Multi-user Interaction Slate for Video Conferencing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current video conferencing systems limit collaboration and interaction among multiple attendees, allowing only limited shared experiences where users cannot interact with shared content in real-time.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that enables a multi-user interaction slate within a graphical user interface, allowing multiple attendees to interact with shared content through responsive applications like web browsers and video players, with customizable permissions and annotation capabilities, managed by a slate manager.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional video conferencing systems are used, then video streams can be displayed to multiple attendees, but collaboration and interaction between attendees is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration capabilityVSAvoidinteraction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the video conferencing system with a slate application environment, combining video streams, shared content, and interactive applications into a unified interface. The slate manager integrates multiple functions (video display, content sharing, application execution, and user interaction) into a single coordinated system, enabling attendees to collaborate on applications while viewing video streams simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The slate is designed as a multi-functional platform that can display video streams, execute various applications (web browsers, video players, messaging apps), share content, and receive inputs from multiple users. The system adapts to different use cases by supporting diverse application types and interaction modes within a single unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If content sharing is permitted between attendees, then attendees can view content currently rendered on the display, but real-time interaction with shared content is not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshared experience capabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements real-time feedback loops where inputs from multiple users are continuously monitored and processed. When a user interacts with the slate (typing, clicking, navigating), the system immediately detects the input, processes it through the application, and updates the display in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables attendees to interact with shared content simultaneously, with each user's actions immediately visible to others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical sharing methods (one user shares their screen manually) with an automated system where the slate manager actively manages content distribution. The system automatically routes inputs from multiple users to the appropriate applications and renders updates in real-time, eliminating the need for manual sharing control and enabling simultaneous multi-user interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If a multi-user interaction slate is implemented, then multiple attendees can interact with the same content in real-time, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration efficiencyVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the slate manager handles system-wide coordination, individual applications manage their own state and rendering, and user inputs are routed to specific applications. This modular architecture allows complex multi-user interaction to be managed through coordinated simple components rather than a monolithic complex system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The slate manager acts as an intermediary between multiple users and multiple applications. It receives inputs from users, determines which application should process the input, coordinates application state changes, and manages the rendering of updates across all users' displays. This intermediary layer simplifies the architecture by centralizing coordination logic rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between all users and applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12022234B2Multi-user interaction slates for improved video conferencing

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A video conferencing system includes a multi-user interaction slate for the execution of applications having a state that is responsive to inputs from multiple attendees of a video conference. The video conferencing system includes a graphical user interface having video slates provided for video streams and multi-user interaction slates for the execution of code that is responsive to inputs provided at multiple client devices. The video conferencing system can determine a current state of a multi-user interaction slate in response to inputs provided by users of the client devices in association with the multi-user interaction slate. The video conferencing system can provide data for rendering the graphical user interface, including video data associated with the video slates and data indicative of the current state of the multi-user interaction slate.