Breakout Room Space Allocation Using Participant Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video conferencing systems struggle to efficiently allocate physical resources to in-person participants joining virtual breakout rooms, especially when multiple participants are in the same physical space, leading to disruption and limited availability issues.

Innovation Solution

Implement a system that detects multiple participants in the same physical space, assigns them to virtual breakout rooms, determines the availability of physical resources, and allocates these resources using facial recognition and scheduling services, with digital signage guiding participants to their assigned resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual allocation of physical resources is used for in-person participants, then availability of resources can be ensured, but disruption and logistical complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of physical resourcesVSAvoidlogistical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service allocation where participants are automatically assigned to physical resources based on their detected location and the system's resource availability, eliminating the need for manual intervention while ensuring reliable resource assignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical allocation processes with an automated computer vision-based system that uses facial recognition and scheduling services to automatically assign physical resources to participants, reducing both disruption and logistical complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If automated allocation systems are implemented, then disruption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereduction of disruptionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions including facial recognition, location detection, resource scheduling, and allocation into a single universal platform that manages the entire automated allocation process, reducing operational disruption despite the complexity of integrating these functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary scheduling service that acts as a mediator between the computer vision system and physical resource allocation, managing the complexity of coordinating multiple components while maintaining ease of operation for end users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If physical resources are allocated to multiple participants in the same space, then resource utilization improves, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidparticipant detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the detection process by using facial recognition to identify and distinguish individual participants within the same physical space, allowing accurate detection and measurement of multiple participants simultaneously to enable improved resource utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs visual differentiation methods where detected participants are distinguished through unique visual identifiers or markers in the video feed, enabling the system to accurately detect and measure multiple participants in the same space without confusion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS12513018B2Allocating a physical space to a participant for use in connection with a virtual breakout room

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 ZOOM COMMUNICATIONS INC

AI summary

A computer assigns a participant of a video conference to a virtual breakout room associated with the video conference. The computer determines an availability of a physical space for the virtual breakout room. The computer allocates the physical space for use in connection with the virtual breakout room. The computer captures an image of the participant from a video stream associated with the video conference. The computer displays the image of the participant on a display of a computing device located in the physical space.