Patent ID: 7577913
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of using a fovea type pointer in a video conferencing system including at least two 2-dimensional display screens forming a common virtual surface between participants interacting with the at least two 2-dimensional display screens, the common virtual surface being formed from the at least two 2-dimensional display screens and being utilized as a 3-dimensional multi-way rocker for pivoting an image displayed on the common virtual surface in a 3-dimensional manner, the common virtual surface having a plurality of predefined and adjustable edge portions, each edge portion being designated as a respective rocker edge portion, and each respective rocker edge portion being designated as at least one of a pivot portion and a panel portion, the method of using the fovea type pointer in the video conferencing system comprising: exploiting a first rocker edge portion of the common virtual surface from a first 2-dimensional display screen at a location of a first participant by controlling the fovea type pointer to interact with the first rocker edge portion; revealing a hidden panel in relation to the image displayed on the common virtual surface that is formed from (i) the first 2-dimensional display screen at the location of the first participant and (ii) a second 2-dimensional display screen at a location of a second participant, in response to said exploiting of the first rocker edge portion, said revealing only occurring if the first rocker edge portion is designated as a panel portion; and pivoting the image displayed on the common virtual surface that is formed from (i) the first 2-dimensional display screen at the location of the first participant and (ii) the second 2-dimensional display screen at the location of the second participant, in response to said exploiting of the first rocker edge portion, such that the image displayed on the common virtual surface is pivoted in a 3-dimensional manner based on a location of the first rocker edge portion with respect to the common virtual surface, said pivoting occurring only if the first rocker edge portion is designated as a pivot portion, wherein, the fovea type pointer is a pointer that (i) reacts to gestures of the first or second participant to allow the first or second participant to manipulate the common virtual surface and (ii) provides a well-defined center area surrounded by a blurred edge, wherein, when said pivoting of the image displayed on the common virtual surface occurs, the image displayed on the common virtual surface is pivoted such that (i) a new portion of the displayed image or a new portion associated with the displayed image appears on the first and second 2-dimensional display screens, (ii) the new portion of the displayed image or associated with the displayed image appears on the first and second 2-dimensional display screens in a manner that provides an appearance that the new portion pivots from a third dimension and into a 2-dimensional plane formed by each 2-dimensional display screen, and (iii) a previously visible portion of the image pivots in relation to the appearance of the new portion of the displayed image or associated with the new image, and wherein, when the image displayed on each 2-dimensional display screen is pivoted, an axis, around which the image displayed on the respective 2-dimensional display screens rotates, extends in a direction relative to the location of the first rocker edge portion such that the new portion of the displayed image or associated with the displayed image is closer to the first rocker edge portion than the previously visible portion of the image.