IP Library Granted Patent US 10,659,728
Granted Patent B2
US 10,659,728 · App. 16/099,812 · Granted May 19, 2020

Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Inventors: Yusuke Sakai (Kanagawa, JP); Daisuke Miki (Tokyo, JP); Atsushi Izumihara (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
H04N7/147G06F3/013G06T1/00G06T7/70H04M3/56H04N5/2628H04N7/15G06K9/00597G06T2207/10016G06T2207/30201H04N5/445
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,659,728
App. No.
16/099,812
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an information processing apparatus including a receiving section that receives a captured image of a video communication partner from a communication destination apparatus and a control section that controls a display of the received captured image on a display section. The control section executes image processing to display the captured image such that a line of sight of a communication partner appearing in the captured image appears to point towards a user looking at the display section, on a basis of information indicating that the communication partner appearing in the captured image is looking at the user being displayed on the communication destination apparatus.

Claims (77)

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a receiving section configured to:

receive a captured image of a video communication partner from a communication destination apparatus; and

receive first information indicating a gaze of the video communication partner is at a user of the information processing apparatus, wherein the user is displayed on the communication destination apparatus; and

a control section configured to:

control a display screen to display the received captured image;

determine a line of sight of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image is misaligned with a line of sight of the user; and

execute an image process on the displayed captured image such that the line of sight of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image point towards the user, wherein

a gaze of the user is at the display screen, and

the execution of the image process is based on the first information and the determination that the line of sight of the video communication partner in the captured image is misaligned with the line of sight of the user.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control section is further configured to process at least one of a position of a pupil, positions of both eyes, or a direction of a head in a face image of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image to point forward.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a transmitting section configured to transmit a captured image of the user to the communication destination apparatus, wherein the transmitted captured image indicates that the gaze of the user is at the display screen.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control section is further configured to:

detect the line of sight of the user with respect to the display screen;

compute a gaze position of the user on the display screen based on the detected line of sight of the user;

compare the computed gaze position and a region around an eye of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image;

determine the gaze of the user is at the video communication partner; and

control transmission of second information, indicating that the gaze of user is at the video communication partner, to the communication destination apparatus based on the determination that the gaze of the user is at the video communication partner.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the control section is further configured to:

determine the line of sight of the video communication partner is in alignment with the line of sight of the user; and

control transmission of third information, indicating that the line of sight of the user is in alignment with the line of sight of the video communication partner, to the communication destination apparatus,

wherein the transmission of the third information is based on the determination that the line of sight of the video communication partner is in alignment with the line of sight of the user.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the receiving section is further configured to:

receive a plurality of captured images of a plurality of video communication partners from a plurality of communication destination apparatuses, wherein each of the plurality of captured images corresponds to a respective video communication partner of the plurality of video communication partners; and

the control section is further configured to:

control the display screen to display the plurality of captured images;

determine the gaze of the user is at a specific video communication partner of the plurality of video communication partners displayed on the display screen; and

control synchronization of fourth information, indicating the gaze of the user is at the specific video communication partner, between the plurality of communication destination apparatuses,

wherein the synchronization is based on the determination that the gaze of the user is at the specific video communication partner.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the control section is further configured to process at least one of a position of a pupil, positions of both eyes, or a direction of a head of each of a first video communication partner of the plurality of video communication partners and a second video communication partner of the plurality of video communication partners such that a line of sight of the first video communication partner is in alignment with a line of sight of the second video communication partner.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the control section is further configured to:

control the display screen to display a materials image;

compare the computed gaze position of the user on the display screen and the materials image displayed on the display screen,

determine that the gaze of the user is at the materials image based on the comparison of the computed gaze position and the materials image; and

control transmission of third information, indicating that the gaze of the user is at the materials image, to the communication destination apparatus, wherein the transmission of the third information is based on the determination that the gaze of the user is at the materials image.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the receiving section is further configured to receive fourth information indicating that the gaze of the video communication partner displayed on the display screen is at the materials image, and

the control section is further configured to control the display screen, to display a notification display, based on the fourth information, wherein

the notification display indicates a position on the materials image, and

the position on the displayed materials image corresponds to the gaze of the video communication partner.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the receiving section is further configured to receive second information indicating the gaze of the video communication partner is away from the user, and

the control section is further configured to process the line of sight of the video communication partner, in the displayed captured image to point away from a forward direction, based on the second information.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication section configured to receive the first information from a server.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the communication section is further configured to transmit, to the server, second information related to the line of sight of the user with respect to the display screen.

13. An information processing method, comprising:

receiving a captured image of a video communication partner from a communication destination apparatus;

receiving information indicating a gaze of the video communication partner is at a user, wherein the user is displayed on the communication destination apparatus;

controlling a display screen to display the received captured image;

determining a line of sight of the video communication partner in the captured image is misaligned with a line of sight of the user; and

executing an image process on the displayed captured image such that the line of sight of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image point towards the user, wherein

a gaze of the user is at the display screen, and

the execution of the image process is based on the information and the determination that the line of sight of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image is misaligned with the line of sight of the user.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor of an information processing apparatus, cause the processor to execute operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a captured image of a video communication partner from a communication destination apparatus;

receiving information indicating a gaze of the video communication partner is at a user of the information processing apparatus, wherein the user is displayed on the communication destination apparatus;

controlling a display screen to display the received captured image;

determining a line of sight of the video communication partner in the captured image is misaligned with a line of sight of the user; and

executing an image process on the displayed captured image such that the line of sight of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image point towards the user, wherein

a gaze of the user is at the display screen, and

the execution of the image process is based on the information and the determination that the line of sight of the video communication partner in the displayed captured image is misaligned with the line of sight of the user.

15. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a receiving section configured to:

receive a captured image of a video communication partner from a communication destination apparatus; and

receive information indicating that a gaze of the video communication partner is at a materials image; and

a control section configured to:

control a display screen to:

display the received captured image;

display the materials image;

display a first notification display on the display of the received captured image based on the received information, wherein the first notification display indicates that the gaze of the video communication partner is at the materials image; and

display a second notification display, on the display of the materials image, based on the received information, wherein

the second notification display indicates a position on the displayed materials image, and

the position on the displayed materials image corresponds to the gaze of the video communication partner.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2018
From: SAKAI, YUSUKE; MIKI, DAISUKE; IZUMIHARA, ATSUSHI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047451/0555 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-099565 · May 18, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190110023A1 · Apr 11, 2019