Abstract: A video conferencing device for video conferencing between at least one local participant and a remote participant includes a video camera, a microphone array, and a speaker tracker. The video camera provides a local video input signal. The microphone array provides a local audio input signal. The speaker tracker is configured to identify a local speaker from the at least one local participant using a sound source localizer. The video conferencing device processes the local video input signal without the local speaker, based on the video conferencing device receiving a signal from a computing system, the signal dependent on a loopback audio output signal indicating that the remote participant is speaking.

Abstract: Single point devices that connect to a display device include a port for establishing a connection to a port on the display device and for switching the display device from a first mode to a second mode; an audio video device configured to capture image data representing one or more images of physical entities in a field of view of the audio video device and further configured to capture acoustic data; a receiver device and a transmitter device configured for dedicated communication with a data processing system.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein facilitate virtual interactions between users that more closely resemble their in-person counterparts. In particular, the methods and systems simulate in-person interactions in virtual environments through the use of complex spatial algorithms. For example, in some embodiments, the methods and systems provide avatar-based video conferencing systems in which avatars are connected by video/voice chat to any avatar based on one or more criteria.

Abstract: A method implementing dynamic camera presets. An image is received. A list of bounding boxes and a list of classification values are generated from the image. A set of tags, for the image, are generated from the list of bounding boxes and the list of classification values. A tagged image incorporating the set of tags into the image is presented. In response to a user input, a tag selection identifying a tag of the set of tags is received. View settings are adjusted to focus on a bounding box, from the list of bounding boxes, corresponding to the tag selection. An adjusted image is presented using the view settings.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software to provide intelligent detection and automatic correction of erroneous audio settings in a video conference. Electronic conferences can often be the source of frustration and wasted resources as participants may be forced to contend with extraneous sounds, such as background/ambient noises, or conversations not intended for the conference, provided by an endpoint that should be muted. Similarly, participants may speak with the intention of providing their speech to the conference while their associated endpoint is muted. As a result, the conference may be awkward and lack a productive flow while endpoints are erroneously muted or non-muted. By intelligently processing at least the video portion of a video conference, endpoints/participants may be prompted to mute/unmute or automatically muted/unmuted.

Abstract: Example apparatus to improve timestamp transition resolution of watermarks are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus is to decode timestamps in respective ones of detected watermarks, estimate a first transition window indicative of a transition between a first time period to a second time period based on a first one of the timestamps and a second one of the timestamps, and when the first transition window does not satisfy a threshold, estimate a second transition window indicative of a transition between the second time period and a third time period based on the second one of the timestamps and a third one of the timestamps. The disclosed example apparatus is also to determine a first mapped transition window based on an intersection of the first transition window and the second transition window, and set the first mapped transition window as a reference time transition window for subsequent time periods.

Abstract: A phone appliance and method of use are provided where the phone appliance can be used to make VoIP communications calls. In a preferred embodiment, the phone appliance includes an RF connection for connecting to a computer or other computing device for facilitating the placement of the VoIP communications calls. The phone appliance further includes a display or portal for depicting advertisements provided by various advertisers. The advertisements provided can be used to defray all or part of the cost associated with making VoIP communications calls. The portal can also be used to communicate with businesses for ordering products. such as ordering a pizza, and to perform various services, such as purchasing stocks. In an exemplary system, the phone appliance is used to transmit to a control center information related to the user of the phone appliance, such as interests and buying habits, and queries for receiving additional information for various advertised products and services.

Abstract: One example system for displaying immersive scenes includes a processor and at least one memory device. The memory device includes instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive a collection of metadata associated with an immersive scene, identify each of a plurality of properties of the immersive scene based on the collection of metadata, receive a dynamic immersive background, receive a plurality of video streams associated with a video conference, and display each of the plurality of video streams in the immersive scene based at least in part of the plurality of properties of the immersive scene and on the dynamic immersive background.

Abstract: A presentation service generates an audience interface for an electronic presentation. The audience interface may simulate an in-person presentation, including features such as a central presenter and seat locations for audience members. The audience members may select emotes which may be displayed in the audience interface. The emotes may indicate the audience members' opinion of the content being presented. The presentation service may enable chats between multiple audience members, grouping of audience members private rooms, and other virtual simulations of functions corresponding to in-person presentations.

Abstract: One example method includes capturing audio data at a client engine while outputting an output video, the output video being based upon an original video stored at the client engine, delivering the captured audio data to a prediction engine upon the captured audio data being captured for a pre-determined time, receiving from the prediction engine substitute frame data used by the client engine to stitch one or more frames into the original video stored at the client engine, and following stitching the one or more frames into the output video to generate an altered output video, outputting the captured audio data and the altered video from the client engine.

