Patents Assigned to Telbotics Inc.
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Patent number: 7123285Abstract: A teleconferencing robot for enabling a remote conferee to project a sense of presence into a group meeting. The teleconferencing robot includes: a base; a video monitor movably mounted to the base for receiving and displaying an image of the remote conferee; an attention getting device for getting the attention of conferees in the group meeting; a control device mounted on the base for moving the video monitor and actuating the attention getting device in response to an input control signal derived from a remote signal generated by the remote conferee and sending an outgoing data signal to the remote conferee providing feedback to the remote conferee from the robot; and the video monitor and attention getting device move in response to the input control signal to enable the remote conferee to project a sense of presence into the group meeting, and to confirm the movement by the outgoing data signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignees: Telbotics Inc., Ryerson Polytechnic University and the University of TorontoInventors: Graham Thomas Smith, Deborah Ingrid Fels, Jutta Treviranus
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Patent number: 6914622Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for the projection of a remote conferee's presence into a group meeting environment by using a combination of videoconferencing/teleconferencing and robotics technology. The remote conferee's face is shown substantially life-size on a video monitor. The remote conferee's eyes appear to be looking directly at the viewer. The video monitor can turn left or right to point at the person speaking, automatically or by manual control, to give the impression that the remote conferee is turning his head to look at the person speaking. The video screen can be raised and lowered to give the impression that the remote conferee is standing up and sitting down. An attention-getting mechanism prompts the attention of the other conferees when the remote conferee wants to interrupt or enter a conversation.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1998Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignees: Telbotics Inc.Inventors: Graham Thomas Smith, Deborah Ingrid Fels, Jutta Treviranus
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Patent number: 6784916Abstract: An apparatus and system for improving the projection of a remote conferee's presence and improving eye contact between the remote video conferee and proximate conferee during a videoconference is disclosed. The image of the remote conferee's face is shown on a video monitor with a camera located along the eye level of the image of the remote conferee's face, and within the interocular distance of about 1.5 inches to 3 inches. A feedback screen showing the image of the proximate video conferee is also located near the camera and preferably within the interocular distance. Because the camera is within the interocular distance the proximate conferee will appear, to the remote conferee, to be looking at the eyes of the remote conferee when looking at the monitor, because the camera is within the interocular distance. This will be accentuated when the proximate conferee uses the feedback image, which is near the camera.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Telbotics Inc.Inventor: Graham Thomas Smith
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Publication number: 20030151658Abstract: An apparatus and system for improving the projection of a remote conferee's presence and improving eye contact between the remote video conferee and proximate conferee during a videoconference is disclosed. The image of the remote conferee's face is shown on a video monitor with a camera located along the eye level of the image of the remote conferee's face, and within the interocular distance of about 1.5 inches to 3 inches. A feedback screen showing the image of the proximate video conferee is also located near the camera and preferably within the interocular distance. Because the camera is within the interocular distance the proximate conferee will appear, to the remote conferee, to be looking at the eyes of the remote conferee when looking at the monitor, because the camera is within the interocular distance. This will be accentuated when the proximate conferee uses the feedback image, which is near the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: Telbotics Inc.Inventor: Graham Thomas Smith
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Patent number: D430867Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1999Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignees: Ryerson Polytechnic University, The University of Toronto, Telbotics Inc.Inventors: Graham Thomas Smith, Deborah Ingrid Fels, Jutta Treviranus, Simranjit V. S. Singh