Virtual Conferencing System with Embedded Collaboration Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collaboration software lacks the ability to replicate the real-life conference room experience, where users can communicate and collaborate on documents and applications in real-time, as it typically restricts interactions to a whiteboard interface and lacks integrated audiovisual communication.
Innovation Solution
A virtual conferencing system with embedded collaboration tools that includes a multi-wall interface featuring a communication wall, collaboration wall, and application wall, allowing participants to communicate via audiovisual streams, collaborate on a shared whiteboard, and interact with various applications simultaneously, while also utilizing a lobby phase for pre-meeting organization and file sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If video conferencing software is used to enable real-time audiovisual communication, then communication capability is improved, but collaboration capability on documents and applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges video conferencing software and collaborative editing software into a single unified application. The interface combines audiovisual communication elements (video feeds, audio controls) with collaborative editing elements (document workspace, cursor indicators, editing tools) allowing users to simultaneously engage in real-time communication and document collaboration without switching between separate applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified software application performs multiple functions: it provides real-time audiovisual communication like traditional video conferencing tools, while simultaneously enabling collaborative document editing, whiteboarding, and application sharing. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate specialized applications for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If collaborative editing software is used to enable document collaboration, then collaboration capability is improved, but real-time audiovisual communication capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the whiteboard interface and document collaboration features of collaborative editing software with embedded audiovisual communication capabilities. Users can edit documents and interact with the whiteboard while simultaneously seeing and hearing other participants through integrated video and audio streams, eliminating the communication gap in traditional collaborative tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The application serves as both a collaborative editing platform and a video conferencing system. It supports multiple collaboration modes (document editing, whiteboarding, file sharing) while maintaining real-time audiovisual communication, making it a universal tool that replaces both specialized collaborative software and video conferencing software.
3Loss of information
If a whiteboard interface is used for collaboration, then information exchange capability is improved, but application integration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into distinct functional areas: a whiteboard/collaboration space for visual information exchange, and embedded application windows that maintain their native functionality. This segmentation allows the whiteboard to focus on visual collaboration while embedded applications handle document editing, spreadsheets, and other specialized tasks, with both areas accessible simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested interface structure where application windows are embedded within the collaboration interface. Users can have the whiteboard or communication interface as the outer layer, with application windows (document editors, spreadsheets, presentations) nested within or alongside it, allowing access to multiple applications and the collaboration space simultaneously in a layered arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, client computing device, and computer-readable medium for virtual conferencing with embedded collaboration tools, including receiving data corresponding to a virtual conference room hosted on a collaboration server and accessible to a plurality of participants on a plurality of client computing devices, the virtual conference room including a communication wall comprising an embedded audiovisual conference window, a collaboration wall comprising an embedded collaborative whiteboard, and an application wall comprising a plurality of embedded application widgets and rendering a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the virtual conference room that is customized for a user of the client computing device based at least in part on one or more user parameters associated with the client computing device.