US5844599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voice-following video system
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1997-08-06
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2017-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A voice-following video system for dynamically capturing the view of an active speaker includes a video camera, a position control system for the video camera, and one or more voice-activated emitters. A voice-activated emitter is associated with each potential speaker. As a person talks, the associated voice-activated emitter transmits a position signal. The position control system uses the position signal as a beacon to determine the location of the active speaker. The position control system then adjusts the pan and/or tilt of the video camera to bring the active speaker into the field of view and tracks that person's movements. In this manner, as one person stops speaking and another starts, the video camera is automatically repositioned, capturing the view of the active speaker.
Inventors
- 👤 John J. Hildin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/142; H04N7/15; H04N7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A system comprising: a video camera; a plurality of sound-activated position signal generators that indicate locations of the position signal generators by emitting respective position signals only when corresponding sound signals are detected, and not emitting the position signals when the corresponding sound signals are not detected, each of the position signal generators including: a sound detector that detects a sound signal, and a position signal emitter coupled to the sound detector that emits a position signal only when the sound detector detects the sound signal; a position signal detector capable of detecting the position signals from any of the position signal generators; and a video camera positioning device that points the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the position signal detector, the positioning device positioning the video camera to follow the locations of the position signal generators as the locations of the position signal generators change.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A system comprising: a video camera; a plurality of sound-activated position signal generators that indicate locations of the position signal generators by emitting respective position signals only when corresponding sound signals are detected, and not emitting the position signals when the corresponding sound signals are not detected, each of the position signal generators including: a sound detector that detects a sound signal, and a position signal emitter coupled to the sound detector that emits a position signal only when the sound detector detects the sound signal; a position signal detector capable of detecting the position signals from any of the position signal generators; and a video camera positioning device that points the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the position signal detector, the positioning device positioning the video camera to follow the locations of the position signal generators as the locations of the position signal generators change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the sound detector detects the sound signal by comparing a magnitude of the sound signal with a threshold value and by generating an active signal when the magnitude of the sound signal exceeds the threshold value, the active signal indicating that the sound signal is a voice signal, and the position signal emitter emitting the position signal when the active signal is generated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the sound detector comprises: a microphone that receives the sound signal; an amplifier coupled to the microphone that amplifies the received sound signal; and a thresholding device coupled to the amplifier, wherein the thresholding device performs said comparing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 3, wherein the thresholding device includes a band pass filter that is tuned to select only sound signal frequencies in a human voice frequency band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said position signal emitter comprises an infrared light emitter emitting an infrared beam as the position signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1, wherein each of the position signal generators further includes a position signal modulator coupled to the sound detector and the position signal emitter, the modulator modulating the sound signal onto the position signal to generate a modulated position signal, the modulated position signal being emitted by the position signal emitter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 6, wherein the modulator modulates the position signal by first modulating a carrier signal based on the sound signal and then modulating the position signal based on the modulated carrier signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising a demodulator coupled to the positioning device, the demodulator demodulating the modulated position signal received by the positioning device to reproduce the sound signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 1, wherein each of the position signal generators further includes a position signal modulator coupled to the sound detector and the position signal emitter, the modulator modulating the sound signal and the position signal to generate a modulated position signal wherein the sound signal is carried by the position signal, the modulated position signal being emitted by the position signal emitter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the video camera positioning device comprises: a controller coupled to the position signal detector that detects the locations of the position signal generators based on the position signals and generates a control signal based on the locations of the position signal generators; and a servo-controller coupled to the controller that positions the video camera based on the control signal in such a way that when each of the position signal generators is attached to an object, that object is maintained in a field of view of the video camera.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
156 words
A system for controlling a video camera, comprising: a plurality of sound-activated position signal generators, the position signal generators emitting position signals to indicate locations of respective position signal generators only when corresponding sound signals are detected and not emitting the position signals when the corresponding sound signals are not detected, each of the position signal generators including: a) a sound detector that detects the sound signal, and b) a position signal emitter emitting the position signal only when the sound detector detects sound signal; a position signal detector capable of detecting the position signals from any of the position signal generators; and a video camera positioning device that points the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the position signal detector, the positioning device positioning the video camera to follow one of the locations of the position signal generators as the one of the locations of the position signal generators changes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
156 words
