Patent Publication Number: US-11652653-B1

Title: Conferencing between remote participants

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Various aspects of the present invention relate to the field of remote communications; more particularly, to systems and methods for providing a virtual environment associated with a video communication meeting between remote participants, such as videoconferencing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Communications between remote participants at different locations have long been facilitated through developments in video and audio conferencing applications and systems. Demand for video-conferencing systems have increased in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the gradual shift toward remote working environments. Many conference systems allow for video and audio communications between participants such that a participant at one location can see and hear other participants with minimal delay. 
     Existing video-conferencing platforms and associated software applications are unable to provide a realistic analog to an in-person meeting environment. Some existing solutions utilize virtual reality headsets to enhance the visual experience, but are still unable to provide the realistic analog desired by remote video conference participants. 
     It has been suggested that body language may account for between 60 to 65% of all communication. See Foley G N, Gentile J P. Nonverbal communication in psychotherapy. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010;7(6):38-44, at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2898840/. The ability to detect and view nonverbal indicators is largely tied to the extent that the communication experience closely mimics a real-life conference environment. 
     The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate the present field and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a video-conferencing system that is a realistic analog to an in-person meeting environment, and methods of remote communication using such a video conferencing system and apparatus. 
     These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims. It is to be understood that one, some, or all of the properties of the various embodiments described herein may be combined to form other embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various example embodiments may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is an raised side view of a video-conferencing system, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of the video-conferencing system of  FIG.  1   , consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of the video-conferencing system of  FIG.  1    while in use, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a front view of a video-conferencing screen, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates four remote users participating in a video conference, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6 A  illustrates an example top view of a virtual meeting environment of the video conference of  FIG.  5   , where each user is assigned a respective position within the environment, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6 B  illustrates an example top view of the possible setup for a virtual meeting of the video conference of  FIG.  5   , where each user is using a separate video-conferencing system, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7 A  is a top view of a video-conferencing system illustrating section and position markers that delineate a viewable area of a first participant in the video-conferencing system to a second participant, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7 B  is a top view of a video-conferencing system illustrating section and position markers that delineate a viewable area of the first participant in the video-conferencing system to a third participant, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7 C  is a top view of a video-conferencing system illustrating section and position markers that delineate a viewable area of the first participant in the video-conferencing system to a fourth participant, consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS.  8 A- 8 D  illustrate the generated display for each user participating in a video conference, where each of the respective generated displays include a composite representation of the other remote users participating in the video conference based upon the respective positions of each user within the virtual meeting environment (see, e.g.,  FIG.  6 A ), consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     While various embodiments discussed herein are amenable to modifications and alternative forms, aspects thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure including aspects defined in the claims. In addition, the term “example” as used throughout this application is only by way of illustration, and not limitation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to video-conferencing systems and apparatus enabling a realistic analog to an in-person meeting environment, and methods of communication using the video conferencing system and apparatus. 
       FIG.  1    is an isometric side view of a video-conferencing system  100  within a workspace  120  and  FIG.  2    is a top view of the video-conferencing system  100 . The system  100  includes a display  102 , also referred to herein as a screen. As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , screen  102  is a curved screen, and may be semi-circular in some embodiments. In the present embodiment, screen  102  extends approximately 180 degrees about a meeting participant  10 . By largely encompassing the participant&#39;s field of vision with the screen  102 , the resulting video-conferencing experience is greatly enhanced. In some embodiments, the screen  102  may extend less than, or more than, 180 degrees; for example, the screen may extend in a semi-circle between 120 and 240 degrees about the meeting participant. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , display  102  includes a plurality of cameras either embedded in the display or positioned within small apertures extending through the display. In the present embodiment, the plurality of cameras  103  form an array extending in at least a horizontal direction with the cameras (equally) spaced circumferentially about the display  102 . In some more specific embodiments the array of cameras  103  may extend vertically and horizontally about the display to facilitate users of varying heights and seating positions. In some embodiment, shutter speeds of the plurality of cameras  103  may vary in order to optimize image quality of a user when displayed by another participant&#39;s system  100 . As discussed in more detail below, the array of cameras facilitate capturing video from a plurality of angles of the meeting participant. The system  100  associates these varying angles of the camera array with varying perspectives of other meeting participants within a virtual meeting room of meeting participant  10 . 
