Browser-Based Video Call Initiation via Socket Mediation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for initiating video calls in client-server distributed computing systems are inefficient, as consumers often struggle to use video call systems and require more resources than necessary, leading to misunderstandings and resource wastage in text-based chat communications.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that allows website owners to initiate voice and/or video calls with clients by creating a socket connection between the client's browser and a call management server, enabling agents to select visitors and initiate peer-to-peer connections for live video transmission within the browser, without the client explicitly requesting the call.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If text-based chat is used for communication, then consumers can communicate with customer service representatives, but more network message roundtrips are required and misunderstandings occur more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces text-based chat communication with audio/video call communication. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple text message roundtrips and reduces misunderstandings, thereby improving communication efficiency while reducing network resource consumption.
2Productivity
If video call systems are made available to consumers, then audiovisual communication efficiency is improved, but consumers struggle with unfamiliarity with video call systems and initiation procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic call initiation where the consumer's browser automatically dials the customer service representative's number when a service representative is available. This eliminates the need for consumers to manually initiate calls or navigate complex video call systems, making the process as easy as visiting a website while maintaining high communication efficiency.
3Speed
If automatic call initiation is implemented, then call initiation speed is improved, but server control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a call management server as an intermediary between the web server and the consumer's browser. This server handles the automatic call initiation logic, manages socket connections, and coordinates with the consumer's browser to establish audio/video calls. By offloading the complexity to a dedicated intermediary server, the web server remains simple while achieving fast automatic call initiation.
Data Source
AI summary
An efficient computer-implemented method that allows an owner of a website to initiate voice and/or video calls with clients that are visiting the website of the owner in a manner that is simple for the visitor and can use fewer network resources than in prior approaches. The visit of the client to the website causes creating a socket connection between the client and the server. The server executes an application program to maintain a list of connected clients, and various metadata about the clients, which is presented to the website owner in an interface display. The owner can select any particular client among all the clients in the list, to initiate a peer-to-peer connection with that particular client and begin a call with them. The process executes without the client explicitly requesting a call. Consequently, a visitor to a website, and a representative of the website, can establish an audiovisual call rapidly and efficiently, then immediately begin addressing questions, requests, or requirements of the visitor.