System and method for utilizing a surface for remote collaboration

A system, comprising:

• a camera operable to image at least a portion of a first surface;
• a projector operable to project onto the first surface;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the camera and the projector and operable to:
• receive a first annotation corresponding to one or more markings made by a first user within a first collaboration region of a second surface, the second surface remote from the first surface;
• identify a second collaboration region on the first surface at least in part by detecting an edge within the image of the at least a portion of the first surface using at least one edge detection technique, the first surface proximate the camera and the projector, wherein the second collaboration region occupies less than the entirety of the first surface;
• control the projector to project the first annotation onto the second collaboration region;
• create a second annotation corresponding to one or more markings made by a second user within the second collaboration region on the first surface;
• transmit the second annotation;
• and
• wherein identification of a second collaboration region further includes:
• searching for a closed path including the detected edge;
• and
• in response to determining that the closed path has not been previously designated as a collaboration region, designating a shape corresponding to the closed path as the second collaboration region.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a processor, a first annotation corresponding to one or more markings made by a first user within a first collaboration region of a first surface, the first surface remote from a second surface;
• identifying, by the processor, a second collaboration region on the second surface at least in part by detecting an edge within the image of the at least a portion of the first surface using at least one edge detection technique, the second surface proximate a camera, wherein the second collaboration region occupies less than the entirety of the second surface;
• displaying, by the processor, the first annotation in the second collaboration region;
• creating, by the processor, a second annotation corresponding to one or more markings made by a second user within the second collaboration region on the second surface;
• and
• transmitting, by the processor, the second annotation;
• and
• wherein identification of a second collaboration region further includes:
• searching for a closed path including the detected edge;
• and
• in response to determining that the closed path has not been previously designated as a collaboration region, designating a shape corresponding to the closed path as the second collaboration region.