Collaborative Web Browsing in Video Conferences With Parallel Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video conferencing technologies limit collaborative web browsing to passive, one-way screen sharing, allowing only one participant to interact with a webpage at a time, which is disruptive and inefficient for multiple users.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a collaborative web browsing session that enables multiple participants to browse the web independently while simultaneously monitoring each other's actions through UI mechanisms like 'follow' and 'spotlight' functions, allowing real-time interaction and reduced computational load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If screen sharing is used for collaborative web browsing, then participants can view the webpage, but only one participant can interact with the webpage at a time making it passive and disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the browsing interaction by creating separate control channels for different participants. Each participant can independently control the shared browser through individual control interfaces, allowing simultaneous independent interactions without conflict. The browser session is divided into multiple controllable instances that can operate in parallel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a collaborative browsing intermediary layer that mediates between multiple participants and the shared browser. This intermediary manages control rights, coordinates interactions, and enables multiple users to interact with the webpage simultaneously without direct conflict, transforming the passive screen sharing into an active collaborative environment.
2Productivity
If one participant controls the browser at a time, then control is simple, but collaboration is limited and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous collaborative browsing by allowing multiple participants to interact with the browser simultaneously without interruption. Instead of switching control between participants, the system maintains continuous interaction channels for all participants, eliminating the need to pause or switch control and keeping the browsing action continuous and productive.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is made dynamic by allowing control rights to be fluid and adaptable. Participants can dynamically assume control, share control, or observe based on real-time collaboration needs. The system adapts control allocation dynamically rather than following a fixed single-user paradigm, enabling seamless transitions and parallel interactions.
3Productivity
If multiple participants browse independently, then collaboration is efficient, but monitoring others' actions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that provide real-time information about other participants' browsing actions to all users. When one participant interacts with the webpage, this information is fed back to other participants through the interface, maintaining awareness of others' actions while allowing independent browsing. This creates a shared contextual understanding without restricting individual productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for collaborative web browsing during video conferences are disclosed. In an example method, a client device joins a video conference including a number of client devices. The client device executes a command to start a collaborative web browsing session using a web browser. The client device receives a first indication of a first web browsing action associated with a first web page by another client device. The client device outputs a first representation of the first action on the first page. The client device receives a second indication of a second web browsing action associated with a second web page by the other client device, in which the second action modifies the first representation of the first action. The client device outputs a second representation of the second action on the second page based on the modification to the first representation of the first action.