Automatic I/O Device Selection for Online Meetings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional web conferences require manual switching of input/output devices, leading to sub-optimal user experiences due to the selection of poorly suited webcams, microphones, and speakers, which can change during the meeting due to user movement or environmental changes.
Innovation Solution
Processing circuitry evaluates available input/output devices based on quality criteria to automatically select the best-suited device for video and audio input/output, ensuring optimal performance and adapting to changes during the meeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual device switching is implemented, then users can control device selection, but user experience deteriorates due to sub-optimal device selection and continuous manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically selects and switches between I/O devices based on real-time evaluation of quality criteria without requiring user intervention. The processing circuitry continuously monitors device performance and autonomously determines optimal device selection, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the processing circuitry evaluates I/O device performance based on quality criteria, compares current performance against thresholds, and adjusts device selection accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal device selection by constantly monitoring and responding to changes in device quality.
2Reliability
If automatic device selection is implemented, then device selection quality improves, but system complexity increases due to continuous evaluation and switching logic
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing quality criteria and evaluation frameworks before actual I/O operations begin. The processing circuitry is pre-configured with the rules and thresholds for device evaluation, allowing it to automatically select optimal devices without requiring complex real-time decision-making logic during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic device selection system is segmented into distinct functional modules: quality criteria definition, real-time device evaluation, performance threshold comparison, and device selection execution. This segmentation simplifies the overall system complexity by breaking down the complex automatic switching task into manageable, independent components that can be developed and maintained separately.
3Adaptability or versatility
If continuous device evaluation is performed, then adaptability to environmental changes improves, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs device evaluation periodically rather than continuously, assessing I/O device quality at defined intervals or triggered by specific events such as environmental changes or device state transitions. This periodic evaluation approach maintains adaptability to environmental changes while significantly reducing processing overhead compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial evaluation by focusing only on critical quality criteria and key performance indicators rather than comprehensively analyzing all device parameters. This selective evaluation approach provides sufficient adaptability for most scenarios while minimizing processing overhead by avoiding unnecessary detailed analysis of all device attributes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique is directed to interfacing a user to an online meeting. The technique includes performing an evaluation operation on a set of input/output (IO) devices available for use by the user during the online meeting, each IO device of the set being constructed and arranged to perform a same IO function. The evaluation operation assesses online meeting performance of each IO device of the set. The technique further includes selecting an IO device based on a result of the evaluation operation. The technique further includes involving the selected IO device of the set in the online meeting and excluding a non-selected IO device of the set from the online meeting. Accordingly, the best suited IO device can automatically be selected to improve the user experience. In some arrangements, rather than automatically switching IO devices, the user is automatically prompted with a recommended IO device to use.