video capture for a video communication session. The method includes receiving a local video stream comprising video images, identifying a primary region of interest (ROI) within a video image, and delineating the video image into a primary segment that encompasses the primary ROI and at least a secondary segment. The method includes associating a virtual interface with a location of the secondary segment in the video image, the virtual interface presenting at least one feature that can be selected via one of air gestures and screen touches during presentation of the primary segment of the video image preview. A preview of the delineated segments of the video image presents at least the primary segment and the virtual interface visible within the display device.

Virtual action center based on segmented video feed for a video communication session

An electronic system, a method, and a computer program product generate a video recording or stream with a spherical background image that maintains orientation like a natural background for a video call as an image capturing device changes location or aim direction. The method includes connecting, by a communication subsystem of an electronic system, over a network to a video communication session with second electronic device(s). The method includes determining a stationary orientation of a spherical background image in a virtual space geospatially aligned with a first physical location of the electronic system. The method includes extracting a foreground image from an image stream from image capturing device(s). The method includes generating a composite image stream of the foreground image superimposed on the spherical background image. The method includes communicating the composite image stream to second electronic system(s) that participate in a video communication session.

Electronic system and method to provide spherical background effects for video generation for video call

A method provides non-mirrored preview of text-based demonstration objects in a locally captured video stream. The method includes identifying a demonstration object within the video stream. The demonstration object contains content that is best when pre-viewed in a non-mirrored orientation. The method includes spatially segmenting the video image into two or more segments, including a demonstration object preview (DOP) segment that encompasses the defined area with the demonstration object and at least one second segment encompassing a remaining portion of the video image. The method includes presenting a preview of the video image on the display device with the remaining portion of the video image mirrored within the preview and at least the DOP segment presented without mirroring in a correct spatial location relative to the remaining portion of the video image. A person presenting the demonstration object receives a non-mirrored presentation preview of the demonstration object.

Non-mirrored preview of text based demonstration object in mirrored mobile webcam image

An apparatus for autonomous form factor control of a foldable mobile device includes a processor that determines a current form factor of the foldable mobile device and senses a forward motion or a backward motion of a subject within a field of view of a camera of the device. In response to forward motion of a user, the processor raises a pointing elevation angle of the camera to maintaining the user within the field of view by autonomously controlling the hinge angle between the first device housing and the second device housing of the foldable mobile device and in response to backward motion the processor lowers the pointing elevation angle by autonomously using shape memory actuators to control the hinge angle in the direction determined based on the form factor.

Autonomous form factor control of a foldable mobile device

An electronic system, a method, and a computer program product generate a video recording or stream with spherical background effects for video generation with automatic gesture-control background positioning for a spatially constrained user. The method includes extracting a foreground image from an image stream of the field of view captured by the image capturing device. The method includes generating a composite image stream of the foreground image superimposed on the spherical background image. The method includes identifying, within the image stream, that the foreground image is in a physically constrained space defined by physical constraint(s) around at least a portion of a background of the foreground image. In response to identifying that the foreground image is in a physically constrained space, the method includes activating a gesture-controlled background repositioning feature of the electronic system to automatically rotate a spherical background image based on receipt of a gesture control input.

Electronic device and method to provide spherical background effects for video generation for a spatially constrained user

An electronic system, a method, and a computer program product generate an image stream with spherical background effects for multiple participants presented in a shared virtual venue during a video call. The method includes generating a composite image stream of the first foreground image superimposed at a first assigned location and a second foreground image superimposed at a second assigned location on a spherical background image. The method includes communicating the composite image stream to first and second electronic devices oriented to respective first and second vantage points associated with the first and second assigned locations of a virtual venue presented within the spherical background image. The method includes rotating the spherical background image relative to the first and the second vantage point presented to a respective display device of the first and the second electronic devices in relation to movement of a corresponding first participant and second participant.

Electronic system and method providing a shared virtual environment for a video call using video stitching with a rotatable spherical background

An electronic device, computer program product, and method are provided that prompt a person who is participating in a video communication session with at least one second electronic device to gaze toward a local image capturing device. A controller of the electronic devices receives an image stream from an image capturing device having a field of view that incorporates a person that is proximate to the display device. The controller communicates the image stream to a video communication session. In response to a trigger that indicates that the first image stream is being presented as a primary image stream by the at least one second electronic device, the controller presents a prompt indicating that the participant should gaze toward the image capturing device.

Eye contact prompting electronic device in a video communication session

An electronic system, a method, and a computer program product generate a video recording or stream with a spherical background image that maintains orientation like a natural background as an image capturing device changes location or aim direction. The method includes determining a stationary orientation of a spherical background image in a virtual space geospatially aligned with a first physical location of an image capturing device. The method includes extracting a foreground image from an image stream of the field of view captured by the image capturing device. The method includes generating a composite image stream of a foreground image, which is extracted from an image stream from the image capturing device, superimposed on the spherical background image. In response to movement, the method includes updating a virtual orientation and/or a virtual location of the spherical background image to remain geospatially aligned with the first physical location.

Electronic system and method to provide spherical background effects for video generation

A communication device provides subject-based segmentation and selective presentation of a video feed. A processor identifies a primary subject and a secondary subject within a captured video stream. The processor delineates the video stream into a primary segment and at least one secondary segment respectively encompassing the primary and secondary subjects. The processor identifies for each connected second device, a request type from among: (i) a first request type to only receive the primary segment; (ii) a second request type to receive the primary segment and secondary segment(s); and (iii) a third request type to receive secondary segments, but not the primary segment. The processor transmits, to each second device, specific segments of the video feed based on the request type associated with each respective second device. An accessibility setting enables a second device to selectively receive video segments of a sign language interpreter along with a main presenter.

Subject-based smart segmentation of video feed on a transmitting device

An electronic device incorporates, and a method and a computer program product provide automatic selection of an image capturing device during video communication session to encompass a local participant. A network interface(s) of the electronic device communicatively connects over a network second electronic device(s). A controller of the electronic device monitors a first image capturing device having a first field of view (FOV) and that produces first image content and a second image capturing device having a second FOV that differs from the first FOV and that produces second image content. In response to a trigger event to start providing image content to the video communication session, the controller determines which one of the first FOV and the second FOV encompasses the local participant in the video communication session and communicates a corresponding one of the first image content and the second image content to the video communication session.

Electronic device with automatic selection of image capturing devices for video communication

A method provides concurrent transmission of a virtual action center with a primary segment cropped from a video image, enabling remote participant control of aspects of the primary segment. The method includes identifying a primary region of interest (ROI) within a video image and delineating the video image into a primary segment encompassing the primary ROI and a secondary segment. The method includes associating a virtual action center within a location of the secondary segment and assigning control features of the virtual action center to the second device connected via a video communication session. The method includes transmitting the primary segment and concurrently transmitting the features/functions of the virtual action center to the second device, enabling the second device to concurrently present, on its display, the primary segment and the virtual action center as portions of a received video stream, providing second device control of content within the primary segment.

Function based selective segmented video feed from a transmitting device to different participants on a video communication session

An electronic device, method, and computer program product for managing a content creation application are disclosed. A first device housing is pivotable relative to a second device housing between a closed position and an axially displaced open position. A first display panel and user interface are exposed when the first device housing and the second device housing are in the axially displaced open position. A second display panel is exposed both when the first device housing and the second device housing are in the closed position and when the first device housing and the second device housing are in the axially displaced open position. The first display panel displays a content creation application, which is mirrored onto the second display panel. A portion of the user interface is overlaid onto the content creation application on second display panel and receives user input to manage the content creation application.

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Libertyville, IL, United States of America

Bill Ryan