Video Conference Instant Replay Using Local Client Buffers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video conferencing systems lack the ability to provide instant replays of conference segments due to privacy concerns and logistical challenges, with recordings often unavailable until after the meeting and scrubbing through long recordings being time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

Maintaining a dedicated buffer on each client device to store only locally generated audio and video data, allowing for instant replays with user consent, ensuring privacy and reducing reliance on central recording.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If central recording is used to enable replay functionality, then replay capability is achieved, but privacy concerns increase and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplay capabilityVSAvoidprivacy concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the replay functionality by creating separate local buffers on each client device that store only that device's own media data. This segmentation allows replay capability while maintaining privacy boundaries, as each device independently manages its own data without centralizing all participant data in one location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by having each client device maintain its own dedicated buffer for storing media data locally. This local storage approach enables replay functionality while ensuring that each participant's data remains on their own device, thereby addressing privacy concerns through localized data management rather than centralized storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If central recording is used to store conference data, then replay functionality is enabled, but storage requirements and system burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplay functionalityVSAvoidstorage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the storage burden by creating separate local buffers on each client device. Instead of one centralized storage system holding all conference data, each device stores only its own media data locally, segmenting the total storage requirements across multiple distributed locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each client device serves its own replay needs by maintaining local buffers of its own media data. This self-service approach eliminates the need for a centralized recording system to store and manage all participant data, reducing the overall system burden while maintaining replay functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If complete conference recording is made available, then replay of any segment is possible, but scrubbing through long recordings becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplay accessibilityVSAvoidtime to locate segment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conference recording into individual device-specific clips that are stored separately in local buffers. When replay is requested, the system retrieves only the specific device's clip from its local buffer rather than scrubbing through a complete conference recording, dramatically reducing the time to locate and replay specific segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If all participant data is centralized for replay, then comprehensive replay is possible, but privacy control over individual streams is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplay comprehensivenessVSAvoiduser control over video streams

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments participant data into separate device-specific buffers, with each buffer containing only the media data from its associated device. This segmentation allows each participant to maintain control over their own video stream while still enabling comprehensive replay capability across all participants through the aggregation of individual clips.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each client device maintains local control over its own media data in its dedicated buffer, preserving user control and privacy. The local quality approach ensures that each participant's video stream remains under their own control while the system as a whole provides comprehensive replay functionality by combining individual device clips.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12537709B2Instant replay for video conferences

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 ZOOM COMMUNICATIONS INC

AI summary

Techniques for instant replay in virtual meetings are disclosed. In an example, a method involves receiving, by a virtual conference provider from a first client device of a set of client devices connected to a virtual meeting, a request for a replay segment from a second client device. The method further involves transmitting the request for the replay segment to the second client device during the virtual meeting. The method further involves receiving replay segment data from the second client device during the virtual meeting. The replay segment data includes data recorded by the second client device during the virtual meeting. The method further involves transmitting the replay segment data to the first client device.