1. 3D Visual
Communication
Mobile World Congress 2013

2. Bringing the networked
society to life
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3. 3d: the future of visual communication
Bringing the networked society to life
The main Ericsson’s message at MWC is “Bringing the networked society
to life”. This slogan deals both with the work Ericsson is performing to realize
the networked society and with how Ericsson may influence people’s life.
The 3D video conferencing demo is one among many examples (cf. other
demos in What’s Next and Networked Society stations) on how Ericsson is
reaching its goal. On one hand, the 3D visual communication demo shows the
technology leadership required to bring the networked society technically to life.
On the other hand, this demo shows how Ericsson may improve people’s
communication ways by adding the 3rd dimension to video conferencing.
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4. 3d visual communication
2D rendering 3D rendering
Polycom Polycom 2D video
client client
VIC VIC
client client
3D video
Ericsson
VisualCom Ericsson
VisualCom
VisualCom HD Polycom 3D VisualCom HD
video conferencing client VIC video conferencing
client
3D rendering
3D video
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5. 3d visual communication
Currently, Ericsson Visual Communication is the high quality system that enables people to
connect. Many configurations are possible: point to point, multi-party, single user, multiple users,
fixed/mobile, etc. Further information on this system which is also a product may be found in the
Seamless Link Communication proof point within the Communication Services area.
Nevertheless, this system may be further improved with the deployment of 3D video, which
enhances the user experience by the addition of realistic depth perception and enables a better
scene comprehension. In this case, similar configurations are possible: point to point, multi-
party, single user, multiple users, etc. Likewise, one can mix between 3D/2D capturing and
3D/2D display, depending on each site capabilities. The system is able to support all types of
these configurations.
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6. Added value
USER BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY SOCIAL
EXPERIENCE ECONOMICS
Cost reductions Carbon
Immersive Improving
Increased emission
experience life style
efficiency reductions
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7. Added value
3D Visual Communication has many advantages, whose main ones correspond to:
› User experience: The 3D video conferencing enables the realization of a better user
experience by adding depth perception, immersive experience, realism and better scene
comprehension. All carried out with a high quality experience and in real-time.
› Business: The 3D video conferencing enables rethinking businesses since face-to-face
meetings may be carried out in distance allowing reduction of business cost. Likewise, it
enables the realization of business efficiency.
› Sustainability: Since face-to-face meetings will not be needed so frequently, this will mean
less travel, which also imply less carbon emissions. Hence, Ericsson contributes to realize
sustainable world.
› Social economics: Similarly, less face-to-face meetings and therefore less travel will enable
people to spend more time with their families and friends. Hence, Ericsson contributes to
improve people’s life style.
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8. Business opportunities
BUSINESS HOME
E-HEALTH EDUCATION
3D Visual Communication presents many business opportunities within the Networked Society
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9. Business opportunities
Due to the nature itself of visual communication and the fact that it may be deployed in many different scenarios, the
business opportunities for such a system are numerous and varied. However, we have narrowed down the number of
use cases where 3D video conferencing may be used according to Ericsson’s business and interests. The main four
areas we have identified correspond to:
› Business: this is the natural area for Ericsson, as it is for the VisualCom product. The 3D Visual Communication could
be sold to operators which may help their customers to rethink their business by providing such a service. Possible
application fields may include architecture, mechanical/electrical/chemical engineering, remote technical assistance,
retail, medicine, art, fashion, food, etc. One possible example: the system may be used internally or externally to show a
current product prototype.
› Home: even if quality requirements may not be as strict as in business, the deployment in the home environment is
pretty straightforward. In this scenario keep close contact with relatives and friends is the main aim. E.g. when a new
baby is born far away from grandparents.
› E-health: 3D Visual Communication offers the possibility to get a very realistic perception of the other side. This is
indeed very helpful in the health area, e.g. when patient mobility is limited (e.g. old persons at home) or in rural
developed areas with limited access to health care assistance (e.g. where hospitals are located at a couple hundred
kilometers far away).
› Education: this scenario deals with distance education and enables to rethink how lectures may be given
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10. Challenges
tdiutad
› Deployment of glasses-
free displays
› New 3D video codec
standardization in
MPEG/ITU-T/JCT-3V
› Real-time implementation of new
3D video codec for VisualCom
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11. challenges
Since 3D Visual Communication is a research project, challenges are still ahead of us. We share the same challenges as with the
VisualCom product, but we also have our own challenges on which we are currently working:
› Deployment of glasses-free displays: the current demo (due to lack of space) requires polarized glasses, which is not the way the
system should be. We are working on a different configuration with auto-stereoscopic displays (i.e. not requiring glasses). The quality
of current auto-stereoscopic displays is not very good, but there is a new product coming this year which will increase the quality and
therefore the user experience of the 3D Visual Communication.
› New 3D video codec standardization in JCT-3V: The new HEVC standard will enable cutting the bit rate of today’s video services
into half. It has been standardized in the beginning of 2013, and first products are expected this year. Ericsson had a major foot print
in the HEVC standardization. Work on 3D extensions to HEVC is ongoing in MPEG/ITU-T/JCT-3V and expected to be finalized in 2014.
Ericsson continues to be actively contributing to specify that extension. The 3D extension of HEVC will enable high quality 3D
video services at bit rates equal to or lower than today’s 2D video services (expected bit rates in the range of 80%-100% of today’s
2D video services).
› Real-time implementation of new 3D video codec for VisualCom: In opposition to the current video codec deployed in VisualCom
which is already real-time, the new 3D codec poses many implementation challenges, especially concerning real-time issues. This is due
to the fact that with the new codec we will have HD resolution for each eye (i.e. more data to be coded and transmitted), whereas we are
currently using H.264 side-by-side (which means that we have half horizontal resolution for each eye). Likewise, the new codec is aimed
at a “display-independent” scenario, meaning that we want to support both auto-stereoscopic multi-view screens (i.e. not requiring
glasses) and stereo screens (i.e. requiring glasses). Ericsson is currently working in such a real-time display-independent implementation
to be deployed in the 3D Visual Communication system.
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12. Creating
the next Generation
visual communication
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13. Creating the next Generation
visual communication
In conclusion, Ericsson shows with this demo that it has the technology
leadership in the future of the visual communication area. But also shows
technology leadership in the realization of the Networked Society. Likewise,
it is helping to shape the future communication of people’s life.
But the best way to convince users and customers is by using the system
and having a real-time demo with us! So please, visit our demo!!
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