     While the display  102  of  FIG.  1    is depicted as being self-supporting and/or free-standing, in some further embodiments the display  102  may be built into a wall of an office or conference room, or may be suspended from or appended to any surface. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  1   , the video-conferencing system  100  may also include one or more towers  104 , wherein the towers  104  may have one or more audio speakers or acoustic transducers  105  and/or light sources  106 . The towers  104  may be communicatively coupled to controller circuitry of the video-conferencing system and/or the display  102  in a wired or wireless manner. These towers, as shown in  FIG.  1   , may be positioned behind or over the shoulder of the participant  10  to provide both back-lighting via light sources  106  and surround audio via speakers  105  (either alone or in combination with additional forward facing speakers within the display  102 ). Further, in some embodiments, a top surface of display  102  may include one or more additional lighting sources  107 , as well as one or more speakers. When each participant of a meeting utilizes the video-conferencing system  100 , the consistent lighting provided by light sources  106  and  107  of each system facilitates a realistic analog to an in-person meeting environment by ensuring similar lighting of each participant within the resulting virtual meeting environment. In some specific embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more speakers may be embedded within the display  102 . 
     In yet other embodiments, each participant  10  of the system  100  may independently adjust the audio and lighting of their system as desired. For example, lighting  106 / 107  may be adjusted to compensate for low-lighting or over-saturation within workspace  120 . Back-end processing circuitry for the virtual meeting environment may also control the lighting  106 / 107  of individual participants&#39; systems  100  where video processing determines inconsistencies in lighting between the participants above a threshold which may negatively impact the immersive user experience. 
       FIG.  3    is a front view of video-conferencing system  100  of  FIG.  1    while in use, and  FIG.  4    is a front view of a video-conferencing screen  102 , consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , screen  102  may have a variable curvature such that screen  102  may largely encircle or surround participant  10 , or screen  102  may be planar. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, screen  102  may include a support structure so that it is self-supporting and provide a rigid curved shape. In alternative embodiments, the screen  102  may be supported using various means, such as a mount, a stand, shelving, tripod, hung from a ceiling, or other support means. The dimensions of screen  102  for a video-conferencing system  100  may vary based upon user preference, or physical size limitations for a given installation space (e.g., size of a workspace  120 ). In some specific embodiments, screen  102  may have a height of six feet. In some embodiments, the radius of the curve, the height, the angle of the semi-circle and/or the length may be adjustable. 
     In  FIG.  3   , screen  102  is displaying a virtual environment including a composite of other meeting participants. In some more specific implementations of the present disclosure, the virtual environment may be further augmented by a shared virtual workspace (e.g., desk or conference table surface) on which participants may introduce content and manipulate it in real-time. Screen  102  may also include one or more lighting sources  107 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , a single front-facing light source  107  is positioned centrally at the top of the display  102 ; however, in other embodiments a plurality of light sources may extend across a length of the display (on the top, sides, and/or bottom). 
     As discussed in reference to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , screen  102  may include one or more cameras  103  affixed to or embedded in screen  102 . Screen  102  may have, for example, a 180 degree curvature and the cameras may form an array across the screen surface. Cameras  103  are operable to capture a visual field of a participant so that the various fields of view of the participant may be utilized to replicate the participant  10  in a simulated environment—wherein the participant  10  is viewed as participating in a group with other participants. In preferred embodiments, cameras  103  of the system  100  are not visible to participant  10  when viewing the workspace  120  on the screen  102 . 
     Each camera  103  is capable of generating a high resolution output, such as, for example, a 2K resolution output. The cameras  103  may be oriented at a fixed height, for example, at an approximate height of a participant&#39;s eyes when seated. Cameras  103  may also be height adjustable in response to a change in a participant&#39;s eye level (i.e., transitioning from seating to standing). 
