Teleconferencing method and system

Abstract

A method and system provides a face-to-face video conference. The method and apparatus comprise a conferencing system consisting of a conferencing station defining a predetermined motif, an image system for generating a substantially full scale image of a person at the conferencing station so that participants at the conferencing station feel that any images of persons displayed by the imager at the conferencing station are present and face-to-face. The method comprises the steps of receiving image data at a teleconferencing station, the image data including data corresponding to at least one person, and displaying an image corresponding to the image data at the teleconferencing station so that at least one participant at the teleconferencing station views an image of said at least one person, thereby providing a face-to-face presence environment whereat the image of at least one person appears substantially life size. The teleconferencing method may further include the steps of generating image data corresponding to an image, transmitting at least a portion of the image data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to a teleconferencing station and displaying the portion of the image data at the teleconferencing station during a teleconference.

1 . A teleconferencing method comprising the steps of: 
 capturing a plurality of images at a remote station with an imager, wherein said plurality of images are of different fields of view;    compressing said image data to provide compressed data;    receiving said compressed data at a teleconferencing station;    decompressing said compressed data to provide decompressed data; and    displaying said plurality of images on at least one screen at said teleconferencing station using said decompressed data.    
   
   
       2 - 48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . A conferencing system comprising: 
 a first station comprising a display having a viewing area;    a table facing said viewing area;    furniture on which participants may sit and face said viewing area; and    an image system for capturing a first station image of at least a portion of said first station and of at least one of said participants;    said viewing area being directly between said participants and said image system.    
   
   
       50 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 49  wherein said image system comprises a camera having a lens situated directly behind a viewing surface of said viewing area.  
   
   
       51 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 49  wherein said display comprises an aperture through which said image system captures said first station image.  
   
   
       52 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 49  wherein said image system comprises a plurality of cameras, each comprising a different field of view, said furniture being arranged so that seated participants are situated so that they are within a field of view of only one of said plurality of cameras.  
   
   
       53 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 49  wherein said table is dimensioned to cause said participants to be situated at a distance of at least a focal distance of said image system.  
   
   
       54 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 53  wherein said image system comprises a plurality of cameras, each comprising a different field of view, said furniture being arranged so that seated participants are situated so that they are within a field of view of only one of said plurality of cameras.  
   
   
       55 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 49  wherein said first station comprises a plurality of walls and further comprises: 
 a second display on at least one of said plurality of walls for providing a stationary or moving image for defining a desired video background during a teleconference.    
   
   
       56 . A conferencing system comprising a plurality of walls defining a conferencing station; a display on at least one of said plurality of walls for providing a stationary or moving image for defining a desired video background during a teleconference.  
   
   
       57 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 56 , wherein said plurality of walls are modular walls; said conferencing station comprises a dropped or sunken ceiling coupled to said modular walls.  
   
   
       58 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 57 , wherein said dropped or sunken ceiling comprising lighting.  
   
   
       59 . A conferencing system comprising: 
 a first station comprising a display having a viewing area;    furniture comprising a table facing said viewing area and seating on which participants may sit and face said viewing area; and    an image system for capturing a first station image of at least a portion of said first station and of at least one of said participants;    said participants being situated a predetermined position relative to said image system.    
   
   
       60 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 59  wherein said image system comprises a camera having a lens situated directly behind a viewing surface of said display area.  
   
   
       61 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 59  wherein said display comprises an aperture through which said image system captures said first station image.  
   
   
       62 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 59  wherein said image system comprises a plurality of cameras, each comprising a different field of view, said predetermined position being such that seated participants are situated so that they are within a field of view of only one of said plurality of cameras.  
   
   
       63 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 59  wherein said table is dimensioned to cause such that said predetermined position causes said participants to be situated at a distance of at least a focal distance from said image system.  
   
   
       64 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 63  wherein said image system comprises a plurality of cameras, each comprising a different field of view, said predetermined position being such that seated participants are situated so that they are within a field of view of only one of said plurality of cameras.  
   
   
       65 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 59  wherein said first station comprises a plurality of walls and further comprises: 
 a second display on at least one of said plurality of walls for providing a stationary or moving image for defining a desired video background during a teleconference.    
   
   
       66 . The conferencing system as recited in  claim 59  wherein said table comprises an edge defining an arc that is generally opposed to said display such that said participants become situated in an arc relative to said image system when said participants are seated in said seating.  
   
   
       67 . A method of causing participants in a video conference to be situated at a predetermined position relative to a display, said method comprising the steps of: 
 situating a table in relation to the display;    situating a plurality of seats adjacent to said table;    said tables and said plurality of seats being situated a predetermined distance of at least a focal distance of a camera associated with said display.    
   
   
       68 . The method as recited in  claim 67  wherein said predetermined distance is at least 5 feet, 6 inches.  
   
   
       69 . The method as recited in  claim 67  wherein said situating step comprises the step of: 
 situating a table having an arcuate edge in opposed relationship to said display so that participants become situated in an arc relative to said camera when the participants become situated in said plurality of seats, respectively.