Eye contact enabling device for video conferencing

Abstract

A device and system can physically position a camera lens between the eyes of the image of the person onscreen in a video conference. To position the lens, a mechanical device may position or move the camera lens. The mechanical device can include a movable armature that can move a small camera head (i.e., a lens with or without supporting electronics) from a first position of the computer monitor (e.g., the frame of the monitor) to a second position onscreen. The second position can place the lens near or over the image of the other party, for example, between the eyes of the onscreen image of the other party.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for conducting a video conference comprising:
 a computing system receiving an image of a distant user involved in the video conference;   a processor of the computing system determining a position on the image associated with a focal point of a local user involved in the video conference;   a processor determining where the position is located on a display of the computing system;   adjusting an acquisition of a second image of the local user to cause the local user to appear to focus on the focal point while conducting the video conference; and   sending a representation of the second image to the distant user.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the image of the distant user is of the distant user's face including eyes of the distant user. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the position is a location between the eyes in the face of the distant user. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the processor executing a facial recognition module to determine the location. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the location is substantially midway between the pupils of the eyes of the distant user. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein adjusting the acquisition of the second image comprises locating an image capture device in physical proximity to the focal point. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein locating the image capture device in physical proximity to the focal point comprises one of locating and moving the image of the distant user over the image capture device. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the image capture device is embedded in the display of the computing system. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein locating the image capture device in physical proximity to the focal point comprises moving an armature coupled to the image capture device to position the image capture device over the focal point. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein moving the armature comprises:
 rotating a hub at a first end of the armature to swing the armature through an arc over the display device; and   extending a telescoping member of the armature.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein adjusting an acquisition of a second image of the local user comprises:
 obtaining a third image from a first lens of the image capture device and a fourth image from a second lens of the image capture device; and   generating a composite image from the third and fourth images such that the composite image appears to focus on the focal point.   
     
     
         12 . A computing system configured to conduct a video conference, the computing system comprising:
 a network connection configured to:
 receive a first image of a distant user involved in the video conference; 
 send a representation of a second image, of a local user, to the distant user a display configured to display the first image; 
   an image capture device configured to:
 capture the second image; 
   a processor configured to:
 determine a position on the first image associated with a focal point of the local user involved in the video conference; 
 determine where the position is located on the display; and 
 adjust an acquisition of the second image of the local user to cause the local user to appear to focus on the focal point while conducting the video conference. 
   
     
     
         13 . The computing system according to  claim 12 , wherein the image of the distant user is of the distant user's face including eyes of the distant user, wherein the position is a location between the eyes in the face of the distant user, wherein the location is substantially midway between pupils of the eyes of the distant user, wherein the processor is further configured to execute a facial recognition module to determine the location. 
     
     
         14 . The computing system according to  claim 13 , wherein the image capture device is embedded in the display of the computing system, and the processor is configured to: locate the image capture device in physical proximity to the focal point by one of locating and moving the first image of the distant user over the image capture device. 
     
     
         15 . The computing system according to  claim 13 , wherein the image capture device comprises an armature configured to locate a lens of the image capture device in physical proximity to the focal point. 
     
     
         16 . The computing system according to  claim 15 , wherein the armature comprises:
 a hub coupled to a first end of the armature, the hub configured to swing the armature through an arc over the display device, wherein movement of the hub is automatically controlled by the processor; and   a telescoping member coupled to the hub, the telescoping member configured to extend a second end of the armature over a distance, wherein the lens is coupled to the second end of the armature, wherein movement of the telescoping member is automatically controlled by the processor.   
     
     
         17 . The computing system according to  claim 13 , wherein adjusting an acquisition of a second image of the local user comprises:
 obtaining a third image from a first lens of the image capture device and a fourth image from a second lens of the image capture device; and   generating a composite image from the third and fourth images such that the composite image appears to focus on the focal point.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium stored with instructions stored thereon that cause a computing system configured to execute a method for conducting a video conference, the method comprising:
 receiving an image of a distant user involved in the video conference;   determining a position on the image associated with a focal point of a local user involved in the video conference;   determining where the position is located on a display of the computing system;   adjusting an acquisition of a second image of the local user to cause the local user to appear to focus on the focal point while conducting the video conference; and   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 18 , wherein the image of the distant user is of the distant user's face including eyes of the distant user, wherein the position is a location between the eyes in the face of the distant user, wherein the location is substantially midway between the pupils of the eyes of the distant user, wherein adjusting the acquisition of the second image comprises locating an image capture device in physical proximity to the focal point. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 18 , wherein the image of the distant user is of the distant user's face including eyes of the distant user, wherein the position is a location between the eyes in the face of the distant user, wherein the location is substantially midway between the pupils of the eyes of the distant user, wherein adjusting an acquisition of a second image of the local user comprises:
 obtaining a third image from a first lens of the image capture device and a fourth image from a second lens of the image capture device; and   generating a composite image from the third and fourth images such that the composite image appears to focus on the focal point.