Persistent Assistant Video Placement During Shared Content

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing collaborative systems fail to effectively accommodate users who require language translators or sign language interpreters, as video streams of assistants can be resized or moved during meetings, leading to missed information and inefficient use of computing resources.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically and adaptively places a participant's video based on their role, dynamically moving and resizing the display to ensure it is not obscured by shared content, using a content tracking mode to maintain a consistent view of the assistant during content sharing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If content is shared during a meeting, then shared content can be displayed on the main stage, but video streams of participants (especially assistants) are moved or resized, causing loss of production and engagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay area of shared contentVSAvoidconsistent view of assistant

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the positioning and sizing of video streams based on real-time detection of shared content. When shared content is detected, the assistant's video stream is repositioned to a stable location that maintains visibility while accommodating the shared content display, preventing the video stream from being obscured or excessively resized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the display layout and detects when shared content is presented. Based on this feedback, it automatically adjusts the video stream positioning to ensure the assistant remains visible. This closed-loop control prevents the video stream from being lost or obscured during content sharing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If video stream of assistant is pinned to maintain consistent view, then accessibility is improved, but shared content cannot be displayed on main stage without obscuring the video stream

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistent view of assistantVSAvoiddisplay flexibility for shared content

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system resolves the spatial conflict between the pinned assistant video stream and shared content by utilizing additional display dimensions. When shared content is detected, the assistant's video is repositioned to an alternative location that maintains visibility while making room for shared content on the main stage, effectively adding temporal and spatial flexibility to the display arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static pinned position to a dynamic positioning system that adapts based on meeting context. The assistant's video stream maintains a consistent, accessible position during normal operation but dynamically relocates when shared content is detected, preserving both accessibility and display flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If video rendering of assistant moves or resizes during meeting, then shared content can be displayed, but salient information is missed and user fatigue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay flexibilityVSAvoidmissed salient information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively repositions the assistant's video stream before it would be obscured by shared content. By detecting the intent to share content and preemptively adjusting the video layout, the system ensures continuous visibility of the assistant without requiring reactive corrections that might miss critical information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12432080B2Persistent display of prioritized participants with shared content of communication sessions

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A system providing persistent display of prioritized participants with shared content. In a virtual meeting, a system can automatically and adaptively place a specific attendee's video based on the attendee's role and shared content having a specific data type. For example, a user can have accessibility settings that indicates a need for assistance. The system can automatically display a persistent display of a video stream of that user's assistant in a user interface. When content is shared, the system analyzes a rendering of the content to identify regions where the shared content is not displayed. The system then dynamically configures the user interface so that the persistent display of the video stream of the user's assistant is located in a region where the shared content is not displayed. Such features enable the user to have a consistent view of an assistant during the display of shared content.