Online Collaboration Chat Room Segmentation for Broadcast Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing online collaboration systems are limited by network delays and the lack of a common topic of interest during commercial breaks in broadcasts, as viewers may see different versions of a global event due to interspersed local content, leading to reduced collaboration effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that provide a primary online chat room for non-local content and multiple localized chat rooms, transferring viewers based on their geographic location during non-local and local content segments, allowing focused discussions on relevant local topics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single global chat room is used for all viewers of a broadcast event, then viewers can collaborate on the overall event, but collaboration effectiveness decreases during commercial breaks when viewers see different local content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollaboration effectivenessVSAvoidtime during commercial breaks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single global chat room into multiple segmented chat rooms based on geographic location. Each geographic region has its own dedicated chat room that corresponds to the local content being broadcast in that region. This segmentation allows viewers to be routed to appropriate local chat rooms during commercial breaks, maintaining collaboration effectiveness despite the interrupted global broadcast content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic routing of viewers between different chat rooms based on the type of content being broadcast. During non-local content segments, viewers are routed to the global chat room. During local content segments, viewers are routed to region-specific chat rooms. This dynamic adaptation ensures that viewers are always connected to relevant discussion topics regardless of what they are currently watching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If viewers are transferred between different chat rooms based on geographic location and content type, then collaboration relevance is maintained during local content, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollaboration relevanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a content identifier as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the broadcast content and the chat room routing decisions. The content identifier signals the type of content being broadcast (global vs. local), which then triggers the appropriate routing logic. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a clear, standardized interface for making routing decisions without requiring complex real-time analysis of broadcast content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If chat rooms are created for each geographic region, then local content discussion is enhanced, but the number of chat rooms and system management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal content discussionVSAvoidnumber of chat rooms
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal chat room management system that handles multiple geographic regions through a single unified architecture. The same routing mechanism, content identifier system, and user interface work across all regions, eliminating the need for separate management systems for each geographic area. This multi-functional approach allows the system to scale to accommodate numerous regional chat rooms while maintaining consistent, simplified management procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2163034B1Enhanced online collaboration system
Publication Date: 2012.01.11 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • EP2163034B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2163034B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2163034B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Where users of an online collaboration system are viewing a broadcast presentation having segments of non-localcontent interspersed with segments of localized content, the collaboration opportunities available to the users are enhanced by providing both a primary chat room available for use by all users of the system and two or more additional chat rooms, each available to subsets of users identified as residents of geographic areas covered by the segments of localized content. In another embodiment, a user may control the availability of one of the additional chat rooms to identified members of a subset without regard to whether members are residents of a certain geographic area.