     Where all participants of a video conference are not situated within a conforming video-conferencing system  100 , in accordance with the present invention, a non-conforming participant&#39;s video-conferencing system will merely communicate a frontal view of the non-conforming participant for composition with the other conforming user&#39;s. However, the non-conforming user may still receive compositions from conforming user&#39;s indicative of a field-of-vision associated with the non-conforming user&#39;s assigned position relative to the conforming user within the virtual meeting space. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the plurality of cameras  103  forming the camera array may be positioned in multiple rows and columns across the screen  102 . Each camera of the array is independently addressable by controller circuitry to facilitate the transmission of one or more video streams of a local participant, for each remote participant, with a field of view uniquely associated with the relative positioning of the local participant to each remote participant within the virtual meeting room. In some specific embodiments, various characteristics of each of the cameras may be adjusted by controller circuitry (e.g., depth and exposure). 
     Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the display of remote participant video on a local participants screen  102  utilizing stereoscopic vision techniques to improve the visual perception of the remote conference participants to improve realism of the meeting environment (and as discussed in more detail in relation to  FIGS.  7 A to  7 C ). For example, cameras  103  may be placed adjacent to one another and separated by a distance, such as a distance of between 2 cm and 10 cm, or more preferably, between 6 and 7 cm, which is the approximate distance of separation between human eyes. The images from adjacent cameras  103 , for the purpose of stereoscopic images, are processed by controller circuitry of the system  100  to generate a stereoscopic image which is then transmitted to and displayed on the screen  102  of remote participants. 
     The video-conferencing system  100 , in various embodiments of the present disclosure, may edit the transmitted video to clip a portion of the viewable area based on a user&#39;s preference. The extent or depth of the viewable area of the video-conferencing system  100  can be adjusted to remove undesirable/distracting objects that may be in the environment such as furniture, decorative items, third-parties sharing a common work space, etc. In some preferred embodiments, the extent or depth of the viewable area of the video-conferencing system  100  may have a coverage of, for example, 100 square feet. As shown in  FIG.  2   , the 100 square feet area may be defined by a diameter of the screen  102  where an imaginary curve extends from the semi-circle of the screen  102  to fully enclose the user (and optionally the one or more towers).  106 ). The video-conferencing system  100  may implement augmented reality features to enhance the conferencing experience by enabling various visual, video, graphical, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory, or other digital, experiential, or sensory features that may be evident to conference participants. 
     In some specific embodiments, communicating with system  100  may require that the user wear a wearable communication aide, such as a head-mounted display (HMD), head-up display (HUD), microphone, or other wearable device during a communication session. In other embodiments, no wearable communication aide is required by the user when communicating by using system  100 . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates one example embodiment of a video-conferencing system, consistent with the present disclosure, which facilitates a virtual meeting of four participants  310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D, all in respective remote locations using their own respective video-conference displays  300 A,  300 B,  300 C, and  300 D. The remote video-conferencing displays may be remotely networked to one another using a central server, or where one of the remote video-conferencing displays (and its associated controller circuitry) functions as the host of the conference and is a central point for receiving and transmitting video/audio date packets from/to the other remote participant&#39;s video-conferencing displays. While a video-conferencing system with four remote participants has been used as an example embodiment to illustrate the invention, it is to be understood that the number of participants and/or the number of remote video-conferencing displays is scalable as needed for given applications and conference sizes. 
