Patent ID: 7136090

Claim:
A communications system, comprising: first and second locations, wherein the second location is remote and separate from the first location, each of the locations comprising: a real time image capturing device, an image projecting device, an observation zone for occupation by a participant, and a two-way mirror through which images are viewed; the image capturing device at the first location being: (a) arranged to view a participant occupying the observation zone at the first location directly or indirectly along a line of sight which passes through the two-way mirror at the first location, and (b) linked to the image projecting device at the second location whereby a captured image is transmitted from the first location to the second location and projected at the second location for viewing through the two-way mirror at the second location; and the first location comprising a visual depth cue physically located on an opposite side of the two-way mirror relative to the observation zone, the visual depth cue being in the form of one or more three dimensional physical objects physically located behind the two-way mirror and visible through the two-way mirror from the observation zone so that an image generated at the second location of a participant at the second location is seen through the two-way mirror at the first location in superimposed relation within a three dimensional setting afforded by the visual depth cue.