Bell Communications Research, Inc.

Telcordia Technologies, Inc.

Michael H Bianchi

Thomas Helm Judd

Eric J Addeo

Henri E Tohme

An automatic camera selection system selects among different video sources based on image analysis of the video signals from one or more available video sources. In controlling the selection of video sources, the system can combine several sources to make images using elements from those several sources. In addition, the system can instruct other elements of the system to act differently to aid in the collection of appropriate video signals. All actions of the system are controlled by the system software, with no operator intervention required. In a preferred embodiment, the video selection system records an auditorium type of presentation for display, via recording or transmission, to remote audiences. The system selects from a number of video cameras, including automatic tracking cameras that follow a person on the auditorium stage. In addition, the system instructs the tracking cameras to operate in different modes, so as to produce images suitable to be used alone or in combination with other images, such as a composite image of a presenter and visual aid, such as projected slide images.

Method and apparatus for an automatic camera selection system

Methodology and circuitry for automatically effecting electronic camera movement to track and display the location of a moving object, such as a person presenting a talk to an audience. A fixed spotting camera is used to capture a field of view, and a moving tracking camera with pan/tilt/zoom/focus functions is driven to the present location of the moving object. Information for driving the tracking camera is obtained with reference to the pixel difference between a current image and a previous image within the field of view. A tracking algorithm computes the information necessary to drive the tracking camera from these pixel differences as well as data relative to the field of view of the spotting camera and the present tracking camera position.

Automatic tracking camera control system

A teleconferencing system (100, 100') provides a wide aspect ratio view at each site utilizing a single NTSC camera (250, 350) and projector (260,360). At the transmitting end of a teleconference, a transformation element (280, 380, 510, 610) maps a wide aspect ratio field of view into the field of view of an NTSC camera. The transformation is reversed at the receiving end of the teleconferencing system.

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Madison, NJ, United States of America

Michael H Bianchi