Abstract: An approach is provided in which the approach establishes a geo-fence around a user in response to the user invoking a video conversation corresponding to a conversational context. The approach determines an action in response to detecting an entity crossing the geo-fence. The action is based on the entity and the conversational context of the video conversation. The approach invokes the action by transmitting a message to a device in proximity to the entity.

Abstract: A method of continual learning in an artificial intelligence system through bi-level optimization includes providing a stored data sample of a current task and providing a neural network subdivided into two parts including a parameter part and a hyper-parameter part. The method further includes performing bi-level optimization by separately training the two parts of the neural network. The neural network has been trained, prior to the bi-level optimization, on data samples of previous tasks.

Abstract: Provided are an audio reconstruction method and device for providing improved sound quality by reconstructing a decoding parameter or an audio signal obtained from a bitstream, by using machine learning. The audio reconstruction method includes obtaining a plurality of decoding parameters of a current frame by decoding a bitstream, determining characteristics of a second parameter included in the plurality of decoding parameters and associated with a first parameter, based on the first parameter included in the plurality of decoding parameters, obtaining a reconstructed second parameter by applying a machine learning model to at least one of the plurality of decoding parameters, the second parameter, and the characteristics of the second parameter, and decoding an audio signal, based on the reconstructed second parameter.

Abstract: A method for video calling comprises, at a server computing system, receiving a plurality of segmented participant video streams from a plurality of client computing devices, each segmented participant video stream depicting a different human participant participating in a video call. One or more priority parameters for each of the plurality of human participants are recognized. One or more human participants are ranked based on a cumulative participant priority for each of the plurality of human participants. The plurality of segmented participant video streams are composited into a virtual conference view that displays each of the ranked one or more human participants at a virtual position based on their cumulative participant priority, such that human participants having higher cumulative participant priorities are displayed more prominently than human participants having lower cumulative participant priorities. The virtual conference view is sent to the plurality of client computing devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for taking a break after seamless transition between network conferences. In an embodiment, a method for taking a break after a transition between network conferences includes operations of attending a first network conference using a first conference state and a conferencing application, and displaying Up-Next conference status about a second network conference. The method also includes operations of receiving a request to enter a break mode after joining the second network conference, joining the second network conference using the first conference state and the conferencing application, and transmitting a break mode icon to participants in the second network conference.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns the playback of audio, e.g. in the form of music. More particularly, the disclosure concerns the playback of streamed audio. In one example embodiment, there is a method of operating an electronic device for playback of an audio stream. While an audio stream is being played, for example at a user interface of the electronic device, a first request to adjust an energy level (e.g., a tempo) of the played audio stream is received. In response to receiving the first request, the energy level (e.g., the tempo) of the played audio stream is adjusted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-attendee video conferencing are described. A system can perform spatial audio modulation techniques in video conference calls based on content type or participant role. In particular, by assigning user roles and content types to specific regions in a two- or three-dimensional audio sound space or “soundstage,” users can identify—simply by listening—the source of the audio (e.g., who the current speaker is and/or whether the sound came from a specific type of content). Thus, in example implementations of the present disclosure, each of a number of conference roles and/or content types can be allocated a particular virtual location within the audio soundstage.

Abstract: Manipulating an image in an immersive video conference space includes associating an anchor to a background of the immersive video conference space, static interior objects in the immersive video conference space, and/or dynamic interior objects in the immersive video conference space or an area within a display pane of the immersive video conference space and actuating an anchor activation control that causes the image to move to a position of the anchor. The image may be an image of the presenter. The presenter may provide a gesture that actuates the anchor activation. The gesture may be a keyboard shortcut or a touch gesture. The touch gesture may be a tap, a swipe, or a tap and hold. The image may move to the position of the anchor along a transitional route. The image may change appearance as the image moves to the position of the anchor along the transitional route.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that enable sidebar conversations between two or more attendees that are participating in a primary or main meeting. The sidebar conversation occurs in conjunction or concurrently with the primary meeting. A first attendee provides commands to indicate a desire to initiate a sidebar conversation and information about a targeted attendee. The commands are analyzed to determine if a trigger phrase is included. The commands are analyzed to determine if there is an identification of a second (targeted) attendee, who is currently participating in the main meeting. If the second attendee is available, then the sidebar conversation is initiated. Additional attendees can be added to the sidebar conversation.

Abstract: While a first playback device is a member of a synchronous media playback group with a second playback device using a first media playback protocol, and after a particular playback setting is enabled using the first media playback protocol, the first playback device receives, from a media source device, a first media stream using a second media playback protocol. The first and second media playback protocols are incompatible. The first playback device determines that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the synchronous media playback group includes the first playback device and the second playback device. Subsequently, the first playback device (i) generates a second media stream based on the received first media stream, the second media stream including information for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and (ii) transmits, to the second playback device, the second media stream using the second media playback protocol.