Persistent subgroups in online meetings
OwnerViktor Kaptelinininventor
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and software for facilitating coordination among participants in an online meeting. The invention enables participants to transition between a general discussion, involving all participants, and small-group discussions. In one embodiment, subgroup members are supported in acting as a unified group during the general discussion. In another embodiment, the division of participants into subgroups is maintained when transitioning between general discussions and small-group discussions.
Claims14
A method is provided for supporting a plurality of users using a plurality of electronic devices to engage in an online meeting as meeting participants, wherein each device in said plurality of devices comprises at least a processor, a display displaying an at least a display window displaying meeting-related information, a microphone, and preferably a video camera configured to be able to capture an image of a device user, wherein said plurality of devices are connected via a communication network to one another and preferably to a network server or servers, wherein all meeting participants are taking part in a general discussion and are present in the same communication space, in which meeting participants having a conversational floor are addressing all other participants in said meeting;
- the method comprising the method steps of
- detecting a user action performed by a user from said plurality of users, said user action being a request for dividing at least some meeting participants into a set of non-overlapping subgroups according to predefined parameters included in said requesting user action;
- wherein said parameters include at least a parameter selected from a group comprising at least:
- number of subgroups, size or sizes of subgroups, names of subgroups, list of persons to be included in a subgroup, and whether or not said meeting participants can join a subgroup themselves;
- and
- displaying, in said display window, visual cues indicating which meeting participants are placed in which subgroups;
- and
- enabling meeting participants to perform at least a user action selected from a set comprising at least:
- requesting a conversational floor for giving presentation as a subgroup, muting/unmuting a subgroup, sharing screen within a subgroup, sending messages to members of own subgroup, sending messages to other meeting participants on behalf of a subgroup;
- wherein said meeting participants, divided into said subgroups, remain in said common communication space.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause a plurality of electronic devices, said plurality of electronic devices comprising devices having at least a processor, a memory storage, a display displaying at least a display window, a microphone, and preferably a video camera, said plurality of electronic devices being connected to one another and to at least a network server via a communication network, said plurality of electronic device used by a plurality of users taking part in a videoconference session as meeting participants, to perform functions of:
- detecting a user action performed by a user from said plurality of users, said user action being a request for dividing at least some meeting participants into a set of non-overlapping subgroups according to predefined parameters included in said requesting user action;
- wherein said parameters include at least a parameter selected from a group comprising at least:
- number of subgroups, size or sizes of subgroups, names of subgroups, list of persons to be included in a subgroup, and whether or not said meeting participants can join a subgroup themselves;
- and
- displaying, in said display window, visual cues indicating which meeting participants are placed in which subgroups;
- and
- enabling meeting participants to perform at least a user action selected from a set comprising at least:
- requesting a conversational floor for giving presentation as a subgroup, muting/unmuting a subgroup, sharing screen within a subgroup, sending messages to members of own subgroup, sending messages to other meeting participants on behalf of a subgroup;
- wherein said meeting participants, divided into said subgroups, remain in said common communication space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.