System and Methods for Facilitating Virtual Presence

Abstract

A virtual presence system includes a display having a structural matrix configured to arrange a plurality of spaced pixel elements. A plurality of spaced pixel elements collectively form an active visual area wherein an image is displayable. At least one image capture device is disposed within the active visual area for capturing an image. The system is able to sense the environment in front of the display and, in response to what is sensed, is able to change one or more attributes of a displayed image, or, is able to change the displayed image or a portion of the displayed image.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A virtual presence system responsive to its environment, the system comprising:
 a) a display having a structural matrix configured to arrange a plurality of spaced pixel elements, said plurality of spaced pixel elements collectively forming an active visual area wherein an image is displayable; said active visual area capable of being continuously active for continuously displaying a displayed image;   b) at least one sensor device disposed within the active visual area and among said spaced pixel elements, said sensor not obstructed by any of the said spaced pixel elements; said sensor device operable to sense data from the environment in front of said active visual area and communicate to a signal processor;   c) said sensor device operable to capture sensor data while said display is simultaneously operable for displaying said displayed image, said spaced pixel elements and said sensor device capable of being simultaneously operative for simultaneously displaying said displayed image and simultaneously sensing data; and,   d) said signal processor operative to: receive sensed data from said sensor device; and, respond to said sensed data by modifying a visible attribute of said displayed image.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further characterized in that the sensor device is operable to sense visible light from the environment in front of said active visual area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further characterized in that the visible attribute of said displayed image that is modified is brightness. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  further characterized in that the visible attribute of said displayed image that is modified is selected from the list consisting of {contrast, color, sharpness}. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further characterized in that the displayed image is a first image, and in that the signal processor is further operative to: receive sensed data from said sensor device; and, respond to said sensed data by displaying a second image. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further characterized in that the sensor device is operable to sense motion from the environment in front of said active visual area. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further characterized in that the displayed image is a first image, and in that the signal processor is further operative to: receive sensed data from said sensor device; and, respond to said sensed data by displaying a second image. 
     
     
         8 . A virtual presence system responsive to its environment, the system comprising:
 a) a display having a structural matrix configured to arrange a plurality of spaced pixel elements, said plurality of spaced pixel elements collectively forming an active visual area wherein an image is displayable; said active visual area capable of being continuously active for continuously displaying a displayed image;   b) at least one aperture disposed within the active visual area and among said spaced pixel elements, said aperture not obstructed by any of the said spaced pixel elements; disposed in said aperture a transmission means operative to transmit sensible data from the environment in front of said active visual area to an image capture device, the image capture device operable to communicate to a signal processor;   c) said image capture device operable to capture a captured image while said display is simultaneously operable for displaying said displayed image, said spaced pixel elements and said image capture device capable of being simultaneously operative for simultaneously displaying said displayed image and simultaneously capturing said captured image;   d) said signal processor operable to: receive said captured image; compute one or more attributes from said captured image; and, respond to said one or more attributes of said captured image by modifying said displayed image.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  further characterized in that the transmission means is one selected from the list consisting of {fiber optic cable, waveguide, conduit}. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further characterized in that the signal processor is configured to compute from said captured image attributes identifying the presence of one or more persons in the captured image. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further characterized in that the system is operative to modify the displayed image based upon the presence or absence of one or more persons in said captured image. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  further characterized in that the signal processor is configured to compute from said captured image one or more attributes from the list consisting of: {height of a person, weight of a person, gender of a person, age of a person, identity of a person}; the system is further operative to modify the displayed image based upon one or more sensed attributes from the list consisting of: {height of a person, weight of a person, gender of a person, age of a person, identity of a person}. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  further characterized in that the displayed image is a first image, and in that the signal processor is further operative to: receive sensed data from said sensor device; and, respond to said sensed data by displaying a second image. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  further characterized in that the sensor device is operable to sense motion from the environment in front of said active visual area. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further characterized in that the displayed image is a first image, and in that the signal processor is further operative to: receive sensed data from said sensor device; and, respond to said sensed data by displaying a second image.