Selective Video Mute in Conference Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video conference systems cannot selectively provide a video feed to some participants while withholding it from others, requiring either all-or-none approaches, which is counterproductive in scenarios like legal discussions where privacy control is needed.
Innovation Solution
The system generates two discrete conference streams: one with video and audio for approved participants and another with audio and a redacted or obscured video for unapproved participants, allowing selective video sharing within the same conference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If video feed is provided to all participants, then all participants receive complete conference content, but privacy control is lost and video cannot be selectively shared
Solution Approach 1:
The conference video stream is segmented into multiple versions: a first conference stream containing video from all participants, and a second conference stream with video selectively muted for specific participants. The server divides the unified conference content into differentiated streams based on participant permissions, enabling selective video sharing without requiring separate communication channels.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality levels of video content are provided to different participants based on their permissions. Approved participants receive the complete video stream, while unapproved participants receive a version with specific video feeds muted. This allows each participant to receive video content tailored to their specific access rights within the same conference.
2Reliability
If video is muted for specific participants, then privacy is protected, but video must be completely disabled for all participants in prior art
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts video stream composition based on participant permissions and roles. The server continuously evaluates which participants should receive video from which sources and dynamically assembles appropriate stream configurations. This allows flexible, real-time control over video visibility without requiring static, all-or-noone approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of video stream composition by selectively muting video feeds from specific participants in the second conference stream while maintaining them in the first stream. This parameter adjustment (video presence/absence) is controlled based on participant permissions, enabling fine-grained privacy control within a single conference environment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate communication channels are established for different video permissions, then selective video sharing is achieved, but device complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple permission-based video stream configurations are merged into a single conference environment. Instead of requiring separate communication channels for different video permission levels, the system combines multiple stream versions (first stream with all video, second stream with selective muting) within one conference session, managed by a single server that handles both stream types simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The conference server performs multiple functions: it generates the unified first conference stream for participants needing full video access, simultaneously generates the second conference stream with selective video muting for participants requiring privacy restrictions, and manages both streams within a single conference session. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate communication channels.
Data Source
AI summary
Remote conferences often comprise audio and video feed signals originating from a number of participants' communication devices. A participant may disable a cameras or microphones but doing so affects every other participant equally. Embodiments provided herein are directed to enabling a participant to mute a video feed presented to some but not all participants of the conference. At the same time audio may be provided to every participant.