Videoconference Relay Data Transmission Status Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transmission systems for videoconferences may fail to transmit image data due to network or terminal processing issues, leading to discomfort for users who only receive sound data, as they cannot determine if the other user is participating or if there is a system failure without visual cues.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that generates a message indicating whether only sound data is being received, allowing the user to be informed if image data is not transmitted, by managing data transmission through a relay device and displaying this information to the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the relay device transmits only sound data to the counterpart transmission terminal due to network or processing issues, then the transmission system can maintain basic communication functionality, but the user experience deteriorates as users cannot determine whether the other user is participating or if there is a system failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidvisual feedback information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The management system generates and transmits a feedback message to the counterpart terminal when image data transmission is interrupted. This message explicitly informs the user that only sound data is being received, providing visual feedback about the transmission status. The feedback mechanism resolves the information loss by actively communicating the abnormal state to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The management system acts as an intermediary between the relay device and the counterpart terminal. When the relay device experiences transmission issues, the management system receives the abnormal state information, processes it, and generates an appropriate notification message. This intermediary role enables the system to convey transmission status information that would otherwise be lost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the system transmits both image data and sound data normally, then complete communication information is provided to users, but network bandwidth and processing resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication information completenessVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth and processing resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transmitting full image data during normal operation, the system transmits only essential sound data and adds minimal overhead by transmitting a brief notification message when image transmission is interrupted. This partial action approach maintains basic communication functionality while consuming fewer network resources and processing power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the transmission parameters based on network conditions. When image data transmission is interrupted, the system transitions from transmitting both image and sound data to transmitting only sound data plus a compact status notification. This parameter change reduces bandwidth consumption and processing requirements while maintaining essential communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the relay device interrupts image data transmission to conserve network resources, then energy consumption is reduced, but users lose the ability to visually confirm the other user's participation status

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoiduser awareness of communication status
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The management system generates a feedback message that is transmitted to the counterpart terminal when image data transmission is interrupted. This message provides explicit visual feedback to the user, informing them that only sound data is being received. The feedback mechanism maintains ease of operation by keeping users informed about communication status without requiring additional network resources for full image transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2571226B1Apparatus, System, and Method of Managing Data Transmission, and Recording Medium Storing Data Transmission Management Program
Publication Date: 2017.08.02 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2571226B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2571226B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3C
  • EP2571226B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An apparatus, system, method, and program stored in a recording medium, each of which generates a message indicating that image data is not received or only sound data is received, when a relay device transmits only the sound data from a transmission terminal to a counterpart transmission terminal, and transmits the message to the counterpart transmission terminal for display to a user at the counterpart transmission terminal.