Virtual meeting system and method for facilitating eye contact

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for facilitating eye contact in a virtual meeting system where at least one of the meeting participants drags and drops a window of a projected image of another remote meeting participant to a location on a portion of a two-way mirror so that said projected image is along a line of sight and between the viewer and a camera disposed behind the two-way mirror.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for facilitating eye contact during remote video meetings comprising:
 a video meeting top member having a first lower portion;   a video meeting base member having a rear portion configured for mating with said first lower portion; and   said video meeting top member having:   a camera;   a mirror being supported by a mirror support and   said video meeting base member having:
 a structure for engaging and orienting display equipment so that light emanating from a viewing screen on said display equipment is incident upon said mirror, so that light originating from said display equipment and reflected toward a viewer on a visual sight line has a predetermined relationship with said viewing screen. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said visual sight line is not exactly parallel with said viewing screen. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said visual sight line is substantially parallel with said viewing screen. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said camera has a central axis of orientation which is not exactly parallel with said viewing screen. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said central axis of orientation is substantially parallel with said viewing screen. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said camera is adjustable with respect to said visual sight line. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  where said camera is configured with a means for changing said central axis of orientation in response to received electronic commands. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  where said camera is configured with a ball in a socket coupler. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of adjustable legs which are configured to make adjustments for a viewer's eye location. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said relationship between said visual sight line and said viewing screen is fixed. 
     
     
         11 . A method of facilitating eye contact in virtual meeting systems comprising the steps of:
 provide a top structure;   provide a base structure;   attach a camera to said top structure;   place display equipment in the base structure with viewing screen facing a first direction; and   operate image transformation software configured to compensate for viewing of a reflected image.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said top structure includes a removable mirror support cover to provide access to said camera. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 removing said removable mirror support cover and making adjustments to said camera. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of providing a visual alignment reference to aid in placing an image of a remotely located meeting participant directly in a line of sight between the camera and a location of a viewer's eyes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising changing a central axis of orientation of the camera to facilitate eye contact as the location of a viewer's eyes may change as the viewer shift at least one of head and body orientation and location. 
     
     
         16 . A system for facilitating eye contact during remote video meetings comprising:
 a video meeting first member having a first portion;   a video meeting second member having a second portion configured for mating with said first portion; and   said video meeting first member or said video meeting second member having:
 a camera; 
 a mirror; and 
 said video meeting second member having:
 a structure for engaging and orienting display equipment so that light emanating from a viewing screen on said display equipment is incident upon said mirror, so that light originating from said display equipment and reflected toward a viewer on a visual sight line has a predetermined relationship with said viewing screen. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a means for providing a visual alignment reference to aid in placing an image of a remotely located meeting participant directly in a line of sight between the camera and a location of a viewer's eyes. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a means for changing a central axis of orientation of the camera to facilitate eye contact as the location of a viewer's eyes may change as the viewer shift at least one of head and body orientation and location. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said means for changing a central axis of orientation comprises a ball in socket coupler. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said means for changing a central axis of orientation comprises an electronic directional adjustment system.