A system for controlling a video camera, comprising: a plurality of sound-activated position signal generators, the position signal generators emitting position signals to indicate locations of respective position signal generators only when corresponding sound signals are detected and not emitting the position signals when the corresponding sound signals are not detected, each of the position signal generators including: a) a sound detector that detects the sound signal, and b) a position signal emitter emitting the position signal only when the sound detector detects sound signal; a position signal detector capable of detecting the position signals from any of the position signal generators; and a video camera positioning device that points the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the position signal detector, the positioning device positioning the video camera to follow one of the locations of the position signal generators as the one of the locations of the position signal generators changes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the sound detector detects the sound signal by comparing a magnitude of the sound signal with a threshold value, when the magnitude of the sound signal exceeds the threshold value, the sound detector generating an active signal, and receiving the sound signal as a voice signal, the position signal emitter of each of the position signal generators emitting the position signal only when the active signal is generated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the positioning device selects one of the position signal generators based on the emitted position signals, the positioning device positioning the video camera to follow a location of the selected one of the position signal generators, the positioning device maintaining an object attached to the selected one of the position signal generators in a field of view of the video camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the positioning device selects the one of the position signal generators based on a priority system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the positioning device filters the emitted position signals to remove short bursts of the emitted position signals, the priority system directing the positioning device to select one of the filtered emitted position signals that is first detected by the position signal detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 11, wherein each of the position signal generators further includes a position signal modulator coupled to the sound detector, the modulator modulating the position signal based on the sound signal to generate a modulated position signal, the position signal emitter emitting the modulated position signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising a demodulator coupled to the positioning device, the demodulator demodulating the modulated position signal emitted by the selected one of the position signal generators to reproduce a sound signal that corresponds to the selected one of the position signal generators.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 16, wherein the modulator modulates the position signal by first modulating a carrier signal based on the sound signal and then modulating the position signal based on the modulated carrier signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the position signal emitter comprises an infrared light emitting source for emitting the position signal.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
163 words
A system that automatically positions a video camera to follow an active speaker, comprising: position signal emitting means for emitting position signals only when corresponding voice signals of active speakers are detected and not emitting the position signals when the corresponding voice signals of the active speakers are not detected, the position signal emitting means including: a) sound signal detecting means for detecting a voice signal of an active speaker, b) emitting means coupled to the sound signal detecting means for emitting the position signals only when the sound signal detecting means detects the voice signal of the active speaker; position signal detecting means for detecting any of the position signals; and video camera positioning means for pointing the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the position signal detection means and for maintaining the active speaker in a field of view of the video camera by tracking the position signal as a location of the position signal changes.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
163 words
A system that automatically positions a video camera to follow an active speaker, comprising: position signal emitting means for emitting position signals only when corresponding voice signals of active speakers are detected and not emitting the position signals when the corresponding voice signals of the active speakers are not detected, the position signal emitting means including: a) sound signal detecting means for detecting a voice signal of an active speaker, b) emitting means coupled to the sound signal detecting means for emitting the position signals only when the sound signal detecting means detects the voice signal of the active speaker; position signal detecting means for detecting any of the position signals; and video camera positioning means for pointing the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the position signal detection means and for maintaining the active speaker in a field of view of the video camera by tracking the position signal as a location of the position signal changes.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for operating a system that controls a video camera, the method comprising: receiving emitted position signals which were emitted by position signal generators only when the position signal generators detected sound signals; detecting the emitted position signals emitted from any of the position signal generators; and pointing the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the detecting step such that the video camera is positioned to follow a location of one of the position signal generators as the location of one of the position signal generators changes.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for operating a system that controls a video camera, the method comprising: receiving emitted position signals which were emitted by position signal generators only when the position signal generators detected sound signals; detecting the emitted position signals emitted from any of the position signal generators; and pointing the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the detecting step such that the video camera is positioned to follow a location of one of the position signal generators as the location of one of the position signal generators changes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising detecting the sound signals using sound detectors of the position signal generators, and emitting a position signal when a sound signal is detected by one of the position signal generators.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the detecting step comprises: comparing a magnitude of the sound signals with a threshold value; generating an active signal corresponding to the sound signals that exceed the threshold value; and characterizing the sound signals that exceed the threshold value as voice signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the position signals correspond to the voice signals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising: selecting one of the position signal generators based on the emitted position signals; tracking a position signal emitted by the selected one of the position signal generators; and maintaining an object attached to the selected one of the position signal generators in a field of view of the video camera.