Using an avatar in a videoconferencing system
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for videoconferencing using an avatar are described. The presence of a user may be detected by analyzing video captured by a digital camera. The avatar may be provided to a remote device to represent the detected user.
1. A method for initiating videoconferences, the method comprising:
receiving, at a processing circuit, video data and audio data of an environment associated with a first device;
determining, by the processing circuit, presence of a first device user in the environment based on at least one of the video data and the audio data;
identifying, by the processing circuit, the first device user based on at least one of the video data and the audio data;
selecting, by the processing circuit, an avatar that represents the first device user in response to identifying the first device user; and
causing, by the processing circuit, a videoconference to be initiated between the first device and a second device by presenting display data that includes the selected avatar to the second device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating an image representative of the video data from the environment associated with the first device;
causing the image to be presented on the second device.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
generating an updated image that renders the avatar that represents the first device user in the image of the environment; and
causing the image to be replaced with the updated image on the second device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the updated image is generated in response to determining the presence of the first device user.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the updated image is generated in response to detecting movements of the first device user within the environment based on the video data.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that a command for initiating the videoconference has been received, wherein the videoconference is initiated in response to determining that the command has been received.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the command is a gesture from the first device user detected from the video data or from a second device user detected from video data associated with the second device.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the command is a voice command from the first device user detected from the video data or from a second device user detected from video data associated with the second device.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising replacing the display data that includes the selected avatar with the video data in response to determining that the command has been received.
10. A system for initiating videoconferences comprising a processing circuit configured to:
receive video data and audio data of an environment associated with a first device;
determine presence of a first device user in the environment based on at least one of the video data and the audio data;
identify the first device user based on at least one of the video data and the audio data;
select an avatar that represents the first device user in response to identifying the first device user; and
cause a videoconference to be initiated between the first device and a second device by presenting display data that includes the selected avatar to the second device.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
generate an image representative of the video data from the environment associated with the first device;
cause the image to be presented on the second device.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
generate an updated image that renders the avatar that represents the first device user in the image of the environment; and
cause the image to be replaced with the updated image on the second device.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the updated image is generated in response to determining the presence of the first device user.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the updated image is generated in response to detecting movements of the first device user within the environment based on the video data.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine that a command for initiating the videoconference has been received, wherein the videoconference is initiated in response to determining that the command has been received.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the command is a gesture from the first device user detected from the video data or from a second device user detected from video data associated with the second device.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the command is a voice command from the first device user detected from the video data or from a second device user detected from video data associated with the second device.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising replacing the display data that includes the selected avatar with the video data in response to determining that the command has been received.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for initiating videoconferences, the method comprising:
receiving video data and audio data of an environment associated with a first device;
determining presence of a first device user in the environment based on at least one of the video data and the audio data;
identifying the first device user based on at least one of the video data and the audio data;
selecting an avatar that represents the first device user in response to identifying the first device user; and
causing a videoconference to be initiated between the first device and a second device by presenting display data that includes the selected avatar to the second device.