Integrated Conference Rooms for Cross-Platform Question Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telephonic and online conferencing platforms lack integration for seamless audio/video communication and efficient participant question screening, particularly in town hall or public-facing meetings, with telephonic participants often unsupported and question management lacking in online platforms.
Innovation Solution
An integrated virtual conference platform combining online and telephonic conferencing, enabling simultaneous instances of conference rooms on both platforms, with a semi-automated participant question queuing and screening process using a web-based dashboard for filtering and positioning questions, allowing participants to ask questions live regardless of connection method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If telephonic conferencing systems are used, then audio communication between participants in different locations is enabled, but video chat between conference participants over the Internet is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges telephonic conferencing and online conferencing platforms into a single integrated system. The integration layer combines audio-only telephonic conference rooms with audio-video online conference rooms, allowing participants to join via telephone or Internet and interact seamlessly in a unified conference environment with both audio and video capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated conferencing system provides universal support for multiple communication modes (telephone and Internet-based) within a single platform. The system can handle both audio-only participants and audio-video participants simultaneously, making the conferencing solution adaptable to different user preferences and technical capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If online conferencing platforms are used, then video chat between participants is enabled, but methodical screening of participant questions is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary screening of participant questions before they are presented to the full conference. A moderator or screener reviews questions in advance, filtering and selecting appropriate questions for presentation. This preliminary action ensures that only vetted questions reach the main conference, maintaining control over the meeting flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary screening layer between participants and the main conference. This intermediary component (moderator/screener) acts as a mediator who receives questions from participants, evaluates them, and selectively forwards approved questions to the conference, thereby managing complexity while enabling comprehensive question support.
3Productivity
If telephonic conferencing systems are used, then participant question screening is supported, but parallel and timed out-dialing of participants is not implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated dialing functionality that operates autonomously to recruit participants. The conferencing system automatically dials participant phone numbers, manages call timing, and coordinates participant entry into the conference without requiring manual intervention for each dialing action, thereby increasing productivity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic and timed dialing sequences to recruit participants systematically. The system can schedule and execute multiple dialing attempts at different times, implement parallel dialing to multiple participants simultaneously, and use timed waits between dialing actions to optimize participant recruitment efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If online conferencing platforms are used, then high-speed Internet audiovisual communication is enabled, but seamless support for telephonic participants is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conferencing system into distinct components: an online conferencing component for audio-video participants and a telephonic conferencing component for audio-only participants. These segmented components are then integrated through an integration layer that allows seamless interaction between different participant types, making the system adaptable to various connection methods while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller of a virtual conferencing system commands an online conference platform to create an online main conference room associated with a meeting, and commands a telephonic conference platform to create a telephonic main conference room associated with the meeting. The controller further commands at least one of the online and telephonic conference platforms to join the online main conference room and the telephonic main conference room together so audio is passed therebetween to form an integrated main conference room. A similar process is used to create an integrated screener room. The controller stores a question queue identifying both online and telephonic attendees who have questions. Attendees who have an unscreened question are moved into either an online or telephonic part of the integrated screener room depending on the way the attendee joined the meeting. Moderators move both telephonic and online attendees with screened questions into the main conference room.