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UBIQ – Low Bandwidth Visual Communication. Jonathan H. Connell Exploratory Computer Vision Group IBM T. J. Watson Research Center Hawthorne, NY 10532. UBIQ = The expert can be everywhere. Field service dilemma (e.g. repair): Most problems have simple solutions
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UBIQ – Low Bandwidth Visual Communication Jonathan H. Connell Exploratory Computer Vision Group IBM T. J. Watson Research Center Hawthorne, NY 10532
UBIQ = The expert can be everywhere • Field service dilemma (e.g. repair): • Most problems have simple solutions • Some field-service problems require experts • Experts are expensive, want to utilize effectively • Medium-skilled labor can fix many problems • Hybrid solution • Send out medium-skilled person for quick fix in most cases • Call back to main office for more difficult problems • “Beaming in” the expert • Sometimes verbal communications is insufficient • Pictures can be sent but take a long time to transmit • Person in the field might take picture of wrong aspect • Provide a real-time “viewfinder” mode to allow expert to quickly snap the right picture on a remote mobile phone
… closer … … there. Open the side … Scenario: fixing a copier • Customer calls in problem = streaks on paper • Local maintenance guy shows up promptly • Checks for correct paper & toner level • Calls back to home office for advice • Shows paper markings • Expert asks for view of “fuser roller” • “What’s that?” • Local person uses video mode to get to correct location • Expert snaps image and examines • Fix problem by using alcohol wipe on this component (marked)
Value Proposition • End Users • Lower cost of operations • No expense for cars, plane trips, lodging … • Right brain at the right place quickly • Can easily change experts if needed • No delays due to flights, visa approval … • Increases customer satisfaction • Better leverage existing expertise • No time lost on travel (or getting lost) • Bigger expert recruitment pool • No onerous travel or relocation • Social skills less important • Telcos • Differentiated offering • No one else has this cool capability • New Value-Added-Service application to increase stickiness • Focus on (more lucrative) enterprise customer base • Optimized use of data network • Supports higher usage data traffic • Offset by increased (worker) productivity
Deployment Model (Telco OEM) Samsung Telco Hospital IBM customize implementation for Telco Offers application to enterprise customers Ricoh Build software … … PC client Mobile server …
Summary • Current status • Research project (unfunded) • Working on more specialized codecs • Hybrid lines + blobs • Spatially varying resolution • Camera tracking partial stills • Quick remote zoom refinement • Single platform implementation • Windows XP (PC client) • Windows Mobile 5.0 (Smartphone server) • Covered under US patent7,219,364 • Demo possible (see wiki) • Looking for • Deployment model • Customers (telco and/or end user) • Catcher or partner for technology transfer