Method and apparatus for generating a video signal for an audience image from a video signal for a user image

Abstract

In one aspect and form of the invention, a converter receives first visual information from a computer system. The first visual information is conventionally used for generating an image for a first display element. The converter receives first selection data from the computer system identifying at least a first portion of the image, and generates second visual information for generating a second image for a second display element. The second image corresponds to the first portion of the first image. The size of the second image relative to the second display element is controllable by a user and may be selected to be different than the size of the selected portion of the first image relative to the entire first image or relative to the first display element. For example, the second image may be of a size corresponding to the size of substantially the entire second display element.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A system comprising: 
 a computer generating a first video signal for a user image;    a user display for displaying the user image in response to the first video signal, wherein the computer also generates i) first image selection data in response to a user selection of a first audience image to display to an audience, the first audience image being a portion of the user image, and ii) first scaling selection data in response to a user selection of scaling for the first audience image; and    a converter generating a second video signal in response to the first video signal and the selection data for displaying the first audience image on an audience display concurrently with the user display, wherein the first audience image and the first portion of the user image are different sizes in proportion to their respective displays.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the converter receives the first video signal from a video port of the computer and receives the image and scaling selection data from a data port of the computer.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the converter is included in the computer.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer generates i) second image selection data in response to a user selection indicating a second portion of the user image for a second audience image and ii) second scaling selection data in response to a user selection of scaling for the second audience image, and the converter generates a third video signal in response to the first video signal and the second selection data for displaying a second audience image on a second audience display concurrently with the user display.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein for generating the second video signal the converter scales the first audience image responsive to the first scaling selection so that the displayed first audience image substantially entirely fills the first audience display.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein for generating the first image selection data the computer identifies coordinates within the user image.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein for generating the first scaling selection data the computer identifies a window of the user image.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the selected first audience image includes a window of the user image and the computer modifies the first image selection data responsive to the window of the user image being resized.  
   
   
       29 . A method for generating a first audience image from a selected portion of a user image, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first video signal generated by a computer, wherein the first video signal is for producing the user image on a user display;    receiving first image selection data from the computer indicating a first portion of the user image for the first audience image;    receiving first scaling selection data from the computer for scaling of the first audience image; and    generating, a second video signal in response to the first video signal and the first selection data for displaying the selected first audience image on an audience display concurrently with the user display, wherein the first audience image and the first portion of the user image are different sizes in proportion to their respective displays.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the converter receives the first video signal from a video port of the computer and receives the selection data from a data port of the computer.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising the steps of: 
 receiving second image selection data indicating a second portion of the user image for a second audience image;    receiving second scaling selection data for scaling of the second audience image; and    generating a third video signal in response to the first video signal and the second selection data for displaying the selected second audience image on a second audience display concurrently with the user display.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the generating of the second video signal includes scaling the first audience image responsive to the first scaling data so that the displayed first audience image substantially entirely fills the first audience display element.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein receiving the first image selection data includes receiving identification of coordinates within the user image.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein receiving the first image selection data includes receiving identification of a window of the user image.  
   
   
       35 . A system comprising: 
 a video converter, wherein the video converter is for: 
 receiving i) a first video signal generated by a computer, wherein the computer displays a user image on a user display responsive to the first video signal, ii) first image selection data generated by the computer indicating a first portion of the user image for a first audience image, and iii) first scaling selection data generated by the computer for scaling of the first audience image, and  
 generating a second video signal in response to the first video signal and the selection data; and  
   a first audience display for displaying the first audience image in response to the second video signal concurrently with the user display, wherein the first audience image and the first portion of the user image are different sizes in proportion to their respective displays.    
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the converter receives the first video signal from a video port of the computer and receives the image and scaling selection data from a data port of the computer.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the converter receives second image selection data from the computer indicating a user selection of a second portion of the user image for a second audience image and second scaling selection data from the computer indicating a user selection of scaling for the second audience image, and the converter generates, a third video signal in response to the first video signal and the second selection data for displaying the selected second audience image on a second audience display concurrently with the user display.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein for generating the second video signal the converter scales the first audience image responsive to the first scaling selection so that the displayed first audience image substantially entirely fills the first audience display.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the converter receives identification of coordinates within the user image in the first image selection data.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the converter receives identification of a window of the user image in the first image selection data.