Unified Conferencing Architecture for Seamless Multi-Channel Joining
Solution Overview
Problem
Current meeting invitation methods often require extensive preparation and can be inefficient, especially when attendees need to connect via alternative means such as conference calls or web conferencing, leading to negative user experiences and inefficiencies for both organizers and invitees.
Innovation Solution
A unified architecture that allows invitees to easily connect to meetings using various communication technologies, including phone, text messaging, or email, automatically joining them into the most appropriate communication channel, and optionally creating meeting resources if needed, while allowing organizers to be brought into the session seamlessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If invitees use typical meeting attendance methods (in-person or pre-arranged conference calls), then meeting participation is achieved, but preparation time increases and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables invitees to independently join meetings through self-service mechanisms. When an invitee cannot attend in-person, they can automatically initiate alternative connection methods (conference calls, web conferencing) without requiring manual coordination with the organizer, thus reducing preparation time and improving user experience
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary setup of multiple communication channels and meeting resources in advance. Meeting organizers can pre-configure various attendance options, and the system automatically prepares the necessary conference call numbers, web conferencing links, and other resources before the meeting occurs, eliminating last-minute preparation delays
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication channels are provided for meeting attendance, then flexibility and user experience improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal meeting access platform that handles multiple communication channels (in-person, conference calls, web conferencing, video conferencing) through a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach allows invitees to access meetings through any preferred channel while the system manages the complexity centrally, providing flexibility without increasing perceived system complexity for users
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary layer between meeting organizers and invitees, managing the complexity of multiple communication channels. The intermediary automatically selects and routes participants to appropriate channels, handles resource allocation, and coordinates connections, thereby shielding users from system complexity while maintaining high adaptability
3Reliability
If meeting resources are pre-arranged for alternative attendance methods, then connection reliability improves, but preparation time and organizer workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic resource allocation for meeting attendance. Instead of requiring all meeting resources to be pre-arranged, the system dynamically creates and configures conference calls, web conferencing sessions, and other alternative attendance resources at the moment they are needed, based on real-time participant requirements, thereby maintaining connection reliability without increasing advance preparation time or organizer workload
Data Source
AI summary
Architecture for combining an outbound contact via multiple communications modes and the joining of an invitee to a communications session (e.g., conference call, web conference, etc.) without requiring substantial authentication of the invitee, if at all. The invitee can be automatically connected to the session using the communication method of choice, for example, conference call session or web conferencing session. An invitation can be sent to the invitee through multiple communication channels such as phone, text messaging, SMS, MMS, and email. The architecture facilitates the automatic creation of meeting resources (conference call session or web conferencing session). The meeting (or session) organizer can be treated as an invitee and be contacted by an application to request join in the meeting resource. Moreover, the ability is provided to mix audio/video of meeting resources. The invitee and/or the organizer can have an interactive conversation with the invitee-join application using the communication modes. The invitee-join application can parse and understand invitee responses.