Video Reaction Overlays With Group Aggregation for Live Meetings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video communication platforms lack the ability for participants to easily share visual reactions in live group conversations, leading to a lack of immediate feedback and connection between participants.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows participants to select and display visual reactions within a video communication session, with the option to aggregate reactions from multiple participants when a threshold is met, providing both individual and collective feedback to presenters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If participants use traditional chat messaging to express reactions, then text-based feedback is provided, but visual/emotional expression is limited and does not convey immediate emotional reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pre-defined reaction icons (thumbs up, heart, laugh, etc.) as simplified copies of complex emotional states. Instead of requiring participants to type detailed text descriptions of their emotions, the system provides visual icon copies that represent common reactions, thereby preserving emotional information while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different colored icons and visual variations to represent different emotional reactions. Each reaction type is associated with specific visual characteristics (colors, animations) that convey emotional meaning at a glance, enabling rapid emotional expression without complex interactions
2Loss of information
If video feeds are enabled for all participants to show reactions, then visual feedback is provided, but screen space is consumed and video bandwidth is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reaction expression function from the video feed mechanism. Instead of requiring continuous video transmission to show reactions, the system separates reaction expression into independent visual icons that can be overlaid or displayed separately, eliminating the need for additional video bandwidth while preserving reaction feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reaction icons as an intermediary between participants' emotional states and the communication channel. These icons serve as mediators that convey emotional information without requiring direct video transmission, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining emotional expression capability
3Reliability
If reaction icons are displayed for a long duration, then reactions are clearly visible, but the display becomes cluttered and less engaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reaction display where icons appear, remain visible for a predetermined time, and then automatically disappear. This temporal dynamics ensures reactions are visible long enough to be perceived and understood, while automatically clearing to prevent display clutter and maintain visual freshness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic display intervals for reaction icons, where each reaction is shown for a specific duration and then removed. This periodic action pattern creates a rhythm of visual feedback that maintains engagement while ensuring adequate visibility, balancing between information delivery and visual cleanliness
4Loss of information
If individual reactions from all participants are displayed, then complete reaction information is provided, but the display becomes overwhelming for large groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual reactions into aggregated visual displays showing reaction counts or grouped representations. Instead of displaying each participant's reaction separately, the system merges similar reactions into consolidated visual elements that preserve the overall reaction information while making it easily interpretable for large groups
Solution Approach 2:
The patent selectively displays reactions based on thresholds or significance criteria rather than showing all reactions equally. By applying partial action (showing only reactions that meet certain criteria or represent significant patterns), the system provides sufficient reaction information without overwhelming the display with every individual reaction
Data Source
AI summary
A video client renders a session UI including a reaction palette of selectable graphical indicators, multiple participant windows, and video streams rendered in respective windows. Upon detecting, from a client device associated with a participant, selection of a reaction, the system overlays a corresponding reaction graphic in one or more participant windows for a defined display interval. The overlay may be positioned relative to the associated participant window or distributed to all attendees according to session policy. When multiple participants select the same reaction within a time window, the system determines an aggregate reaction state and presents an aggregated indicator. Timing, scope of distribution, and aggregation thresholds are configurable per session or user.