Prior art — US Patent 8830293B2

The most relevant prior art for US patent 8830293B2, "Video superposition for continuous presence," identified from its cited references, along with requested details, is as follows:

US Patent 8830293B2 Details:

Title: Video superposition for continuous presence
Publication Date: 2014-09-09
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Priority Date: 2009-05-26
Abstract: Techniques are described for combining video frames of two or more real-time video streams into combined video frames of a combined real-time video stream for continuous presence. Video frames of at least two real-time video streams are combined into combined video frames of a combined video stream. The combined video stream is supplied to a video display for displaying the combined video stream. Each video stream includes video frames with subject and background images. The subject images of corresponding video frames of the first and second video streams are combined into a combined video frame of a combined video stream such that the subject image of the first video stream is positioned in an anterior portion of the combined frame and the subject image of the second video stream is positioned in a posterior portion of the combined frame.

The patent US8830293B2 cites the following prior art documents:

1. US5572248A

Full Citation: US 5,572,248 A (Teleport Corporation)
Publication Date: 1996-11-05
Filing Date (Priority Date): 1994-09-19
Brief Description: This patent describes a teleconferencing method and system aimed at providing a "face-to-face, non-animated teleconference environment." It focuses on creating a realistic interaction without necessarily involving complex real-time video manipulation or animation.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While broadly addressing the goal of a realistic teleconference experience, this reference's "non-animated" aspect suggests it does not involve the real-time video superposition, scaling, and dynamic background manipulation techniques central to the claims of US8830293B2. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific methods of combining video streams for anterior/posterior positioning of subject images as detailed in claims 1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, or 17.

2. WO2001037559A1

Full Citation: WO 2001/037559 A1 (Telia Ab)
Publication Date: 2001-05-25
Filing Date (Priority Date): 1999-11-19
Brief Description: This document describes a general "procedure and arrangement at a video conference system." Its title is very broad and does not specify any particular video processing or combining techniques.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given its generic title and lack of specific technical detail regarding video stream manipulation, it is improbable that this patent anticipates the specific steps of combining video frames, such as scaling, background removal, and superimposing for anterior/posterior positioning, as recited in claims 1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, or 17 of US8830293B2. It likely provides general background on video conferencing systems.

3. US20080048975A1

Full Citation: US 2008/0048975 A1 (Michael Leibow)
Publication Date: 2008-02-28
Filing Date (Priority Date): 2005-04-12
Brief Description: This patent application is titled "Apparatus and System for Managing Multiple Computers." Its subject matter appears to be focused on computer management and not directly related to video processing or teleconferencing.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is outside the technical domain of video conferencing and real-time video stream manipulation as claimed in US8830293B2. Therefore, it is highly unlikely to anticipate any of the claims of US8830293B2.

4. US20080095470A1

Full Citation: US 2008/0095470 A1 (Hui Chao)
Publication Date: 2008-04-24
Filing Date (Priority Date): 2006-10-23
Brief Description: This patent application describes methods and systems for "Digital Image Auto-Resizing." It addresses techniques for automatically adjusting the size of digital images.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates the "scaling the video frames" step that is a component of several claims in US8830293B2 (e.g., claims 1, 3, 10, 11, 13, 15). However, anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 requires that every element of the claimed invention be found in a single prior art reference. While the scaling itself might be anticipated, this reference is unlikely to anticipate the combination of scaling with specific background removal, repositioning, and superposition to achieve the anterior/posterior visual effect for continuous presence in video conferencing, which is the inventive combination claimed in US8830293B2.

5. US20090033737A1 (Most Relevant Prior Art)

Full Citation: US 2009/0033737 A1 (Stuart Goose)
Publication Date: 2009-02-05
Filing Date (Priority Date): 2007-08-02
Brief Description: This patent application describes a "Method and System for Video Conferencing in a Virtual Environment." This directly addresses integrating video conference participants into a shared virtual space, which inherently involves manipulating and combining video streams, often requiring background separation and compositing.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is the most relevant prior art. The concept of "video conferencing in a virtual environment" strongly suggests techniques for separating subject images from their backgrounds and superimposing them into a new, unified scene.
- It highly likely anticipates the steps of "removing the background image" (found in claims 1, 5, 10, 13, 17) and "superimposing" (found in claims 1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17) in a video conferencing context.
- If the virtual environment described in US20090033737A1 involves a layered or depth-perceiving arrangement of participants (e.g., appearing one in front of another), it could also potentially anticipate the core inventive concept of "positioned in an anterior portion... and ... in a posterior portion" of claims 1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, and 17. The specific implementation details of how the superposition is performed (e.g., superimposing onto the original frames of the second video stream, background extended frames, or supplemental background image frames) would need a detailed comparison to determine full anticipation of each claim's specific method, but the general concept of compositing for a virtual, layered representation for continuous presence is strongly suggested.