IP Library Granted Patent US 12,726,592
Granted Patent B1
US 12,726,592 · App. 18/139,129 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Webcam capture for collaboration

Inventors: William Joseph Lawrence, Jr. (Cincinnati, OH); Thomas William Noble (Murfreesboro, TN)
Assignee: Zoom Communications, Inc.
H04N7/157G06T7/70G06V10/25H04N7/147H04N7/152
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,726,592
App. No.
18/139,129
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

In some implementations, techniques may include receiving, by a computing device that is participating in a virtual conference, a request to capture a virtual copy of a physical object. In addition, the techniques may include presenting, by the computing device and via a graphical user interface, a targeted area corresponding to a physical position in a field of view of an optical input component. The techniques may include capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object using the optical input component. Moreover, the techniques may include sharing, by the computing device, the virtual copy with one or more participants of the virtual conference. The techniques disclosed herein may include corresponding methods, systems, and computer readable non-transitory media.

Claims (59)

1 . A method of comprising:

receiving, by a computing device that is participating in a virtual conference, a request to capture a virtual copy of a physical object from a video feed that is captured by an optical input component of the computing device;

presenting, by the computing device, a graphical user interface comprising a representation of the video feed, the video feed comprising a virtual conference participant against a first background, the first background configured to obscure a region surrounding the virtual conference participant and comprising a target area that is not obscured for capturing the physical object, the target area comprising a second background that is different from the first background;

capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object by capturing one or more images of the targeted area from the video feed; and

sharing, by the computing device, the virtual copy with one or more participants of the virtual conference, comprising:

storing the virtual copy to a storage device of a virtual conference provider; and

providing an address identifying the virtual copy to a persistent virtual work environment.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the capturing further comprises:

detecting, by the computing device, the physical object in the target area of the video feed; and

in response to the detecting, capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object using the optical input component.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the capturing further comprises:

detecting, by the computing device, a trigger signal; and

in response to the detecting, capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object using the optical input component.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual copy comprises at least one of:

a two-dimensional representation of the physical object; and

a three-dimensional representation of the physical object.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical input component is an array of cameras configured to capture a three-dimensional representation of the physical object.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is participating in the virtual conference if the computing device has granted permission for the computing device to attend the virtual conference.

7 . The method of claim 1 , where in the shared virtual copy is configured to be manipulated in response to commands from client devices of the one or more participants of the virtual conference.

8 . A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

receive, by a computing device that is participating in a virtual conference, a request to capture a virtual copy of a physical object from a video feed that is captured by an optical input component of the computing device;

present, by the computing device, a graphical user interface comprising a representation of the video feed, the video feed comprising a virtual conference participant against a first background, the first background configured to obscure a region surrounding the virtual conference participant and comprising a target area that is not obscured for capturing the physical object, the target area comprising a second background that is different from the first background;

capture, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object by capturing one or more images of the targeted area from the video feed; and

share, by the computing device, the virtual copy with one or more participants of the virtual conference, comprising:

storing the virtual copy to a storage device of a virtual conference provider; and

providing an address identifying the virtual copy to a persistent virtual work environment.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the capturing further comprises:

detecting, by the computing device, the physical object in the target area of the video feed; and

in response to the detecting, capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object using the optical input component.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the capturing further comprises:

detecting, by the computing device, a trigger signal; and

in response to the detecting, capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object using the optical input component.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual copy comprises at least one of:

a two-dimensional representation of the physical object; and

a three-dimensional representation of the physical object.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical input component is an array of cameras configured to capture a three-dimensional representation of the physical object.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the computing device is participating in the virtual conference if the computing device has granted permission for the computing device to attend the virtual conference.

14 . The system of claim 8 , where in the shared virtual copy is configured to be manipulated in response to commands from client devices of the one or more participants of the virtual conference.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions of, the set of instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to:

receive, by a computing device that is participating in a virtual conference, a request to capture a virtual copy of a physical object from a video feed that is captured by an optical input component of the computing device;

present, by the computing device, a graphical user interface comprising a representation of the video feed, the video feed comprising a virtual conference participant against a first background, the first background configured to obscure a region surrounding the virtual conference participant and comprising a target area that is not obscured for capturing the physical object, the target area comprising a second background that is different from the first background;

capture, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object by capturing one or more images of the targeted area from the video feed; and

share, by the computing device, the virtual copy with one or more participants of the virtual conference, comprising:

storing the virtual copy to a storage device of a virtual conference provider; and

providing an address identifying the virtual copy to a persistent virtual work environment.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the capturing further comprises:

detecting, by the computing device, the physical object in the target area of the video feed; and

in response to the detecting, capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object using the optical input component.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 ,

wherein the capturing further comprises:

detecting, by the computing device, a trigger signal; and

in response to the detecting, capturing, by the computing device, the virtual copy of the physical object using the optical input component.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the virtual copy comprises at least one of:

a two-dimensional representation of the physical object; and

a three-dimensional representation of the physical object.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the optical input component is an array of cameras configured to capture a three-dimensional representation of the physical object.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where in the shared virtual copy is configured to be manipulated in response to commands from client devices of the one or more participants of the virtual conference.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 2, 2026
From: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: ZOOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075681/0553 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: LAWRENCE, WILLIAM JOSEPH, JR.; NOBLE, THOMAS WILLIAM
To: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063450/0138 →
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