2D and 3D transitions for renderings of users participating in communication sessions

A system for transitioning a user interface from a rendering of a two-dimensional image of a user to a rendering of a three-dimensional representation of the user while the user is participating in a communication session, the system comprising:

• one or more processing units;
• and
• a computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the one or more processing units to perform a method comprising:
• receiving a live video stream from an image video camera directed toward the user for the generation of rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user within a two-dimensional 2D environment;
• providing the two-dimensional environment for the communication session and a three-dimensional environment for the communication session, the three-dimensional environment including virtual objects that are positioned based on coordinates;
• causing a display of the user interface comprising the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user, wherein the rendering of the two-dimensional image is generated from the live video stream of the camera directed toward the user, wherein the user interface concurrently displays the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user with renderings of other users participating in the communication session with the user;
• during the communication session, receiving an input for causing a transition of the display of the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user to the rendering of the three-dimensional representation of the user;
• and
• in response to the input for causing the transition of the display of the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user to the rendering of the three-dimensional representation of the user:
• accessing a three-dimensional model defining a position and orientation of the three-dimensional representation of the user within the three-dimensional environment, and
• removing the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user from the two-dimensional environment, and
• adding the display of the three-dimensional representation of the user in a rendering of the three-dimensional environment using the position and the orientation defined in the three-dimensional model.

A computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions to cause one or more processing units of a system to perform a method for transitioning a user interface from a rendering of a two-dimensional image of a user to a rendering of a three-dimensional representation of the user while the user is participating in a communication session, the method comprising:

• receiving a live video stream from an image video camera directed toward the user for the generation of rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user within a two-dimensional 2D environment;
• providing the two-dimensional environment for the communication session and a three-dimensional environment for the communication session, the three-dimensional environment including virtual objects that are positioned based on coordinates;
• causing a display of the user interface comprising the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user, wherein the rendering of the two-dimensional image is generated from the live video stream of the camera directed toward the user, wherein the user interface concurrently displays the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user with renderings of other users participating in the communication session with the user;
• during the communication session, receiving an input for causing a transition of the display of the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user to the rendering of the three-dimensional representation of the user;
• and
• in response to the input for causing the transition of the display of the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user to the rendering of the three-dimensional representation of the user:
• accessing a three-dimensional model defining a position and orientation of the three-dimensional representation of the user within the three-dimensional environment, and
• removing the rendering of the two-dimensional image of the user from the two-dimensional environment, and
• adding the display of the three-dimensional representation of the user in a rendering of the three-dimensional environment using the position and the orientation defined in the three-dimensional model.