Peer-to-Peer Multimedia Conferencing File Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conferencing systems face challenges in simulating dynamic in-person meetings, particularly in terms of file sharing and privacy concerns, as they rely on centralized third-party servers, which can be resource-intensive and raise privacy issues.

Innovation Solution

A multimedia conferencing method that establishes peer connections between local and remote user devices, allowing direct file sharing and real-time video and audio communication without the need for a centralized server, using WebRTC for secure and real-time data exchange, and incorporating features like session recording and replay for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a centralized third-party server is used for document sharing in conferencing, then document distribution to participants is enabled, but server resource consumption increases and privacy concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument sharing capabilityVSAvoidserver resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the file sharing function from the centralized server architecture and implements it directly between peer user devices. Each participant's device can send and receive files directly through peer connections, eliminating the need for the server to store, manage, and distribute conference files, thus reducing server resource consumption while maintaining reliable file sharing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables user devices to serve themselves by implementing local file sharing capabilities. Each device can independently send and receive files from other peer devices without requiring server mediation for file storage and distribution, making the system self-sufficient for file sharing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a centralized third-party server is used for document sharing, then document distribution is enabled, but privacy concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument sharing capabilityVSAvoidprivacy concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the centralized server from the file sharing path and establishes direct peer-to-peer connections between user devices. This extraction ensures that conference files are transmitted directly between participants without being stored or processed on third-party servers, thereby eliminating privacy concerns associated with server-side file handling while maintaining reliable document sharing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a signaling server as a temporary intermediary that only facilitates connection establishment between peer devices but does not mediate file transfer. The signaling server helps peers discover and connect to each other, but once connected, all file exchanges occur directly between peer devices, preventing the intermediary from having access to or control over shared files

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by stationary object

If peer connections are established between user devices, then server resource usage is reduced and privacy is enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserver resource consumptionVSAvoidpeer connection management

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a signaling server as an intermediary that handles the complex peer connection establishment process. The signaling server manages SDP exchanges, connection negotiation, and peer discovery, thereby offloading the complexity of peer connection management from user devices while enabling direct peer-to-peer file sharing that reduces server resource usage and enhances privacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If existing conferencing systems are used, then basic communication is enabled, but dynamic in-person meeting simulation is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoiddynamic activity simulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic file sharing where participants can send and receive files in real-time during conferences, with files being displayed and replaced sequentially in viewing windows. This dynamic capability allows participants to share multiple documents throughout the conference, simulate in-person document exchange, and adapt to changing discussion needs, thereby enhancing versatility while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10353663B2Multimedia conferencing

Publication Date: 2019.07.16 AMPLECHAT INC

AI summary

A multimedia method comprises establishing a peer connection and data channel between a local browser running on a local user device and a remote browser running on a remote user device, performing a series of remote object handling cycles, and performing a series of local object handling cycles. The local user device includes a display screen showing a conference webpage according to the local browser, the conference webpage including an object viewing window and an object tracking window. The remote object handling cycles deal with remote file objects, such as text documents and images, received from the remote user device. The local object handling cycles deal with local file objects, such as other text documents and images, sent to the remote user device.