Shared Workspace Content Stream Coordination Without Leader Designation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional screen sharing methods require manual designation of a leader to share display data, which is cumbersome and disrupts effective communication between geographically disparate parties.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that allows users to participate in a shared workspace by coupling a user device to a client application, enabling seamless sharing of content streams across multiple displays without the need for leader designation or manual configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual leader designation is used to control screen sharing, then control and coordination between parties is achieved, but the process becomes overly complicated and interferes with effective communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol coordinationVSAvoidsharing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically manages leader designation and content sharing permissions without requiring manual intervention. When a user connects their device, the system automatically integrates them into the shared workspace and grants appropriate access rights, eliminating the need for users to manually request or transfer leader status

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that automatically manages the complex coordination logic between multiple users. It handles leader designation, permission granting, and content routing automatically, freeing users from the burden of manual control management while maintaining reliable coordination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If leader status must be manually passed to allow another party to share display data, then control over the sharing application is maintained, but the process is overly complicated and disrupts communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication controlVSAvoidtime to transfer sharing control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures multiple users as potential content sharers from the outset. Instead of designating a single leader who must manually transfer control, all connected users are pre-authenticated and granted the ability to share their screens at any time, eliminating the time loss associated with control transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts content sharing permissions based on real-time user actions and context. Rather than static leader designation, the system allows flexible, dynamic switching of active sharers based on who needs to share at any given moment, maintaining control while enabling seamless transitions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a single leader is designated to curate display data, then control and coordination is achieved, but other parties cannot share display data until leader status is transferred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination controlVSAvoidmulti-user sharing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system grants universal sharing capability to all connected users rather than restricting it to a single leader. Each user can independently share their display data, and the server manages the aggregation and distribution of multiple content streams, enabling versatile multi-user collaboration while maintaining coordination control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the content sharing function from the leader designation. Instead of tying sharing capability exclusively to the leader role, the system separates these functions so that multiple users can simultaneously have sharing capabilities while the server maintains overall coordination and control of the shared workspace

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3076647B1Techniques for sharing real-time content between multiple endpoints
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 PRYSM INC
  • EP3076647B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3076647B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3076647B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A client application coupled to a display (120(A)) generates a shared workspace that includes a content stream derived from a local user device (420(A)) as well as another content stream derived from a remote device (420(B)). The client application is configured to detect when a user device (420(A)) is coupled locally, and to receive a content stream from that device. The client application determines when the other content stream is available, and then accesses that content stream via a streaming infrastructure (410). The client application then generates the shared workspace by rendering the two content streams to a display.