Reflected backdrop for communications systems

A telepresence technologies architecture for managing and facilitating telepresence communication for allowing a first user in a home location to see a substantially life-size image of a second user at remote location appearing in front of an apparent backdrop within a room setting and achieving an apparent eye contact while allowing for two-way interaction in real time for communication, the telepresence technologies architecture comprising:

• a first telepresence communications system to capture a video image and audio of said second user using a pre-determined telepresence standard that defines requirements for placement of a first camera relative a user, placement of said user relative a background, and appearance of said background;
• said first telepresence communications system in said remote location including a codec to encode outgoing video image and audio signals and to decode incoming video image and audio signals;
• a first network connection from the remote location to a telepresence operations center, the telepresence operations center including network connections to other remote locations;
• a second network connection from the home location to said telepresence operations center;
• a second codec in said home location to decode incoming video image and audio signals of said second user and to encode video image and audio signals of said first user for transmission to said remote location via said telepresence operations center;
• a second telepresence communications system in the home location, compatible with said pre-determined telepresence standard and configured to display, substantially life-size, said incoming images and audio signals of said second user in front of said apparent backdrop and within a three-dimensional setting of the home location;
• and
• at least one of the first telepresence communications system and the second telepresence communications system comprising:
• an image display device having an image area substantially surrounded by an enclosure, the image area being positioned substantially within a vertical plane, the plane positioned for viewing by the user in an observation zone;
• a two-way mirror positioned between said observation zone and said image display device and angled to reflect a backdrop;
• said backdrop being positioned adjacent said two-way mirror so that a reflection of a left edge and a right edge of said backdrop in said two-way mirror substantially aligns with a left and right edge, respectively of said enclosure when viewed from said observation zone;
• a second camera located in said backdrop, such that said camera views said observation zone as a reflection off said two-way mirror;
• and
• a light-absorbing panel positioned above said two-way mirror opposite said second camera and located in the view of said second camera through said two-way mirror as said second camera is aligned to view said reflection of said observation zone off said two-way mirror.