Multi-Screen Layout Sharing for Remote Conference Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional remote conference systems fail to efficiently share multiple screens selected and displayed by one communication terminal with other communication terminals, limiting collaborative workflows where users need to compare and discuss multiple documents simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A communication system and method where a first communication terminal receives the selection of multiple screens and uses layout information to control the display of these screens on a second communication terminal, enabling seamless sharing of selected screens across terminals through a communication network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional remote conference systems share screens, then single screen sharing is achieved, but multiple screens cannot be efficiently shared and compared

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen sharing capabilityVSAvoidcollaborative workflow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the screen sharing functionality by allowing selection of multiple individual screens (first screen, second screen, etc.) to be shared simultaneously. Each screen can be independently selected and displayed in a tiled layout, enabling participants to view and compare multiple documents or applications at once, thereby improving collaborative workflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If multiple screens are displayed on a single terminal, then screen comparison is enabled, but other terminals cannot view the same multi-screen layout

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen comparison capabilityVSAvoidmulti-screen layout information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a copy of the multi-screen layout configuration from the first communication terminal and transmits it to the second communication terminal. The second terminal then reproduces the same tiled arrangement of multiple screens, ensuring that all participants see identical screen layouts and content arrangements, preventing loss of layout information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If screen sharing is implemented, then document presentation is possible, but collaborative discussion of multiple documents simultaneously is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument presentation capabilityVSAvoidcollaborative discussion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple screen displays into a single unified view by tiling them together in a coordinated layout. Multiple documents that would normally require switching between separate screens are combined into one composite display that all participants can view simultaneously, enabling efficient collaborative discussion without losing the reliability of document presentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11799925B2Communication system, communication terminal, and screen sharing method

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A communication system includes a first communication terminal including first circuitry and a second communication terminal including second circuitry. The first circuitry of the first communication terminal receives selection of multiple screens to be displayed on a first display of the first communication terminal. The second circuitry of the second communication terminal controls a second display of the second communication terminal to display the multiple screens for which the selection is received by the first circuitry, by using information on the multiple screens and layout information corresponding to a number of screens of the multiple screens.