Cloud Mediator for Browser Audio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current real-time communication systems, such as those using WebRTC, face limitations due to the sandbox environment of internet browsers, which restrict the ability to send control commands between audio devices and browsers, making it difficult for users to control communication sessions using external device interfaces, particularly in applications like cloud-based contact centers.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes an external computing system, like a cloud service, to connect a browser application and a device driver, allowing control signals from a peripheral device's user interface to control WebRTC functionalities within the browser, enabling features like accepting or rejecting calls, adjusting volume, and muting microphones, by transmitting these signals through a cloud connection channel parallel to the internet channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an internet browser's sandbox environment is used for real-time communication, then security is improved, but the ability to send control commands between audio devices and browsers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud service as an intermediary between the browser application and the audio device driver. The cloud service receives control signals from the audio device via a cloud connection channel, translates them into appropriate commands, and transmits them to the browser application. This mediator approach allows control functionality to be achieved without breaking the browser's sandbox security model, as the browser only receives validated commands from the cloud service rather than direct access from the audio device driver.
2Ease of operation
If a cloud service intermediary is introduced to enable device control, then control capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud service is designed to handle multiple functions: it manages control signal transmission from audio devices, handles WebRTC communication coordination, and provides a unified interface for various types of audio devices. By making the cloud service multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate specialized components for each function, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining enhanced control capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method and a real-time communication system (21) comprising: a first computing device (1); a peripheral device (2); a connection component (4) of the first computing device (1) for connecting the first computing device (1) and the peripheral device (2); a software (5) for the peripheral device (2) installed on the first computing device (1); first internet browser (3) installed on the first computing device (1), the first internet browser being configured for providing content in the form of video, audio, and/or data; an external computing system (7) in communication with the first internet browser (3) and with the software (5); a user interface (24) of the peripheral device (2) for generating control signals for controlling one or more functionalities in the first internet browser (3), the control signals being transmitted via the connection component (4), via the software (5), via the external computing system (7) to the first internet browser (3) thereby enabling control of the one or more functionalities in the first internet browser (3).