Video Conference Recording Server Playback Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video conference systems lack the ability to record and playback conference content in real-time, preventing users from easily accessing and reviewing previous conference moments during ongoing sessions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allow users to request playback of video conference recordings by sending a playback request message to a recording server, which selects and combines streaming media information from multiple conference sites, and displays it in a user terminal with progress bars for each site, enabling users to view historical conference content during ongoing sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If video conference recording is implemented, then users can access previous conference moments during ongoing sessions, but system complexity increases due to recording server and media stream management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconference recording and playback capabilityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A recording server is introduced as an intermediary component between conference participants and stored media content. The recording server receives, stores, and manages media streams from multiple conference sites, providing playback services without disrupting the original conference flow. This mediator handles the complexity of recording and playback operations centrally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the video conference into separate manageable streams from different conference sites. Each site's media stream is independently recorded and can be selectively played back. The display interface is segmented into multiple panes, each showing content from different conference sites with independent progress bars, allowing granular control over playback of individual streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If multiple conference sites are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive conference view is achieved, but display area and information processing increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconference content visibilityVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from displaying multiple conference sites sequentially or in a single crowded view to a multi-pane spatial arrangement. Each conference site occupies its own dedicated pane within the display area, creating a two-dimensional grid layout that preserves all content while maintaining clear visual separation and individual pane control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of time

If playback of recorded content is enabled during ongoing session, then users can review previous moments, but real-time communication quality may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to historical conference contentVSAvoidreal-time communication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The playback functionality is extracted as a separate, independent feature from the real-time conference stream. Users can access recorded content through dedicated playback controls in the user interface without interfering with the live audio and video transmission. The recorded streams are processed and displayed separately, allowing simultaneous real-time participation and historical review.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2863642B1Method, device and system for video conference recording and playing
Publication Date: 2017.01.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2863642B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2863642B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2863642B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a video conference recording method, device, and system, which relate to the field of communications, and can implement recording and playback of a video of a conference according to a user requirement when the video conference is in progress. The method includes: receiving a playback request message input by a user; sending the playback request message to a recording server, so that the recording server selects recorded streaming media information according to the playback request message; receiving a combination data stream sent by the recording server, where the combination data stream includes at least one channel of the streaming media information that is selected, and each of the at least one channel of the streaming media information is corresponding to one conference site; and displaying the at least one channel of the streaming media information that is received. The embodiments of the present invention are used to implement recording of a video conference.