Virtual Meeting Handoff That Keeps Telephone Call Audio Live
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to seamlessly transition audio-only callers in telephone calls to virtual meetings, often requiring manual switching to client applications and causing missed conversations during the transition.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detects a request to switch a telephone call to a virtual meeting, transmitting a message to the audio-only caller's device to connect it to the virtual meeting, maintaining the telephone call as an audio channel, using push notifications or text messages based on the presence of a client application, and authenticating the caller to access video, screen share, or file transfer functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual switching to client applications is used for transition, then participants can access virtual meeting features, but audio-only callers miss conversations during the transition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the telephone call audio stream with the virtual meeting audio channel by maintaining the telephone call as the audio channel for audio-only callers within the virtual meeting system. This integration allows seamless transition where callers remain on the same audio stream while gaining access to video, screen sharing, and chat features, eliminating the need to switch applications and preventing missed conversations.
2Ease of operation
If automatic detection and message transmission is implemented, then transition to virtual meeting is seamless, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation by detecting when participants are in a telephone call and automatically transmitting messages with virtual meeting information. The system monitors call states, identifies eligible participants, and proactively sends invitation messages without requiring manual intervention, thereby simplifying the user experience while managing complexity through automated workflows.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by detecting participant responses to transmitted messages and automatically adjusting the transition process. When a participant interacts with the message (e.g., clicking a link or responding), the system receives feedback and completes the transition by connecting them to the virtual meeting, creating a closed-loop automated process that adapts to user actions.
3Reliability
If authentication is performed for security, then virtual meeting access is protected, but transition process is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by verifying participant identities and permissions before the transition is initiated. By pre-authenticating users and establishing their access rights in advance, the system reduces authentication delays during the actual transition moment, allowing seamless connection to the virtual meeting while maintaining security protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
A telephone call is elevated to a virtual meeting while maintaining the telephone call as an audio channel of the virtual meeting for an audio-only caller. During a telephone call, one of the participants of the telephone call requests to switch the telephone call to a virtual meeting. To enable an audio-only caller participating in the telephone call to switch to the virtual meeting, a message is transmitted to the phone device of the audio-only caller. Responsive to an interaction with the message at the phone device, the phone device is connected to the virtual meeting in which the telephone call is maintained as the audio channel at least for the audio-only caller. The specific form and content of the message is based on whether a client application associated with a web service used to implement the virtual meeting is installed on the phone device.