Ad Hoc Telepresence Manager for Spontaneous Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telepresence and desktop video conferencing technologies do not facilitate spontaneous, ad hoc interactions among geographically dispersed team members, limiting creative problem-solving and informal communication.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a presence sensor and ad hoc telepresence manager to initiate impromptu video conferencing sessions by sensing user presence and managing contact lists, allowing for spontaneous interactions between available contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional telepresence and desktop video conferencing are used, then formal interactions between geographically dispersed team members are enabled, but spontaneous and ad hoc interactions are not facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing contact lists, pre-configuring telepresence zones with sensors, and pre-defining availability criteria before spontaneous interactions are needed. When a user enters a telepresence zone, the system has already prepared the contact information and availability status, enabling immediate initiation of ad hoc sessions without complex real-time setup
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting user presence through sensors, autonomously querying contact availability status, and presenting pre-selected contact options without requiring manual configuration. The system serves itself by managing the entire ad hoc session initiation process from detection to session setup, reducing operational complexity for users
2Productivity
If manual initiation of telepresence sessions is required, then session quality can be controlled, but spontaneous creativity and problem-solving are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying relevant contacts based on proximity sensors and pre-fetching their availability status before the user needs to initiate a session. Contact lists are prepared in advance with relevance ranking, and availability information is continuously updated beforehand, enabling immediate session initiation that captures spontaneous creative moments without time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical manual process of initiating telepresence sessions with an automated sensing and decision system. Presence sensors automatically detect when users are in proximity, substituting manual initiation actions with automated detection and contact recommendation, thereby enabling spontaneous interactions while maintaining controlled session quality through system-managed contact selection
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method for managing ad hoc telepresence sessions is described. The method includes sensing a presence of a user in an ad hoc telepresence zone. The method also includes managing a list of contacts associated with the user. The method also includes determining an availability of a remote user at a remote telepresence zone. The remote user is selected from the list of contacts associated with the user. The method also includes displaying a list of available remote users. The method also includes initiating a telepresence session between the user and the remote user according to an input from the user to select the remote user from the list of available users.