Collaboration Session Transfer via Optical Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional video conferencing systems are location-bound, limiting accessibility and causing disturbances in open office environments, as users cannot seamlessly transfer calls between different locations without disconnecting and reconnecting.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilizes a collaboration server and multimedia endpoints to transfer a collaboration session from a handheld device to another endpoint, using barcode IDs and NFC technology for seamless communication across different networks, allowing users to continue calls without physical location constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If video conferencing systems use location-bound unique identifiers, then system identification and call routing are simplified, but user accessibility and mobility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoidcall system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the user identifier from the physical location by dividing the identification system into two parts: a user-specific portable identifier (stored on mobile device) and a location-specific identifier (assigned to video conferencing system). This segmentation allows users to be identified independently of their physical location, enabling mobility while maintaining simplified call routing through the portable identifier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a portable identification device (mobile device with stored identifier) as an intermediary between the user and the video conferencing system. This intermediary carries the user's unique identifier and enables call routing to the user regardless of their physical location, resolving the contradiction between simplified routing and user mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users remain at fixed locations with stationary video conferencing systems, then call continuity is maintained, but user mobility and accessibility are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser mobilityVSAvoidcall continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static identification model (fixed location-bound identifiers) to a dynamic model where the user's portable device carries their identifier. This allows the user's identification to move dynamically with them across different locations while maintaining continuous call capability, as the portable identifier can be presented at any location's video conferencing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The user's unique identifier is pre-loaded onto their portable device in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the user always has their identification readily available when moving to different locations, enabling seamless call continuity without requiring re-registration or reconfiguration at each new location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If desktop video conferencing systems are used in open plan offices, then communication capability is provided, but speech disturbances to surrounding areas occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication accessibilityVSAvoidspeech disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the identification and call initiation function from the fixed desktop video conferencing system and places it on the user's portable device. This allows users to start and manage calls from private locations (such as meeting rooms or private offices) rather than being constrained to open plan desk locations, thereby reducing speech disturbances to surrounding areas while maintaining communication accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If users try to reach people at multiple locations, then accessibility is improved, but call establishment time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoidcall establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the caller about the current location or status of the called party through the portable identification system. This feedback mechanism enables the caller to quickly determine where the user is currently located and establish the call at the correct location immediately, rather than having to try multiple locations sequentially, thus reducing call establishment time while maintaining broad accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2599291B1Method for transferring a collaboration session

Publication Date: 2019.09.04 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

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AI summary

A method for transferring a collaboration session from a handheld device to a multimedia endpoint by encoding session data for the collaboration session and/or instructions into an optically machine-readable representation of data, displaying the data on a display of the handheld device, and optically providing the data to a multimedia endpoint the collaboration session is to be transferred to. The multimedia endpoint may send a message to a server upon detecting the data, causing the server to transfer the collaboration session, based on the session data in the message. Alternatively, the multimedia endpoint establishes a session with another multimedia endpoint based on the instructions and/or session data.