Communication System, Communication Device, And Computer Program

What is this patent about?

’464 is related to the field of video conferencing systems, specifically addressing the problem of how to best utilize multiple displays to enhance the viewing experience during a video conference. The background acknowledges the increasing use of video conferencing and the need to improve the visibility of displayed images, especially when sharing content like presentation materials.

The underlying idea behind ’464 is to dynamically manage the display of video streams and shared content across multiple screens. The system automatically switches the display configuration based on whether a user is sharing a document or other visual aid. When content is being shared, it's displayed on a secondary screen, and when sharing stops, the secondary screen is cleared, and the primary screen reverts to displaying the video feeds.

The claims of ’464 focus on a communication device connected to two displays and an image capturing device. The device transmits a local camera feed and receives a remote camera feed, as well as a third image (e.g., a shared document). The key aspect is the automatic control of the displays: when the supply of the third image ceases, the second display is automatically cleared, and the first display continues to show the local and remote camera feeds.

In practice, the communication device uses a transceiver to handle the transmission and reception of video and data streams. A display control circuit manages the output to the two displays. The system monitors the data stream for the presence of the 'third image' (shared content). When the stream ends, the display control circuit automatically reconfigures the displays, ensuring that the video conference participants are not left staring at a blank screen.

This approach differentiates itself from prior solutions by automating the display configuration. Instead of requiring the user to manually switch between different display modes, the system intelligently adapts to the content being shared. This automatic switching enhances the user experience by providing a seamless transition between video conferencing and content sharing, improving overall visibility and ease of use.