Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Eric Glenn Lang

Christian F Huitema

Zhengyou Zhang

Yancey Christopher Smith

Dane M Howard

Avi Bar-Zeev

Alex Aben-Athar Kipman

John Allen Tardif

Robert L Crocco, Jr

Russell Irvin Sanchez

Christian James Colando

R Donald Thompson, Iii

R Donald Thompson

Albert W Tan

Lorenzo Tessiore

The systems and methods generate geometric proxies for participants in an online communication session, where each geometric proxy is a geometric representation of a participant and each geometric proxy is generated from acquired depth information and is associated with a particular virtual box. The systems and methods also include generating a scene geometry that visually simulates an in-person meeting of the participants where the scene geometry includes the geometric proxies, and the virtual boxes of the geometric proxies are aligned within the scene geometry based on a number of the participants and a reference object to which the virtual boxes are aligned. In addition, the systems and methods cause a display of the scene geometry with the geometric proxies, where the display of a particular geometric proxy includes a video of the participant corresponding to the particular geometric painted onto the particular geometric proxy.

Virtual viewpoint for a participant in an online communication

Implementations provide an in-person communication experience by generating a changable virtual viewpoint for a participant in an online communication. For instance, techniques described herein capture visual data about participants in an online communication, and create a realistic geometric proxy from the visual data. A virtual scene geometry is generated that mimics an arrangement of an in-person meeting for the online communication. According to various implementations, a virtual viewpoint displays a changing virtual viewpoint, such as based on a change in position of a participants face.

A perspective-correct communication window system and method for communicating between participants in an online meeting, where the participants are not in the same physical locations. Embodiments of the system and method provide an in-person communications experience by changing virtual viewpoint for the participants when they are viewing the online meeting. The participant sees a different perspective displayed on a monitor based on the location of the participant's eyes. Embodiments of the system and method include a capture and creation component that is used to capture visual data about each participant and create a realistic geometric proxy from the data. A scene geometry component is used to create a virtual scene geometry that mimics the arrangement of an in-person meeting. A virtual viewpoint component displays the changing virtual viewpoint to the viewer and can add perceived depth using motion parallax.

Geometric proxy for a participant in an online meeting

A controlled three-dimensional (3D) communication endpoint system and method for simulating an in-person communication between participants in an online meeting or conference and providing easy scaling of a virtual environment when additional participants join. This gives the participants the illusion that the other participants are in the same room and sitting around the same table with the viewer. The controlled communication endpoint includes a plurality of camera pods that capture video of a participant from 360 degrees around the participant. The controlled communication endpoint also includes a display device configuration containing display devices placed at least 180 degrees around the participant and display the virtual environment containing geometric proxies of the other participants. Placing the participants at a round virtual table and increasing the diameter of the virtual table as additional participants are added easily achieves scalability.

Controlled three-dimensional communication endpoint

Perspective-correct communication window with motion parallax

Described herein is a telepresence system where a real-time a virtual hologram of a user is displayed at a remote display screen and is rendered from a vantage point that is different than the vantage point from which images of the user are captured via a video camera. The virtual hologram is based at least in part upon data acquired from a sensor unit at the location of the user. The sensor unit includes a color video camera that captures 2-D images of the user including surface features of the user. The sensor unit also includes a depth sensor that captures 3-D geometry data indicative of the relative position of surfaces on the user in 3-D space. The virtual hologram is rendered to orientate the gaze of the eyes of the virtual hologram towards the eyes of a second user viewing the remote display screen.

Telepresence systems with viewer perspective adjustment

A wearable electronic device is configured to control and command a variety of wireless devices within its proximity. The wearable device dynamically generates a user interface corresponding to the services of a particular wireless device. Through the user interface, the wireless device surface content to a user and allows a user select interactions with the wireless devices using the wearable device.

System and method for command and control of wireless devices using a wearable device

A mobile electronic device for receiving and displaying information from a wireless signal transmission is provided. The device utilizes one or more mechanical and/or digital indicators for displaying the information. One embodiment of the invention provides a smart personal object, such as a watch device, for receiving and displaying wireless transmission information, wherein the object has a traditional style and look. The device is operable to convey received information using hands, sliders, dials, rings, disks, etc. and can be constructed in traditional high fidelity/quality.

Display of wireless data

Information elements such as alphanumeric characters are input into a small computing device having little or no keyboard by operating with a predetermined number of strokes on a multi-directional input key, such as a joystick, input button or pointing button. Each direction of movement of the input key provides a input choice for a user allowing the user to make a sequence of choices through a hierarchy of selectable information elements. The sequence of strokes in the predetermined number of strokes is detected to identify the information element selected. A display provides information to the user indicating the information elements or characters available and the pattern of strokes to select a particular character. In some implementations of the invention the entire key stroke pattern is displayed. In other implementations of the invention, the display provides guidance before each stroke to indicate the key stroke choices available to select subsets of the information elements.

J-key input for computer systems

A user interface for small computing devices. The user interface includes a display screen and a bezel encircling the display screen. The bezel is adapted to move relative to the display screen in one or more axes. For example, the bezel may be rotated about the display screen, pivoted about a pivot point, or moved in a planar direction. A cursor displayed within the display screen is responsive to movement of the bezel.

Bezel interface for small computing devices

An apparatus, system, and method are related to navigating through content on a device that includes stored information that is organized according to channels. Content that is associated with the channels is selected and viewed on a display of the device by means of passive interaction when the device is in a glance-view operating state. The device periodically changes the display according to a playlist that indexes selected channel views associated with the current channel. The selected channel views are selected from the available channels according to a rule set that is associated with the channel. After every item in the playlist is processed, the playlist is updated according to application of the rule set. A customized channel may include references to other channels such that channel views associated with the customized channel correspond to channel views from other channels.

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Yarrow Point, WA, United States of America

Eric Glenn Lang