Video Bandwidth Adaptation via User Focus Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Video conferencing systems face increased bandwidth pressure due to higher bandwidth requirements compared to audio services, necessitating efficient bandwidth management solutions to reduce costs while maintaining video quality.
Innovation Solution
The system and method dynamically adjust the bandwidth used for video calls by monitoring user interactions and events, such as changes in application focus, power usage, and user gaze, to optimize video resolution and streaming, collaborating between video terminals and bridges to reduce bandwidth consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If video conferencing systems provide high-quality video streams, then video quality is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts video stream quality based on user focus state. When the user is actively viewing the video conference, high-quality streams are provided. When the user switches to other applications or minimizes the video window, the system automatically reduces video resolution and bitrate, thereby adapting bandwidth consumption to actual user needs while maintaining perceived quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key video stream parameters (resolution, bitrate, frame rate) based on detected user events such as application switching or window minimization. By modifying these parameters dynamically, the system reduces bandwidth consumption during periods when full video quality is not required, while still providing high quality when users are actively engaged
2Quantity of substance
If the system monitors user events and dynamically adjusts video streams, then bandwidth usage is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where the video terminal continuously monitors user focus state through application switching events and window state changes. Based on this feedback, the terminal automatically sends control messages to the video bridge to adjust stream parameters, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes bandwidth without requiring complex manual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The video terminal autonomously detects user events and self-manages bandwidth optimization by automatically controlling the video bridge. The system serves itself by using built-in operating system hooks and event monitoring capabilities to trigger bandwidth adjustment actions without requiring external intervention or complex infrastructure
3Quantity of substance
If video resolution is reduced to save bandwidth, then bandwidth consumption decreases, but video quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic quality assessment by monitoring user focus state at regular intervals through application events. Instead of continuously reducing quality, the system periodically evaluates whether the user is still actively viewing the conference and adjusts resolution accordingly, maintaining high quality during active periods while reducing bandwidth during inactive periods
Data Source
AI summary
Once an active video conference is set up and a user is viewing the active video conference at a video terminal, the video terminal looks for different events that indicate a change in focus of the user to or from the active video conference. For example, the user brings up another application and starts using the application or the user has minimized a window that is displaying the active video conference. The video terminal sends a change of focus message based on the event to a video conference bridge or another video terminal that is streaming the active video conference to the user. The video conference bridge/video terminal processes the message and changes video portion of the stream of the active video conference based on the message. The result is that there is improved use of bandwidth between the video terminal and the video conference bridge/video terminal.