       FIG.  6 A  illustrates a top view of the virtual meeting environment in  FIG.  5    for the meeting of four participants  310 A,  310 B,  310 C, and  310 D. As shown in the virtual meeting environment illustrated in  FIG.  6 A , each participant is assigned a respective position within the virtual meeting environment. In the example embodiment illustrated, each participant is placed around a virtual conference table. Based on each participant&#39;s respective position to the other participants, and as shown by way of example in reference to  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C , the video-teleconferencing systems of each participant records and transmits video based upon these respective positional relationships within the virtual meeting environment. Although the participants  310 A,  310 B,  310 C, and  310 D perceive each other based on the respective positional relationships within the virtual meeting environment,  FIG.  6 B  illustrates that participants  310 A,  310 B,  310 C, and  310 D are each respectively using video-conferencing systems  300 A,  300 B,  300 C, and  300 D for a virtual meeting of the video conference (as further depicted in  FIG.  5   ). 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7 A,  7 B, and  7 C , screen  102  may be divided into multiple sections  111 a,  111 b,  111 c. The sections  111   a - c  of screen  102  may be arranged tangentially and divided, for example, into multiple quadrants with a variable range, for example, of 120 degrees, which is the average range of the visual field of the human eye. See Hammoud, Riad—Passive Eye Monitoring: Algorithms, Applications and Experiments; Signals and Communication Technologies (2008). The range for the field of view of a participant  310 A may be, for example, between about 60 to 120 degrees. As further shown in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C , each of the one or more sections  111   a ,  111   b , and  111   c  may define a respective position marker  113   a ,  113   b , and  113   c  for how the various participants that communicate using the video-conferencing system view different perspectives of a participant  310 A and the interactive communication environment on screen  102  and of workspace  120  (as shown in  FIG.  3   ). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 3  and  7 A- 7 C , system  100  may automatically assign a viewing position of a participant  10 / 310 A in a conferencing session, such as by a default. In other embodiments, the assigned viewing position of the participant  10 / 310 A may also be controlled by a designated host or an administrator. In still other embodiments, if the participant  10 / 310 A joins a conferencing session, such as by logging in to system  100 , the system  100  can assign each participant a position based up their respective login timestamp. 
     In  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C , each of the position markers  113 A,  113 B, or  113 C, may be assigned sequentially based upon, for example, the order in which video conference participants arrive to the virtual meeting room, positions as selected by each participant, randomly selected by a server hosting the virtual meeting room, pre-programmable factors, or participant pre-sets. Each participant is able to view the other participants as if all participants are in the same generally proximate vicinity via a composite where the fields of view of each other participant varies to thereby facilitate improved realism of the virtual meeting. 
       FIGS.  7 A,  7 B, and  7 C  further illustrate how a video-conferencing system for a single participant  310 A records and transmits fields of view to each of the other participants, three other participants in the present example embodiment, based upon the respective positions of participant  310 A to the other users of the conference (as discussed further in reference to  FIG.  6 A ). The video recorded from the video-conferencing system shown in  FIG.  7 C  (a front-view of participant  310 A) is transmitted to participant  310 B, who is positioned directly in front of participant  310 A in the virtual meeting environment of  FIG.  6 A . The video recorded from the video-conferencing system shown in  FIG.  7 B  (a left perspective view of participant  310 A) is transmitted to participant  310 D who is positioned to the right of participant  310 A in the virtual meeting environment of  FIG.  6 A . The video recorded from the video-conferencing system shown in  FIG.  7 A  (a right perspective view of participant  310 C) is transmitted to participant  310 A who is positioned to the left of participant  310 C in the virtual meeting environment of  FIG.  6 A . Similarly, video is recorded from each of the other participants  310 B,  310 C,  310 D within their respective video-conferencing systems and transmitted to the other participants in accordance with their respective fields of view and positioning as illustrated in  FIGS.  8 A through  8 D . In near real-time, each video-conferencing system receives video/audio data packets from the other networked video-conference systems and generates a composite video of the other participants for display to a local participant (as shown in  FIG.  8 A ). 
       FIGS.  8 A,  8 B,  8 C, and  8 D  illustrate a representative embodiment detailing how a group of participants  310 A,  310 B,  310 C, and  310 D may perceive each other using their own respective system  300 A,  300 B,  300 C, and  300 D based upon the relative positions assigned to each participant within a virtual meeting room (as shown in  FIG.  6 A , for example, and also explained in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C ). 
     By way of example, and as shown in  FIG.  8 A  (with reference to  FIG.  6 A ), the display of participant  310 A presents a frontal view of participant  310 B as participant  310 B is positioned directly across from participant  310 A in the virtual meeting environment of  FIG.  6 A . Participant  310 C is positioned to the left of participant  310 A and accordingly participant  310 A receives a right-side view of participant  310 C, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 A would have of participant  310 C were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. Similarly, as participant  310 D is to the right of participant  310 A, participant  310 A receives video from participant  310 D associated with a left-side view of participant  310 D, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 A would have of participant  310 D were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. 
