Conferencing Annotation Layer Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conferencing systems face challenges in efficiently integrating annotation facilities, making it burdensome for developers and administrators to incorporate or expand annotation capabilities within the systems or integrate them with third-party conferencing systems.
Innovation Solution
A conferencing system and method that allows computing devices to share content and accept input annotations independently of the content sharing connection, using a transparent annotation layer and calligraphic ink rendering techniques to facilitate seamless annotation and sharing across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If annotation facility is integrated into existing conferencing systems, then annotation functionality is provided, but system complexity and integration burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conferencing system into separate functional modules: content sharing connection and annotation connection. The annotation facility operates as an independent module that can be added to existing conferencing systems without modifying the core content sharing infrastructure, thereby reducing integration complexity while maintaining annotation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary annotation connection that mediates between the content sharing connection and the annotation processing. This intermediary layer allows annotation data to be transmitted independently from content data, enabling seamless integration with third-party conferencing systems without disrupting existing architectures.
2Ease of operation
If annotation data is transmitted over the same channel as shared content, then unified communication is achieved, but network bandwidth and system resources are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication channel into two separate connections: a content sharing connection for transmitting shared display screen images and files, and an independent annotation connection for transmitting annotation data. This segmentation reduces the bandwidth burden on each connection and prevents resource overwhelming while maintaining unified communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the communication architecture by introducing a separate annotation connection that operates parallel to the content sharing connection. This dimensional separation allows annotation data to be transmitted independently, reducing network bandwidth consumption and improving overall system efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If annotation tools are provided in conferencing systems, then participant collaboration is enhanced, but ease of integration with third-party systems is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the annotation functionality into an independent module that communicates through a dedicated annotation connection, separate from the content sharing infrastructure. This allows third-party conferencing systems to integrate annotation capabilities by implementing only the annotation connection protocol, significantly easing integration while maintaining full collaboration functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the annotation connection with universal protocols that can be implemented across different conferencing systems. The independent annotation module can work with any conferencing system that supports basic content sharing, making the annotation facility universally applicable and easy to integrate into third-party systems without requiring system-specific customizations.
Data Source
AI summary
A conferencing system comprises a plurality of computing devices communicating over at least one network during a conference session, at least one of the computing devices being configured to share content displayed thereby with other computing devices, the other computing devices displaying the shared content, at least one of the computing devices also being configured to accept input annotations made on the displayed shared content and to share input annotations with other computing devices over a channel independent of the shared content.