IP Library Granted Patent US 12669970
Granted Patent B2
US 12669970 · App. 18/723,898 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Image transmission system and image transmission apparatus

Inventors: Yuudai Asai (Chiyoda-ku, JP); Sae Kimura (Chiyoda-ku, JP)
Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
G06F3/14G06F3/013
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12669970
App. No.
18/723,898
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first image capture apparatus captures a first image of a performer in a theater from a position of a virtual first seat that has been set in the theater. A second image capture apparatus captures a second image including the performer from a position different from the position of the first image capture apparatus. A detector detects a direction of line of sight of the performer. A transmission controller transmits the second image to a terminal apparatus of a viewer associated with the virtual first seat, and transmit the first image to the terminal apparatus based on the direction of the line of sight of the performer having turned toward the virtual first seat.

Claims (38)

1 . An image transmission system comprising:

a first image capture apparatus configured to capture a first image of a performer in a real space from a position of a virtual first seat that has been set in the real space;

a second image capture apparatus configured to capture a second image including the performer from a position different from the position of the first image capture apparatus; and

processing circuitry configured to

transmit the second image to a terminal apparatus of a viewer associated with the virtual first seat; and

detect a direction of line of sight of the performer,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit the first image to the terminal apparatus based on the direction of the line of sight of the performer having turned toward the virtual first seat.

2 . The image transmission system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a movement mechanism configured to move the first image capture apparatus,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the movement mechanism,

the real space has a virtual second seat at a position different from the position of the virtual first seat, and

the processing circuitry is configured to cause the movement mechanism to move the first image capture apparatus between the virtual first seat and the virtual second seat based on the direction of the line of sight of the performer detected by the detector.

3 . The image transmission system according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect the direction of the line of sight of the performer based on the second image.

4 . The image transmission system according to claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit an alert to the terminal apparatus substantially at a same time as a time when the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus, or before the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus.

5 . The image transmission system according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit an alert to the terminal apparatus substantially at a same time as a time when the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus, or before the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus.

6 . The image transmission system according to claim 1 , wherein the first image capture apparatus is fixed at the position of the virtual first seat.

7 . The image transmission system according to claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect the line of sight of the performer based on the first image.

8 . The image transmission system according to claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit an alert to the terminal apparatus substantially at a same time as a time when the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus, or before the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus.

9 . The image transmission system according to claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit an alert to the terminal apparatus substantially at a same time as a time when the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus, or before the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus.

10 . The image transmission system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit an alert to the terminal apparatus substantially at a same time as a time when the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus, or before the first image is transmitted to the terminal apparatus.

11 . The image transmission system according to claim 1 ,

wherein:

the performer is either a first performer or a second performer performing with the first performer,

the processing circuitry is configured to receive a designation of the first performer or the second performer from the viewer,

the first image capture apparatus is configured to:

capture the first image with the first performer included, when the viewer designates the first performer, and

capture the first image with the second performer included, when the viewer designates the second performer,

the processing circuitry is configured to

detect line of sight of the first performer and line of sight of the second performer,

transmit the first image to the terminal apparatus based on a designation of the first performer by the viewer and based on the line of sight of the first performer having turned toward the virtual first seat, and

transmit the first image to the terminal apparatus based on a designation of the second performer by the viewer and based on the line of sight of the second performer having turned toward the virtual first seat.

12 . An image transmission apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

acquire a first image of a performer in a real space, the first image being captured by a first image capture apparatus from a position of a virtual first seat that has been set in the real space,

acquire a second image including the performer, the second image being captured by a second image capture apparatus from a position different from the position of the first image capture apparatus,

transmit the second image to a terminal apparatus of a viewer associated with the virtual first seat, and

detect a direction of line of sight of the performer,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit the first image to the terminal apparatus based on the line of sight of the performer having turned toward the virtual first seat.