Virtual Room Door Access Control for Participant Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual conferencing systems lack the ability to control participant entry into virtual rooms, leading to unwanted intrusions and increased computational resources for manual management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a virtual door system for virtual rooms that can be configured to be open, closed, or locked, allowing participants to control entry through user interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual management of participant entry is implemented, then participant control over room access is improved, but computational resources and time for management increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticipant control over room accessVSAvoidtime for manual management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The door system enables participants to autonomously control room entry through self-service mechanisms. The door can be configured to allow automatic entry for participants with correct credentials, eliminating the need for manual admission by room occupants. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by providing full participant control while eliminating the time cost of manual management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring door access rules and credentials before participants arrive. Access control policies are established in advance, and valid participants are pre-authenticated, allowing seamless entry without real-time manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining control while eliminating management time through advance preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If manual management of participant entry is implemented, then participant control over room access is improved, but computational resources for management increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticipant control over room accessVSAvoidcomputational resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical management with an automated electronic door control system. Instead of participants physically managing entry, an electronic system with automated authentication and control mechanisms handles access. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing participant control through digital interfaces while reducing computational overhead compared to manual tracking and management processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The door system acts as an intermediary between participants and the virtual room, automating the access control function. Rather than participants directly managing entry or the system requiring continuous manual oversight, the intermediary door handles authentication and access decisions based on pre-configured rules. This resolves the contradiction by providing control capabilities while minimizing computational resource usage through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If no entry control system is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but unwanted intrusions and security issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidunwanted intrusions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: authentication module, decision-making module, and execution module (door control). This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive security functionality while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design. Each segment handles a specific aspect of access control, resolving the contradiction by adding necessary security capabilities without creating an overly complex monolithic system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door control system applies local quality by implementing access control rules specific to each virtual room. Different rooms can have different door configurations (open, closed, locked) and authentication requirements tailored to their specific security needs. This localized approach resolves the contradiction by providing targeted security where needed while keeping the overall system structure simple and adaptable to different requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12483676B2Providing a door for a room within a virtual conferencing system

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 SNAP INC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for providing a door for a room within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a room of a virtual space, the room being assigned a door for entry by an additional participant into the room; provide, for each of the plural participants, an interface for locking or closing the door assigned to the room; receive indication of user selection, by at least one of the plural participants via the interface, to close or lock the door assigned to the room; and provide, in response to a request by the additional participant to enter the room, a notification that the door assigned to the room is closed or locked.