Virtual Whiteboard Multi-User Interaction Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video conferencing systems limit collaboration and interaction among multiple attendees, as they primarily allow only one user to share content without enabling real-time, multi-user interaction with shared content.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for organizing visual note indicators within a virtual whiteboard user interface, allowing multiple attendees to interact collaboratively through tools like cameras, visual note indicators, and affinity classifications, with real-time responsiveness and customizable permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current video conferencing systems allow only one user to share content at a time, then the system complexity remains manageable, but the collaboration and interaction capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The whiteboard is segmented into multiple independent display regions, each associated with a specific user. Each region can display content from that user independently, allowing simultaneous multi-user content sharing without requiring a single complex unified system. The system manages complexity by treating each user's content as a separate, manageable unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to content sharing by displaying different users' content in different display regions simultaneously. Instead of sequential sharing in a single dimension, the system uses multi-dimensional spatial arrangement to enable parallel content presentation, thereby improving collaboration capability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple users can interact with the whiteboard simultaneously, then real-time collaboration is improved, but the bandwidth and processor usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each display region is associated with a specific user and displays content relevant to that user locally. The system processes and transmits only the necessary content for each region rather than broadcasting all user content to all users, reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption and processor load while maintaining real-time collaboration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial content sharing by allowing each user to access and interact with the whiteboard content relevant to their assigned region rather than requiring full access to all content. This partial action approach reduces the computational and network resources needed while still enabling effective real-time collaboration.
3Ease of operation
If visual note indicators are organized by affinity classification, then the user interface organization is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates visual note indicators as simplified representations or copies of the actual whiteboard content and user interactions. These visual notes capture essential information in a condensed format, making the interface more organized and easier to navigate without requiring the underlying system to manage the full complexity of all content and interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual note indicators act as intermediary elements between the complex whiteboard content and the users. Instead of users directly interacting with the full complexity of the whiteboard system, the visual notes serve as simplified mediators that organize and present information in an user-friendly manner, reducing the perceived system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system and method that can be used for a video conferencing system including a graphical user interface having a virtual whiteboard user interface that is responsive to inputs from multiple attendees of a video conference. In particular, the state of an application tool such as a camera, visual note indicator, web link, pen/pencil tool, highlighter tool, or other application tool executing or otherwise represented within the multi-user interaction whiteboard can respond and change in real-time as multiple attendees of the video conference interact with the virtual whiteboard user interface. The systems and methods of the present disclosure allow for a multi-user interaction whiteboard to offer various tools for the video conferencing system to facilitate interactions by multiple attendees within the graphical user interface.