     By way of further example, and as shown in  FIG.  8 B  (with reference to  FIG.  6 A ), the display of participant  310 B presents a frontal view of participant  310 A as participant  310 A is positioned directly across from participant  310 B in the virtual meeting environment of  FIG.  6 A . Participant  310 D is positioned to the left of participant  310 B and accordingly participant  310 B receives a right-side view of participant  310 D, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 B would have of participant  310 D were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. Similarly, as participant  310 C is to the right of participant  310 B, participant  310 B receives video from participant  310 C associated with a left-side view of participant  310 C, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 B would have of participant  310 C were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. 
     By way of further example, and as shown in  FIG.  8 C  (with reference to  FIG.  6 A ), the display of participant  310 C presents a frontal view of participant  310 D as participant  310 D is positioned directly across from participant  310 C in the virtual meeting environment of  FIG.  6 A . Participant  310 B is positioned to the left of participant  310 C and accordingly participant  310 C receives a right-side view of participant  310 B, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 C would have of participant  310 B were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. Similarly, as participant  310 A is to the right of participant  310 C, participant  310 C receives video from participant  310 A associated with a left-side view of participant  310 A, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 C would have of participant  310 A were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. 
     By way of further example, and as shown in  FIG.  8 D  (with reference to  FIG.  6 A ), the display of participant  310 D presents a frontal view of participant  310 C as participant  310 C is positioned directly across from participant  310 D in the virtual meeting environment of  FIG.  6 A . Participant  310 A is positioned to the left of participant  310 D and accordingly participant  310 D receives a right-side view of participant  310 A, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 D would have of participant  310 A were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. Similarly, as participant  310 B is to the right of participant  310 D, participant  310 D receives video from participant  310 B associated with a left-side view of participant  310 B, which corresponds to the field-of-view that participant  310 C would have of participant  310 B were they actually in a meeting room together in the assigned positions of the virtual meeting environment. 
     As discussed in more detail above, the varying perspective views of participants  310 A,  310 B,  310 C, and  310 D are made possible by virtue of the respective position markers for the respective screens of video-conferencing systems  300 A-D, and the positions marks of the screens for each of these respective systems may correspond to the position markers  113 A-C as described in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C . 
     One particular benefit of the present disclosure is that a participant utilizing a video-conferencing system as described may direct their gaze towards one of the other participants on their display and the respective fields-of-view recorded and transmitted to each of the other participants makes it clear which participant the gaze is directed to. In practice this greatly improves the realism of the user experience as a participant may, for example, look at one of the other participants&#39; on their display and ask a question. Based on the unique fields-of-view recorded and transmitted to the other participants, it is clear to the other participants to whom the question was directed. 
     Participants using the video conferencing system  100  disclosed herein may view other conference participants in various ways, such as for example, the entire body of other participants. System  100  is capable of capturing the full range of view of any participant such that the full body of a participant may be viewable by other participants in the conference. This feature of system  100  is capable of allowing other participants to view and detect the body language and other visual or non-verbal communication cues of participants in the conference as if the participants are in the same room. 
     In some specific embodiments of the present disclosure, the system  100  may be utilized for non-video-conferencing applications such as video gaming—where the system  100  facilitates a truly immersive gaming environment. 
     In various embodiments of the present application, the video-conferencing system  100  may further facilitate real-time file sharing, document review, and editing of presentation, word processing files, spreadsheets, databases, and the like. In yet more specific embodiments, the system  100  provides a menu for various functionalities, including document viewing, editing, and file sorting. 
     Although several embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the present teachings. The foregoing description and following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations. 
     Various embodiments are described herein of various apparatuses, systems, and methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments, the scope of which is defined solely by the appended claims. 
     Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation. 
     It will be appreciated that for conciseness and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “up,” and “down” may be used herein with respect to the illustrated embodiments. However, many orientations and positions may be possible, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute. 
     Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material. 
     The following terms are to be interpreted according to the following definitions in the description of the invention that follows: The use of the term “not” in description of a value or parameter generally means and describes “other than” a value or parameter. The singular forms “a,” “or,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”.