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting the one of the position signal generators based on a priority system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising filtering the emitted position signals to remove short bursts of the emitted position signals, wherein the selecting step selects one of the position signal generators that 1) emitted a position signal, 2) corresponds to one of the filtered emitted position signals, and 3) corresponds to a position signal which is first detected by the detecting the emitted position signals step.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising modulating position signals of the position signal generators to generate modulated position signals, and emitting the modulated position signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising demodulating one of the modulated position signals that was emitted by a selected one of the position signal generators to reproduce a demodulated sound signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the modulating step comprises: modulating carrier signals based on the sound signals; and modulating the position signals based on the modulated carrier signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21, wherein each of the position signal generators includes an infrared light emitting source for emitting the emitted position signals.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for use with a video camera, comprising: a plurality of position signal generators that indicate locations of the position signal generators by emitting respective position signals only when sense signals are input to the position signal generators, each of the position signal generators including: a detector that detects a sense signal, and a position signal emitter coupled to the detector that emits a position signal only when the detector detects the sense signal; a position signal detector capable of detecting position signals from any of the position signal generators; and a video camera positioning device that points the video camera in a direction of one of the position signals detected by the position signal detector, the positioning device positioning the video camera to follow a location of one of the position signal generators as the location changes.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for use with a video camera, comprising: a plurality of position signal generators that indicate locations of the position signal generators by emitting respective position signals only when sense signals are input to the position signal generators, each of the position signal generators including: a detector that detects a sense signal, and a position signal emitter coupled to the detector that emits a position signal only when the detector detects the sense signal; a position signal detector capable of detecting position signals from any of the position signal generators; and a video camera positioning device that points the video camera in a direction of one of the position signals detected by the position signal detector, the positioning device positioning the video camera to follow a location of one of the position signal generators as the location changes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 32, wherein the position signal emitter comprises an infrared light emitter emitting an infrared beam as the position signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 32, wherein each of the position signal generators further includes a position signal modulator coupled to the detector and the position signal emitter, the modulator modulating the position signal based on the sense signal to generate a modulated position signal, the modulated position signal being emitted by the position signal emitter.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 34, wherein the modulator modulates the position signal by first modulating a carrier signal based on the sense signal and then modulating the position signal based on the modulated carrier signal.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 35, further comprising a demodulator coupled to the positioning device, the demodulator demodulating the modulated position signal received by the positioning device through the position signal detector to reproduce the sense signal.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
98 words
The system of claim 32, wherein the video camera positioning device comprises: a controller coupled to the position signal detector that determines the locations of the position signal generators based on the position signals and generates a control signal based on a location of one of the position signal generators; and a servo-controller coupled to the controller that positions the video camera based on the control signal in such a way that when the one of the position signal generators is attached to an object, that object is maintained in a field of view of the video camera.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for operating a system that controls a video camera, the method comprising: receiving emitted position signals which were emitted by position signal generators only when sensory inputs are detected; detecting the emitted position signals from any of the position signal generators; and pointing the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the detecting step such that the video camera is positioned to follow a location of one of the position signal generators as the location changes.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for operating a system that controls a video camera, the method comprising: receiving emitted position signals which were emitted by position signal generators only when sensory inputs are detected; detecting the emitted position signals from any of the position signal generators; and pointing the video camera in a direction of a position signal detected by the detecting step such that the video camera is positioned to follow a location of one of the position signal generators as the location changes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 38, further comprising: selecting one of the position signal generators based on the emitted position signals; tracking a position signal emitted by the selected one of the position signal generators; and maintaining an object attached to the selected one of the position signal generators in a field of view of the video camera.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38, further comprising modulating the position signals to generate modulated position signals, and emitting the modulated position signals.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 40, further comprising demodulating one of the modulated position signals that was emitted by the selected one of the position signal generators to reproduce a demodulated sensory input signal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38, wherein the position signal generators include an infrared light emitting source for emitting the position signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |