Abstract: A perspective-correct communication window system and method for communicating between participants in an online meeting, where the participants are not in the same physical locations. Embodiments of the system and method provide an in-person communications experience by changing virtual viewpoint for the participants when they are viewing the online meeting. The participant sees a different perspective displayed on a monitor based on the location of the participant's eyes. Embodiments of the system and method include a capture and creation component that is used to capture visual data about each participant and create a realistic geometric proxy from the data. A scene geometry component is used to create a virtual scene geometry that mimics the arrangement of an in-person meeting. A virtual viewpoint component displays the changing virtual viewpoint to the viewer and can add perceived depth using motion parallax.

Abstract: A method for operating an image processing device coupled to a color camera and a depth camera is provided. The method includes receiving a color image of a 3-dimensional scene from a color camera, receiving a depth map of the 3-dimensional scene from a depth camera, generating an aligned 3-dimensional face mesh from a plurality of color images received from the color camera indicating movement of a subject's head within the 3-dimensional scene and form the depth map, determining a head region based the depth map, segmenting the head region into a plurality of facial sections based on both the color image, depth map, and the aligned 3-dimensional face mesh, and overlaying the plurality of facial sections on the color image.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to color identification. In one example, an image processing method comprises receiving an infrared (IR) image including a plurality of IR pixels, each IR pixel specifying one or more IR parameters of that IR pixel, identifying, in the IR image, IR-skin pixels that image human skin, identifying a skin tone of identified human skin based at least in part on the IR-skin pixels, the skin tone having one or more expected visible light (VL) parameters, receiving a VL image including a plurality of VL pixels, each VL pixel specifying one or more VL parameters of that VL pixel, identifying, in the VL image, VL-skin pixels that image identified human skin, and adjusting the VL image to increase a correspondence between the one or more VL parameters of the VL-skin pixels and the one or more expected VL parameters of the identified skin tone.

Abstract: Methods and systems for face detection and tracking using an image-based capture device are disclosed herein. The method includes generating a depth image of a scene, generating a mask image from the depth image, and detecting a position of a face of a user in the scene using the mask image. The method also includes determining an intensity of the face using a first color channel of the mask image and adjusting a gain level of a first color channel of the image-based capture device directed at the scene to achieve a target intensity of the face.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape parameter computation system and method for computing three-dimensional human head shape parameters from two-dimensional facial feature points. A series of images containing a user's face is captured. Embodiments of the system and method deduce the 3D parameters of the user's head by examining a series of captured images of the user over time and in a variety of head poses and facial expressions, and then computing an average. An energy function is constructed over a batch of frames containing 2D face feature points obtained from the captured images, and the energy function is minimized to solve for the head shape parameters valid for the batch of frames. Head pose parameters and facial expression and animation parameters can vary over each captured image in the batch of frames. In some embodiments this minimization is performed using a modified Gauss-Newton minimization technique using a single iteration.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape parameter computation system and method for computing three-dimensional human head shape parameters from two-dimensional facial feature points. A series of images containing a user's face is captured. Embodiments of the system and method deduce the 3D parameters of the user's head by examining a series of captured images of the user over time and in a variety of head poses and facial expressions, and then computing an average. An energy function is constructed over a batch of frames containing 2D face feature points obtained from the captured images, and the energy function is minimized to solve for the head shape parameters valid for the batch of frames. Head pose parameters and facial expression and animation parameters can vary over each captured image in the batch of frames. In some embodiments this minimization is performed using a modified Gauss-Newton minimization technique using a single iteration.

Abstract: A controlled three-dimensional (3D) communication endpoint system and method for simulating an in-person communication between participants in an online meeting or conference and providing easy scaling of a virtual environment when additional participants join. This gives the participants the illusion that the other participants are in the same room and sitting around the same table with the viewer. The controlled communication endpoint includes a plurality of camera pods that capture video of a participant from 360 degrees around the participant. The controlled communication endpoint also includes a display device configuration containing display devices placed at least 180 degrees around the participant and display the virtual environment containing geometric proxies of the other participants. Placing the participants at a round virtual table and increasing the diameter of the virtual table as additional participants are added easily achieves scalability.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for automatically generating a facial avatar resembling a user in a defined art style. One or more processors generate a user 3D head model for the user based on captured 3D image data from a communicatively coupled 3D image capture device. A set of user transferable head features from the user 3D head model are automatically represented by the one or more processors in the facial avatar in accordance with rules governing transferable user 3D head features. In some embodiments, a base or reference head model of the avatar is remapped to include the set of user head features. In other embodiments, an avatar head shape model is selected based on the user 3D head model, and the transferable user 3D head features are represented in the avatar head shape model.

