Patents by Inventor Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr.

Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11695900
    Abstract: Scene changes should be done pleasingly and without user input or control. Based on the number of speakers and changes in speakers, either to a different individual or movement by the same speaker, based on the locations of the speakers, and based on the overlap of the current and intended scenes, a decision is made whether to perform a smooth transition or do a cut. It has been determined that the decision on cut versus smooth transition is preferably based on the location of the center of the intended new scene versus the boundaries of the current scene, a cut used if the center is outside the boundaries and a smooth transition if inside. If a smooth transition, an easing function, such as ease in ease out, is performed to change the scene. A preferred value for the smooth transition is to perform the transition over 80 frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11676369
    Abstract: A method for determining camera framing in a teleconferencing system comprises a process loop which includes acquiring an audio-visual frame from a captured a video data frame; detecting objects and extracting image features of the objects within the video data frame, ingesting the audio-visual frame into a context-based audio-visual map in an intelligent manner, and selecting targets from within the map for inclusion in an audio-video stream for transmission to a remote endpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer, David Young
  • Publication number: 20230135996
    Abstract: The size of a rule of thirds frame covering a presenter and the zooming and panning of a videoconference camera are based on the motion of a presenter. The size of the frame, and thus provided walking space in the frame, varies with the speed of the presenter. The slower the presenter, the smaller and tighter the frame. The faster the presenter, the larger and the looser the frame. If the presenter is pacing, a pacing frame is developed that is centered on the limits of the pacing and is large enough to cover both ends of the pacing. The movement frame and the pacing frame provide a pleasant experience for a viewer, one where the presenter does not appear cramped or walking out of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Schaefer, Rommel Gabriel Childress, JR.
  • Patent number: 11587321
    Abstract: The frame or image of a video stream of a videoconference is divided into a series of segments for analysis. There is a primary grid, which covers the entire frame, and an alternate grid, which is shifted from the primary grid. Each segment is small enough to allow a neural network to efficiently operate on the segment without requiring downsampling. By operating on full resolution images, a participant can be identified at a greater distance from the camera. The entire frame is analyzed at a lower frequency, such as once per five seconds, but each segment containing a participant in the conference is scanned at a higher frequency, such as once per second, to maintain responsiveness to participant movement but also allow the full resolution operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20220400244
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system includes different cameras with different fields-of-view (FOVs). Frames of images acquired by these cameras may be processed to determine states, such as number of users present, talking, and so forth. Based on these states, frames from one camera may be selected to send to a far site. If the two states indicate no change in camera source from a first time to a second time, the current frame from the first camera that is sent to the far site is followed by another frame from the same camera. If the two states indicate a change in camera source from the first time to the second time, the current frame from the first camera that is sent to the far site is followed by a frame from the different camera. Depending on the two states and the cameras used, different transition effects may be applied to improve presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Schaefer, Rommel Gabriel Childress, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220292801
    Abstract: A videoconferencing endpoint determines if there is a whiteboard and if a presenter is near the whiteboard. If there is no whiteboard in view or the presenter is not near the whiteboard, any content from a camera focused on the whiteboard is continued and any presenter framing is done normally. If the presenter is in front of the whiteboard, any whiteboard content is ended, and appropriate portions of the whiteboard are included in the main video stream framed with the presenter. If the whiteboard is empty, framing is done without reference to the whiteboard. If the whiteboard is full or has writing away from the presenter, the entire whiteboard and the presenter are framed together. If the whiteboard only has writing near the presenter, only the relevant portion of the whiteboard is framed with the presenter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Schaefer, David A. Bryan, Rommel Gabriel Childress, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210360193
    Abstract: Scene changes that are done pleasingly and without user input or control. Based on the number of speakers and changes in speakers, either to a different individual or movement by the same speaker, based on the locations of the speakers and based on the overlap of the current and intended scenes, a decision is made whether to perform a smooth transition or do a cut. It has been determined that the decision on cut versus smooth transition is preferably based on the location of the center of the intended new scene versus the boundaries of the current scene, a cut used if the center is outside the boundaries and a smooth transition if inside. If a smooth transition, an easing function, such as ease in ease out, is performed to change the scene. A preferred value for the smooth transition is to perform the transition over 80 frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, JR., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20210319233
