Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/14—Systems for two-way working
  • H04N7/141—Systems for two-way working between two video terminals, e.g. videophone
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
  • H04L12/1813—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms
  • H04L12/1822—Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/14—Systems for two-way working
  • H04N7/15—Conference systems

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and a system of meetings for connecting persons wishing to perform encounters, via a synchronous telecommunication system in the form of a virtual environment to which they are each connected via a communication terminal connected to a communication network.
• the invention fits more specifically in the general context of "speed dating” (anglicism literally meaning “quick encounters”) proposing a method of quick dating and serial.
• speed dating is a meeting mode in which people who are likely to correspond to each other, seek to meet through interviews at the head-to -head.
• This type of meeting is generally organized by establishments (cafes, restaurants, bars, ...), most often to attract a clientele of single people.
• a second disadvantage, induced by the former, is that the panel of natural persons likely to participate in a "speed dating" session is necessarily limited to people geographically close to the chosen meeting place. which limits the rate of luck for the latter to find the soul mate.
• each physical person is represented by an avatar through which they can interact, in a reserved virtual space, with the avatar of another physical person with whom they wish to be put in contact during a predetermined duration.
• the present invention provides a solution that does not have the disadvantages mentioned above.
• the invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a method for revealing or masking progressively on the terminal of each of the persons put into relation in the context of a virtual "quick encounter” session, a visual representation of the other person, as and when and according to the evolution of the exchanges and the feelings of the people during this session, respectively. It is indeed by means of the present invention, to allow each person to get a clear idea, as well of the personality of his interlocutor as the physical image of it, gradually and over the duration assigned for the virtual "quick meeting" session, which will enable each of them to choose objectively if they wish to go further in their relationship at the end of the session.
• the invention relates to a method of relating a first person to at least a second person in an environment to which said first and second persons are respectively connected by means of a first and a second connected terminal. each to a communication network (30).
• such a method advantageously comprises a progressive disclosure step of at least one graphical representation of a real appearance of the first person on said second terminal.
• the solution proposed is therefore to establish a link between the emotions and behavior of the participants in a virtual "quick meeting" session, and the progressive discovery of the graphic representation that is truly representative of the physical aspect of their interlocutors.
• the automatic adaptation and the resulting progressivity is a real innovation compared to the known systems of the prior art, the method and system according to the invention also contributing to making the connection between people, more natural and pleasant for these last, that is to say, to make it closer to what is happening in reality.
• said method further comprises a step of progressively disclosing at least one graphic representation of a real appearance of the second person on said first terminal.
• said disclosure step takes into account the result of a step of supervising a communication between said first and second persons within said environment, said supervision step being executed dynamically for a predetermined duration of time.
• said environment being in the form of a virtual environment in which said first and second persons are respectively represented by a first and a second avatar
• said supervision step is a detection step an evolution of behavior of said first avatar with respect to said second avatar and / or said second avatar with respect to said first avatar, within said virtual environment.
• said first and second terminals being respectively connected to gesture recording devices of said first and second physical persons for restitution by said first and second avatars, said behavioral change is detected by gesture recognition. particular associated with the first or second physical person and registered by said recording devices, respectively.
• At least one graphic transform is applied to reveal said graphical representation representative of an actual image of said first person, respectively of said second person, displayed on said second terminal, respectively on said first terminal, and in that, in the case of a negative evolution of said connection, an inverse graphic transform of said graphic transform is applied, to mask said representative graphical representation of a real image of said first person respectively said second person, displayed on said second terminal, respectively on said first terminal.
• said graphic transform implements a step of depixellizing said graphic representation.
• said graphic transform and said inverse graphic transform take account of at least one piece of information representing the time remaining before said predetermined duration has elapsed.
• the invention also relates to a system for relating a first person to at least a second person in an environment to which said first and second persons are respectively connected by means of a first and a second terminal, each connected to a first and a second terminal.
• communication network advantageously comprises: "means for establishing a relationship between said first and second persons via said environment;” means for progressively disclosing at least one graphic representation of a real appearance of the first person on said second terminal.
• such a system further comprises means for progressively disclosing at least one graphic representation of a real appearance of the second person on said first terminal.
• said progressive disclosure means takes into account, as input parameter, at least one piece of information representative of an evolution of said linking between said first and second persons within said environment, said information being produced by dynamic supervision means activated for a predetermined duration of connection.
• said environment being in the form of a virtual environment in which said first and second persons are represented respectively by a first and a second avatar
• said supervision means are means for detecting a change in behavior of said first avatar with respect to said second avatar and / or said second avatar with respect to said first avatar, inside said virtual environment.
• said first and second terminals being respectively connected to gesture recording devices of said first and second physical persons for restitution by said first and second avatars
• said system advantageously comprises detection means capable of recognizing at least one particular gesture associated with the first or second physical person, respectively, and representative of a change in behavior.
• each of said first and second terminals comprises means for indicating an instantaneous mood state operable by said first and second persons respectively, said mood state of each of said first and second persons being taken into account by said means. supervisory system for detecting an evolution in said linking.
• the invention also relates to a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer readable and / or executable information medium by a microprocessor.
• a computer program product comprises code instructions for executing a connection method according to the aforementioned method, when it is executed on a computer.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a system according to the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a system for putting people into contact with one another according to the invention in a preferred embodiment
• Fig. 3 shows, in flow chart form, the main steps of a person-to-person matching method according to the invention in a preferred embodiment
• a real world 10 may be composed of users 12, most often geographically distant and each equipped with an immersion system 11 in a virtual environment (or world) composed of avatars 22, within which each real world avatar 22 represents one of the real world users 12.
• an immersion system 11 may take the form of a computer terminal, or any other communication terminal, connected to a server hosting the virtual world via a network. 30 of communication.
• a server 40 also has the function of supervising, coordinating, controlling, broadcasting or even memorizing the events triggered within the virtual world by the different avatars operating in the virtual world.
• a user 12 of the real world 10 is represented by an avatar 22.
• a user 12 can therefore "pilot" in real time the behavior of his avatar to make him move, to move, to make it interact with some other avatars of the virtual world, through its terminal 11.
• the video capture device connected to said terminal can simultaneously transcribe mimicry and gestures, more generally a user behavior filmed on his avatar evolving inside the virtual world.
• the gesture and more generally the behavior of an avatar can be supervised and analyzed continuously, which allows in particular a supervision and an interpretation of the behavior of each avatar, to from mimics or gestures predefined detected at the level of these.
• each user 12i, 12 2 of the real world 10 respectively has an immersive system H 1 , II 2 , for example a communication terminal, to control an avatar representing it inside a shared virtual world 20, for example a virtual world adapted for meetings of the "quick encounters" type, between individuals 12i, 12 2 .
• 3I 1 , 3I 2 video capture devices respectively connected to the terminals
• H 1 , H 2 each capture a view of the users 12i and 12 2 to retranscribe the behaviors and attitudes of the latter on the avatars respectively associated with them within the shared virtual environment of "quick encounters".
• sequences thus captured are analyzed by a server 40 for managing and controlling what happens inside said virtual environment, so as to allow a recognition of mimic or gestures predefined, for example representative of a state of the art. mood of the different participants in a virtual "quick encounter" session.
• the discovery of its graphical representation is carried out at a constant speed and in a progressive manner over the predetermined duration of a session of "quick encounters".
• the method according to the invention also provides for the display of the graphical representation 32i, 32 2 of at least one of the two participants 12i, 12 2 to a virtual "quick encounter" session, on the terminal H 1 , 11 2 the other participant may be masked or covered gradually, depending on whether the in relation to the two participants would evolve positively or negatively over the predetermined duration assigned to the virtual "quick meetings" session.
• the invention does not apply only to virtual environments adapted for a meeting, for example between single persons, such as "quick meetings", but that it can be applied to any virtual environment ( 2D or 3D) in which progressive discovery functionalities of a graphical representation of a specific person or object taking into account at least certain categories of parameters, for example emotions associated with a natural person, must be implemented.
• the invention can notably be applied effectively to any other type of online application service, for example of the type of remote hiring interview.
• the invention is implemented using the stream of the video capture device 31 1 , 3I 2 , for example a camera of the webcam type, which has the function of retranscribing the gestures and / or faces mimicry and / or the attitudes of a physical person 12i, 12 2 connected to the virtual environment of "quick encounters", by means of his communication terminal H 1 , l 2 of immersion device, on his 2D or 3D avatar the representative) inside said virtual environment.
• the user's emotional attitudes (behavior, gestures, attitudes, mimicry of the face, etc.) are thus detected, either directly by analysis of the video stream, or by interpretation of the latter with his avatar on which they will have been previously transcribed .
• a variable pixelation is obtained by applying a convolution on the pixels composing the image and applying the result of this convolution to the image of a first person (or more generally to a graphical representation of one person) displayed on the terminal of the second person participating in the "Quick Meetings" virtual session.
• the parameters of convolution vary depending on the emotional setting detected. For example, by enlarging the size of the convolution matrix, the blur increases.
• the emotional parameters detected may be of the type belonging to the following group, or a combination of these:
• the linking system according to the invention furthermore comprises:
• a control 33 automatically or manually two interruption / tracking / acceleration / deceleration of the change in the 32i image graphic representation of a first individual 12i seen by a second individual
• an automatic or manual control 33i interrupt / pursuit / acceleration / slowing of the modification of the graphical representation 32i of the image of a first individual 12i seen by a second individual 12 2 during the session of Virtual "fast encounters", said command 32i taking into account the time elapsed for the session of "quick encounters" and at least one parameter representative of a mood state of said first or second individual 12i or 12 2 ;
• the translation of such a change in mood could be achieved by an automatic or manual movement of a cursor 33i, 33 2 mood connected to the terminal H 1 or II 2 respectively, and adapted for each of the physical persons 12i or 12 2 can control and / or modify according to his own mood state, the instant mood state that he wishes to assign to his avatar moving within the virtual environment of "quick encounters".
• a video stream capture device 101 transmits images and sounds of the user permanently.
• a container 300 for example a file or a database, contains conditions 301 to be filled in to deduce an emotion. For example a spacing of the corners of the lips and the fact that the teeth are apparent in the image, can be interpreted as the occurrence of a smile representative of a state of joy of the person.
• the processing method 102 analyzes the video stream 501 and determines the appearance of emotion using the rules 301 from the container 300. An emotion occurrence 502 is sent to the method 103 when it is detected.
• a container 400 for example a file or a database, contains n-tuples 401 whose first element is an emotion and the second element is a modification of its graphical representation in the virtual world 20.
• n-tuples 401 whose first element is an emotion and the second element is a modification of its graphical representation in the virtual world 20.
• the processing method 103 decides which action 504i (second element) is to be sent to the piloted interface 104.
• a piloted interface 104 controls the discovery of the graphical representation of the user to his interlocutor. For example, more or less pronounced blur of his photograph.
• the driven interface 104 causes the discovery of the graphical representation of the user progressively as a function of the elapsed time, on the terminal of the other interlocutor.
• Each emotion that corresponds to the first element of a tuple 401 stored in the container 400 triggers in the virtual world a modification 504i or 504 2 of its graphical representation on the piloted interface 104 corresponding to the second element of the n-tuple 401.
• a smile causes a situation "accelerating the discovery of its graphical representation” by reducing the vagueness, while a movement or a state of anger will cause a slowdown in the discovery of the graphic representation of the angry person displayed on the terminal of the other person with whom she is in contact.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
• Processing Or Creating Images (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 2007
  • 2007-06-22 FR FR0755954A patent/FR2917931A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2008
  • 2008-06-19 WO PCT/FR2008/051100 patent/WO2009007568A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2008-06-19 US US12/663,043 patent/US20100146052A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-06-19 EP EP08806034A patent/EP2158762A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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