Virtual Meeting Breakout Detection via Speaker Count
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large virtual meetings, side conversations involving a subset of participants can waste time for unnecessary participants and be disruptive, as multiple participants talking at once make it difficult for others to hear, leading to substantial losses in person-hours and money.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatic detection of the need for a breakout virtual meeting, which involves generating a timestamped speaker log, calculating the number of unique speakers, and comparing it against configurable parameters to determine if a breakout meeting is necessary, then transmitting an alert or automatically creating a breakout meeting room that is audio and video insulated from the main meeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If side conversations are allowed during virtual meetings, then participants can have detailed discussions, but time is wasted for unnecessary participants and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual meeting into two separate channels: a main meeting channel for all participants and a breakout channel for a subset of participants. This segmentation allows side conversations to occur without disrupting the main meeting, as each channel operates independently. The system automatically detects when a breakout is needed and creates a separate virtual meeting room, enabling detailed discussions among a subset of participants while others continue with the main agenda.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection system that monitors the virtual meeting in real-time to identify when a breakout is necessary. This intermediary component analyzes speaker patterns, participation levels, and conversation dynamics to determine when a subset of participants should separate into a breakout session. The intermediary acts as a mediator between the main meeting and potential breakout sessions, automatically managing the transition and ensuring smooth operation.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple participants talk at the same time during side conversations, then more voices can be heard, but it becomes difficult to hear any individual participant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio stream into separate channels corresponding to different participant groups. By creating distinct audio channels for the main meeting and breakout sessions, the system prevents audio overlap and interference. Participants in the breakout session can speak simultaneously without their voices mixing with the main meeting audio, ensuring clear transmission of individual speakers' voices while maintaining the benefit of multiple participants contributing to the discussion.
3Loss of time
If breakout virtual meetings are automatically created, then time waste is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the system automatically detects the need for a breakout session and creates it without requiring manual intervention from participants or organizers. The detection system continuously monitors meeting dynamics and autonomously determines when a breakout is necessary, then automatically provisions the separate virtual meeting room and notifies relevant participants. This self-service approach eliminates time waste by responding instantly to breakout needs while distributing the system complexity across automated detection and management components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer system, and a computer program product for automatic detection of the need for a breakout virtual meeting is provided. The present invention may include receiving a computerized version of a real-time conversation between a plurality of participants of a virtual meeting. The present invention may also include determining whether a breakout virtual meeting is necessary among a subset of the plurality of participants of the virtual meeting. The present invention may further include, in response to determining that the breakout virtual meeting is necessary, automatically transmitting an alert indicating that the breakout virtual meeting is necessary among the subset of the plurality of participants of the virtual meeting.