    Abstract: The frame or image of a video stream of a videoconference is divided into a series of segments for analysis. There is a primary grid, which covers the entire frame, and an alternate grid, which is shifted from the primary grid. Each segment is small enough to allow a neural network to efficiently operate on the segment without requiring downsampling. By operating on full resolution images, a participant can be identified at a greater distance from the camera. The entire frame is analyzed at a lower frequency, such as once per five seconds, but each segment containing a participant in the conference is scanned at a higher frequency, such as once per second, to maintain responsiveness to participant movement but also allow the full resolution operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, JR., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11095849
    Abstract: Scene changes that are done pleasingly and without user input or control. Based on the number of speakers and changes in speakers, either to a different individual or movement by the same speaker, based on the locations of the speakers and based on the overlap of the current and intended scenes, a decision is made whether to perform a smooth transition or do a cut. It has been determined that the decision on cut versus smooth transition is preferably based on the location of the center of the intended new scene versus the boundaries of the current scene, a cut used if the center is outside the boundaries and a smooth transition if inside. If a smooth transition, an easing function, such as ease in ease out, is performed to change the scene. A preferred value for the smooth transition is to perform the transition over 80 frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20210235040
    Abstract: A method for determining camera framing in a teleconferencing system comprises a process loop which includes acquiring an audio-visual frame from a captured a video data frame; detecting objects and extracting image features of the objects within the video data frame, ingesting the audio-visual frame into a context-based audio-visual map in an intelligent manner, and selecting targets from within the map for inclusion in an audio-video stream for transmission to a remote endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel CHILDRESS, JR., Alain Elon NIMRI, Stephen Paul SCHAEFER, David Young
  • Patent number: 11076127
    Abstract: Utilization of a state machine to determine participant framing. The states include empty room, group framing, any talker, conversation mode and unambiguous talker. In empty room state, the conference room is framed. In group framing state, any participants in the room are framed. In any talker state, the talking participant is framed. In conversation mode state, all talking participants are framed. In unambiguous talker state, the single talking participant is framed. Various framing conditions define transitions between the states. Conditions include, presence of participants, which and number of participants that are talking for how long, system mute and far site talking. The conversation states and conditions and framing decisions provide a fully automated framing mechanism to provide pleasant framing of the individuals in the near site or end for any of the conditions relating to number of talkers, participants and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Schaefer, Alain Elon Nimri, Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210099673
    Abstract: Scene changes that are done pleasingly and without user input or control. Based on the number of speakers and changes in speakers, either to a different individual or movement by the same speaker, based on the locations of the speakers and based on the overlap of the current and intended scenes, a decision is made whether to perform a smooth transition or do a cut. It has been determined that the decision on cut versus smooth transition is preferably based on the location of the center of the intended new scene versus the boundaries of the current scene, a cut used if the center is outside the boundaries and a smooth transition if inside. If a smooth transition, an easing function, such as ease in ease out, is performed to change the scene. A preferred value for the smooth transition is to perform the transition over 8o frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, JR., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer
  • Patent number: 10904485
    Abstract: A method for determining camera framing in a teleconferencing system comprises a process loop which includes acquiring an audio-visual frame from a captured a video data frame; detecting objects and extracting image features of the objects within the video data frame, ingesting the audio-visual frame into a context-based audio-visual map in an intelligent manner, and selecting targets from within the map for inclusion in an audio-video stream for transmission to a remote endpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer, David Young
  • Patent number: 10778941
    Abstract: Scene changes that are done pleasingly and without user input or control. Based on the number of speakers and changes in speakers, either to a different individual or movement by the same speaker, based on the locations of the speakers and based on the overlap of the current and intended scenes, a decision is made whether to perform a smooth transition or do a cut. It has been determined that the decision on cut versus smooth transition is preferably based on the location of the center of the intended new scene versus the boundaries of the current scene, a cut used if the center is outside the boundaries and a smooth transition if inside. If a smooth transition, an easing function, such as ease in ease out, is performed to change the scene. A preferred value for the smooth transition is to perform the transition over 80 frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer