Appeal 2007-0762
Application 09/822,121
Appellants’ invention relates to a method and apparatus for video
conferencing in which a speaker in the conference is automatically located
by processing both the audio and the video signals. Once located, the
camera can focus on the speaker by electronically panning, tilting and
zooming the image. In the words of the Appellants:
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a
video conferencing system using an array of two microphones and a
stationary camera to automatically locate a speaker and electronically
manipulate the video image to produce the effect of a movable pan tilt
zoom ("PTZ") camera.
(Specification 1).
Claim 1 is exemplary:
1. A video conferencing system comprising:
a stationary image pickup device, remaining motionless during
operation, for generating image signals representative of an image;
an audio pickup device for generating audio signals representative of
sound from an audio source; and
means for processing said image signals and said audio signals to
determine a direction of the audio source relative to a reference point,
the determination of direction depending at least at times on the image
signals.
The prior art relied upon by the Examiner in rejecting the claims on
appeal is:
Baker US 5,686,957 Nov. 11, 1997
Chu US 5,788,082 Jul. 7, 1998
Malkin US 6,704,048 B1 Mar. 9, 2004
(filed Aug. 27, 1998)
Potts WO 99/60788 Nov. 25, 1999
2
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