Independent Media Feed Sharing for Flexible Video Conference Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video conferencing technologies limit participants' ability to adjust the layout and interact with shared media items, as they are integrated into a fixed video conference application window, obscuring active media items and restricting user control over their size and position.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that captures an independent data feed for media items separate from the video conference feed, using an enhanced messaging protocol to send this feed to participant devices in a separate application window, allowing users to adjust its size and position independently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If media items are integrated into the video conference application window, then the layout is unified and simple to manage, but participants cannot adjust the size and position of media items independently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout adjustment flexibilityVSAvoiddata feed structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video conference data feed into separate components: the main video conference feed and independent media item feeds. Each media item is delivered as a separate data feed that can be independently rendered in its own application window, allowing participants to adjust size and position without affecting the overall video conference layout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to the data feed structure by creating independent media item feeds that operate parallel to the main video conference feed. This dimensional separation allows media items to be displayed in independent application windows with their own positioning and sizing controls, rather than being constrained within the fixed video conference window hierarchy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If multiple media items are shared in the video conference window, then information sharing is comprehensive, but active media items become obscured and difficult to identify

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia item visibilityVSAvoidwindow management

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By delivering each media item through a separate data feed, the patent enables each media item to be rendered in its own independent application window. This segmentation ensures that the active media item is not obscured by other media items, as each window can be independently positioned and brought to the foreground, maintaining clear visibility of the active content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The independent application window acts as an intermediary between the media item data feed and the participant's display. This intermediary layer allows the active media item to be prominently displayed in its own window, separate from the video conference interface, ensuring it is not obscured by other elements and can be easily identified and interacted with.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If media items are displayed in a fixed video conference window, then the application structure is simple, but user control over media item presentation is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser control flexibilityVSAvoidapplication window structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static, fixed video conference window structure into a dynamic system where media items are delivered via independent data feeds. This allows participant devices to dynamically create and manage independent application windows for each media item, enabling real-time adjustments to size, position, and visibility based on user needs, thereby significantly increasing adaptability and user control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By introducing independent application windows as a separate dimensional layer from the video conference interface, the patent enables participants to control media item presentation independently. Users can position media item windows anywhere on their screen, resize them independently, and manage their visibility without being constrained by the fixed video conference window layout, thus greatly enhancing user control flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12580972B2Sharing a media item to a video conference session

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Described are techniques for sharing a media item to a video conference session. The techniques include receiving an instruction to share the media item to one or more other user devices participating in the video conference session. The techniques further include capturing an independent data feed for the media item that is separate from a video conference data feed. The techniques further include sending the independent data feed to the one or more other user devices using a messaging protocol that identifies the independent data feed for the media item as being separate from the video conference data feed. The identifying of the independent data feed as being separate from the video conference data feed enables the one or more other user devices to provide the independent data feed in an application window that is independent of a video conference application window of the video conference session.