Omni-Workspace Document Editing with Dynamic Collaboration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems, such as audio and video conference sessions, limit collaboration among participants by allowing only one user to make changes to a document, preventing others from directly editing or contributing during the session.

Innovation Solution

The omni-workspace system enables multiple users to collaborate in real-time by allowing direct editing and viewing of documents, with seamless communication and task management across devices, facilitating a unified workspace environment for shared goals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If desktop sharing is used to allow users to see the presenter's document, then visibility of the document is improved, but direct collaboration capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument visibilityVSAvoiddirect collaboration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the document viewing function with the conferencing system by integrating the document into the conference interface. Multiple participants can view the same document instance simultaneously within the conference environment, eliminating the need for separate desktop sharing while enabling direct collaboration through in-conference editing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a server as an intermediary that hosts the document and manages collaboration between participants. The server receives collaboration requests from participants, manages document state, and distributes updates to all users, enabling direct collaboration without requiring the presenter to manually share their desktop.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If only the presenter can edit the document during a conference call, then document control is maintained, but collaboration efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument controlVSAvoidcollaboration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts editing permissions based on the collaboration context. The server can grant temporary editing rights to specific participants based on their roles, the nature of the collaboration task, and real-time conditions. This dynamic permission management allows multiple users to edit simultaneously when appropriate while maintaining overall document control through centralized server management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different participants are granted different levels of access rights based on their specific needs and roles in the collaboration. The server manages fine-grained permissions where some users may have read-only access, others may have editing access to specific sections, and the presenter maintains overall control. This localized quality of access rights enables efficient collaboration while preserving document integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the presenter must exit the document to allow another user to make changes, then document access is managed, but time loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument access managementVSAvoidtime to switch editors
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that manages document access without requiring the presenter to exit or switch applications. When another user needs to make changes, the server handles the permission transfer, document state management, and notification automatically, eliminating the time-consuming manual process of exiting and reopening the document.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares the document and collaboration environment in advance by pre-establishing the server-hosted document instance and configured access rights before the collaboration begins. This preliminary setup ensures that when editing needs to be transferred between users, the infrastructure is already in place to handle the transition instantly without requiring document reopening or reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3816883B1Method, system, and device for changing the collaboration state for omni-workspaces
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 MITEL CORP
  • EP3816883B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3816883B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3816883B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for communications are disclosed. The systems and methods establish a communication between at least a first user device and a second user device. Additionally, the systems and methods transfer information between at least the first user device and the second user device within the communication. The systems and methods also present a representation of collaborative content to the first user device and the second user device. Additionally, the systems and methods receive a first user input from the first user device during the communication and receive a second user input from the second user device during the communication. The systems and methods also update the collaborative content during the communication based on the first user input and the second user input.