Virtual audience using low bitrate avatars and laughter detection

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system acquires a video image and voice data of a remote viewer of a live event content and generating animation parameters relating to the video image. An avatar of the viewer is constructed based on the animation parameters; the avatar includes an animated version of the video image. The animated version and voice data are encoded to obtain a compressed animation data stream and a compressed audio stream, which are transmitted at a low bit rate to a remote system providing the content. The remote system aggregates compressed animation data streams and compressed audio streams to obtain a virtual audience for the event; the virtual audience includes avatars of the remote viewers and sound produced by the remote viewers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 acquiring, by a processing system including a processor, a video image of a remote viewer of a plurality of remote viewers of content depicting an event;   generating, by the processing system, animation parameters relating to the video image, the animation parameters based on an animation model, the animation parameters corresponding to spatial deviations of portions of the video image from feature points of the animation model;   constructing, by the processing system based on the animation parameters, an avatar of the remote viewer comprising an animated version of the video image;   encoding, by the processing system, the animated version to obtain a compressed video data stream; and   transmitting, by the processing system, the compressed video data stream to a remote system providing the content,   wherein the compressed video data stream is transmitted at a bit rate of less than about 2 kbps,   wherein the remote system aggregates a plurality of compressed video data streams corresponding to the plurality of remote viewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event,   wherein the virtual audience comprises avatars of the plurality of remote viewers, and   wherein the remote system integrates the virtual audience into the content as a background for the event.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animation parameters are generated in accordance with an MPEG-4 Face and Body Animation (FBA) standard. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the video image comprises a face of the remote viewer, and wherein the animation model comprises face definition parameters, the feature points being determined in accordance with the face definition parameters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animation model is independent of the animation parameters, and wherein the animation model is stored in a location accessible to the processing system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote viewer selects the animation model. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cloud server filters sound of the virtual audience in a real-time filtering procedure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a compressed audio stream at a bit rate less than about 10 kbps. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event is a live sports or entertainment event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animation parameters are generated at a specified frame rate based on a presentation of the event. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual audience is visible to performers at the event. 
     
     
         11 . A device, comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   downloading content depicting an event from a remote system;   acquiring a video image of a face of a remote viewer of a plurality of remote viewers of the content;   generating face animation parameters relating to the video image, the face animation parameters based on a face animation model, the face animation parameters corresponding to spatial deviations of portions of the video image from feature points of the face animation model;   constructing, by the processing system based on the face animation parameters, an avatar of the remote viewer comprising an animated version of the video image;   encoding, by the processing system, the animated version to obtain a compressed animation data stream;   and   transmitting, by the processing system, the compressed animation data stream to the remote system,   wherein the compressed animation data stream is transmitted at a bit rate of less than about 2 kbps,   wherein the remote system aggregates a plurality of compressed animation data streams corresponding to the plurality of remote viewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event,   wherein the virtual audience comprises avatars of the plurality of remote viewers.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the face animation parameters are generated in accordance with an MPEG-4 Face and Body Animation (FBA) standard. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the face animation parameters are generated at a specified frame rate based on a presentation of the event. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the virtual audience is visible to performers at the event. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 downloading content depicting an event from a remote system;   acquiring a video image of a face of a remote viewer of a plurality of remote viewers of the content;   generating face animation parameters relating to the video image, the face animation parameters based on a face animation model, the face animation parameters corresponding to spatial deviations of portions of the video image from feature points of the face animation model;   constructing, by the processing system based on the face animation parameters, an avatar of the remote viewer comprising an animated version of the video image;   encoding, by the processing system, the animated version to obtain a compressed animation data stream; and   transmitting, by the processing system, the compressed animation data stream to the remote system,   wherein the compressed animation data stream is transmitted at a bit rate of less than about 2 kbps,   wherein the remote system aggregates a plurality of compressed animation data streams corresponding to the plurality of remote viewers, to obtain a virtual audience for the event,   wherein the virtual audience comprises avatars of the plurality of remote viewers.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the face animation parameters are generated in accordance with an MPEG-4 Face and Body Animation (FBA) standard. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the face animation parameters are generated at a specified frame rate based on a presentation of the event. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the virtual audience is visible to performers at the event. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment.