Patent ID: 7007236
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for manipulating a virtual object displayed on a video conference broadcast at a local and a remote location, the method comprising: a) generating with a remote processor a three-dimensional image of the virtual object overlaying a first video broadcast signal from a local video camera for display on a remote video monitor; b) generating with a local processor a three-dimensional image of the virtual object overlaying a second video broadcast signal from a remote video camera for display on a local video monitor; c) grabbing a portion of the virtual object displayed at one of the local and remote locations by placing a real object in close proximity to the portion of the displayed image to activate a touch-sensitive screen; and d) moving the real object while maintaining the real object in active coupling with the touch sensitive screen; and e) regenerating the three-dimensional image at each of the local and remote locations to correspond to the movement of the real object thereby providing the appearance to viewers at the local and remote locations that the real object is manipulating a virtual object.