Abstract: Examples relate to determining finger movements. In one example, a computing device may: receive input from at least one of: a first proximity sensor coupled to the frame at a first position and facing a first direction; or a second proximity sensor coupled to the frame at a second position and facing a second direction; determine, based on the input, that a finger action occurred, the finger action being one of: a first movement of a first finger, the first movement being detected by the first proximity sensor; a second movement of a second finger, the second movement being detected by the second proximity sensor; generate, based on the finger action, output that includes data defining an event that corresponds to the finger action; and provide the output to another computing device.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating through shared media. Specifically, a method provides for accessing a plurality of images from respective input interfaces of a plurality of input interfaces. At least one of the plurality of images is captured using a camera, and wherein at least one of the plurality of images contains a form of communication. The form of communication is extracted from the plurality of images. A respective appearance model is constructed corresponding to each of the plurality of input interfaces. At least one of the respective appearance models contributes the respective form of communication that is extracted and transformed to a reference frame of a reference coordinate system. The respective appearance models are combined together to generate a shared virtual model. The shared virtual model is displayed to at least one output medium.

Abstract: A method for culling visual data streams. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for culling view dependent visual data streams for a virtual environment. The method begins by determining a view volume of a viewing participant within the virtual environment. The view volume determines a field-of-view of the viewing participant within the virtual environment. The embodiment of the method then determines a proximity of a representation of an observed object in the virtual environment to the view volume. Thereafter, the embodiment of the method processes a view dependent visual data stream of the observed object only when the representation is within a specified proximity to the view volume.

Abstract: A support apparatus for a camera and strobe lights includes a mounting plate for holding the camera substantially normal to and at a fixed distance from the photograph area, a set of legs attached to one or more portions of the apparatus providing support and positions for mounting and a set of strobe lights affixed to the legs at known positions relative to the focal plane of the camera and directed towards the photograph area to facilitate acquisition of multiple photographic images for use in one or image processing operations. The support apparatus can be automated through the use of one or more mobile strobe lights slidably coupled to each leg, capable of self-propelled linear motion along the axis of the leg and providing indication of its position along the leg to facilitate acquisition of multiple photographic images and position data for the image processing operations.

Abstract: A method and system for real-time rendering within a gaming environment. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of rendering a local participant within an interactive gaming environment. The method begins by capturing a plurality of real-time video streams of a local participant from a plurality of camera viewpoints. From the plurality of video streams, a new view synthesis technique is applied to generate a rendering of the local participant. The rendering is generated from a perspective of a remote participant located remotely in the gaming environment. The rendering is then sent to the remote participant for viewing.

Abstract: A method for clustering data streams. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for clustering data streams for use in a virtual environment. The embodiment of the method begins by determining a cluster of receiving nodes in the virtual environment. Each of the cluster of receiving nodes have associated values for at least one clustering parameter that as a set satisfies a test. Then, the embodiment continues by generating a common data stream based on the clustering parameter. Thereafter, the embodiment sends the common data stream from a sending node to the cluster of receiving nodes.

Abstract: A management system for a rich media environment that enables relatively large numbers of sensing and rendering components to be marshaled for a variety of tasks and services. A management system according to the present teachings includes a service manager that provides a communication service pertaining to the rich media environment by coordinating a set of tasks in the rich media environment and further includes a task manager that manages each task by allocating a set of processing resources and communication resources to each task and performing each task in response to a request for each task from the service manager.

Abstract: A method and system for topology adaptation. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for topology adaptation to support communication in a communicative environment. The embodiment of the method begins by measuring at least one performance metric for a plurality of nodes associated with a plurality of collaborators in the communicative environment. Then, the embodiment of the method dynamically adapts a communication topology for linking the plurality of nodes in the communication network to support communication in the communicative environment based on the at least one performance metric.