Gaze-Triggered Private Channels Without Disrupting Video Conferences

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual communication technologies do not effectively facilitate side conversations or private discussions among participants in shared virtual environments, such as video conferences, without disrupting the main conversation.

Innovation Solution

The system detects participants' gazes using vision sensors and establishes a private second video conference call between participants whose gazes overlap temporally, allowing for direct communication without affecting other participants in the main conference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a private communication channel is established between participants in a shared virtual environment, then direct private discussion is enabled, but the system complexity increases due to need for gaze detection and dynamic channel management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivate communication capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects participant gazes and establishes private communication channels without requiring manual intervention. The gaze detection system self-services the channel establishment process by monitoring eye contact patterns and automatically creating private channels when criteria are met, eliminating the need for users to manually configure private communication settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary gaze detection system that mediates between participants and the communication channel establishment. This intermediary layer analyzes eye contact patterns and automatically triggers private channel creation, simplifying the user experience while managing the underlying system complexity through automated intermediation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If gaze detection is implemented to identify participants for private channels, then automatic private channel establishment is enabled, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to need for eye tracking technology

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic channel establishmentVSAvoidgaze detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a multi-functional vision sensor that serves both as a participant video feed camera and as a gaze detection device. By making the camera universal, it performs dual functions: capturing video for communication and detecting eye contact patterns for automatic channel establishment, thereby reducing the need for separate specialized sensors and lowering detection complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical eye tracking systems with a simplified vision-based detection approach using standard cameras. Instead of requiring specialized mechanical eye tracking hardware, the system uses image processing of video feeds to detect gaze direction, substituting mechanical complexity with computational analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If private video conference calls are established between subsets of participants, then direct communication is enabled, but the loss of information increases due to separation from main conference context

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect communication easeVSAvoidcontext information loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The private communication channel is nested within the shared virtual environment rather than completely separating participants. The private channel operates as a nested layer that maintains connection to the broader conference context, allowing participants to engage in private discussion while remaining part of the overall meeting structure and accessible to rejoin the main conference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication system is segmented into multiple independent channels (main conference and private channels) that can operate simultaneously. This segmentation allows direct private communication while maintaining the main conference as a separate but connected entity, enabling participants to switch between contexts as needed without complete isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12347235B2Establishing private communication channels

Publication Date: 2025.07.01 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Examples are described herein for establishing private communication channels. In various examples, camera-acquired eye tracking data if participants in a first video conference call may be monitored. Based on the monitoring, it may be determined that gazes of a subset of the participants collectively satisfy a criterion, wherein the subset includes a plurality of the participants in the first video conference call. In response to the determining that the gazes of the subset of participants collectively satisfy the criterion, a private second video conference call between the plurality of the participants is established.