Abstract: A controlled three-dimensional (3D) communication endpoint system and method for simulating an in-person communication between participants in an online meeting or conference and providing easy scaling of a virtual environment when additional participants join. This gives the participants the illusion that the other participants are in the same room and sitting around the same table with the viewer. The controlled communication endpoint includes a plurality of camera pods that capture video of a participant from 360 degrees around the participant. The controlled communication endpoint also includes a display device configuration containing display devices placed at least 180 degrees around the participant and display the virtual environment containing geometric proxies of the other participants. Placing the participants at a round virtual table and increasing the diameter of the virtual table as additional participants are added easily achieves scalability.

Abstract: Described herein is a telepresence system where a real-time a virtual hologram of a user is displayed at a remote display screen and is rendered from a vantage point that is different than the vantage point from which images of the user are captured via a video camera. The virtual hologram is based at least in part upon data acquired from a sensor unit at the location of the user. The sensor unit includes a color video camera that captures 2-D images of the user including surface features of the user. The sensor unit also includes a depth sensor that captures 3-D geometry data indicative of the relative position of surfaces on the user in 3-D space. The virtual hologram is rendered to orientate the gaze of the eyes of the virtual hologram towards the eyes of a second user viewing the remote display screen.

Abstract: A controlled three-dimensional (3D) communication endpoint system and method for simulating an in-person communication between participants in an online meeting or conference and providing easy scaling of a virtual environment when additional participants join. This gives the participants the illusion that the other participants are in the same room and sitting around the same table with the viewer. The controlled communication endpoint includes a plurality of camera pods that capture video of a participant from 360 degrees around the participant. The controlled communication endpoint also includes a display device configuration containing display devices placed at least 180 degrees around the participant and display the virtual environment containing geometric proxies of the other participants. Placing the participants at a round virtual table and increasing the diameter of the virtual table as additional participants are added easily achieves scalability.

Abstract: A perspective-correct communication window system and method for communicating between participants in an online meeting, where the participants are not in the same physical locations. Embodiments of the system and method provide an in-person communications experience by changing virtual viewpoint for the participants when they are viewing the online meeting. The participant sees a different perspective displayed on a monitor based on the location of the participant's eyes. Embodiments of the system and method include a capture and creation component that is used to capture visual data about each participant and create a realistic geometric proxy from the data. A scene geometry component is used to create a virtual scene geometry that mimics the arrangement of an in-person meeting. A virtual viewpoint component displays the changing virtual viewpoint to the viewer and can add perceived depth using motion parallax.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape parameter computation system and method for computing three-dimensional human head shape parameters from two-dimensional facial feature points. A series of images containing a user's face is captured. Embodiments of the system and method deduce the 3D parameters of the user's head by examining a series of captured images of the user over time and in a variety of head poses and facial expressions, and then computing an average. An energy function is constructed over a batch of frames containing 2D face feature points obtained from the captured images, and the energy function is minimized to solve for the head shape parameters valid for the batch of frames. Head pose parameters and facial expression and animation parameters can vary over each captured image in the batch of frames. In some embodiments this minimization is performed using a modified Gauss-Newton minimization technique using a single iteration.

Abstract: Methods and systems for face detection and tracking using an image-based capture device are disclosed herein. The method includes generating a depth image of a scene, generating a mask image from the depth image, and detecting a position of a face of a user in the scene using the mask image. The method also includes determining an intensity of the face using a first color channel of the mask image and adjusting a gain level of a first color channel of the image-based capture device directed at the scene to achieve a target intensity of the face.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards a video-related system including smart camera algorithms that select and control camera views (camera, point of view and framing selections) to provide a more desirable viewing experience of a conference or the like, e.g., emulating an actual technician's selected views. The system uses various inputs, such as to determine participants' activities (a current speaker, movements, and other participant input) and the history of the conference (how long the same view has been shown). The system may be used with conventional video applications, or “virtual” conferences in which users are represented by avatars.

Abstract: Described herein is a telepresence system where a real-time a virtual hologram of a user is displayed at a remote display screen and is rendered from a vantage point that is different than the vantage point from which images of the user are captured via a video camera. The virtual hologram is based at least in part upon data acquired from a sensor unit at the location of the user. The sensor unit includes a color video camera that captures 2-D images of the user including surface features of the user. The sensor unit also includes a depth sensor that captures 3-D geometry data indicative of the relative position of surfaces on the user in 3-D space. The virtual hologram is rendered to orientate the gaze of the eyes of the virtual hologram towards the eyes of a second user viewing the remote display screen.