Virtual Meeting Data Stream Segmentation for Bandwidth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for conducting virtual meetings over data networks face challenges such as bandwidth limitations, inefficient resource allocation, and increased complexity as the number of participants grows, making it impractical for all users to participate effectively, especially when not all users need to receive the full meeting feed.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to selectively link to specific network interfaces for real-time video, audio, and application data streams, enabling users to choose which streams to send and receive based on their bandwidth and resource availability, using a system with designated interfaces for different types of data streams and implementing data stream management to prioritize and segregate traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all users receive the complete virtual meeting feed including all video, audio, and data streams, then all users can fully participate in the meeting, but users with limited bandwidth cannot participate effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complete meeting feed into separate data streams organized in a hierarchical structure. Video streams are divided into primary speaker feeds and secondary participant feeds. Audio streams are separated into main audio and auxiliary audio. Data streams are organized into presentation data, chat data, and control data. Users can then selectively subscribe to only the streams they need, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining participation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different users to receive different qualities and quantities of data streams based on their specific needs and bandwidth capabilities. Primary speakers receive high-quality video and audio streams, while secondary participants may receive lower-quality or selective streams. This enables each user to optimize their experience according to their local resources.
2Loss of information
If users receive all data streams from every participant, then complete meeting information is available, but bandwidth is wasted when users only need specific streams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary data streams from the complete meeting feed and delivers them to individual users based on their requirements. The system identifies which video, audio, and data streams are relevant to each user and extracts only those for transmission. This eliminates the waste of bandwidth transmitting unnecessary streams while ensuring users receive all information they need for their specific participation level.
3Productivity
If multiple virtual meetings are conducted simultaneously, then meeting capacity increases, but data stream management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple concurrent meetings into a unified hierarchical stream structure. All meetings use the same organized framework of primary/secondary streams, audio/video/data categories, and quality levels. This standardized approach allows the system to manage multiple meetings simultaneously without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same management principles apply to each meeting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data stream management system that handles multiple meetings with the same infrastructure and protocols. The hierarchical stream organization, selective subscription mechanism, and quality adjustment capabilities work identically across all concurrent meetings, providing multi-functionality that reduces overall system complexity despite increased meeting throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to methods and computer program products for communicating real time data streams between a plurality of virtual meeting attendees over a digital data network. One exemplary method of the invention includes the steps of receiving a plurality of real time data streams from each of a plurality of virtual meeting attendees, of linking a first and a second of the real time data streams from each of the attendees to a first network interface, of linking only the first data stream from each of the attendees to a second network interface, and of linking only the second data stream from each of the attendees to a third network interface.