Interactive conferencing system
An interactive conferencing device enables conference participants to interact remotely through multiple multimedia channels based on the configured capabilities of participants. A system used by the conferencing device consists of a server and one or more client devices. On joining new interactive session, the attributes and capabilities of the participant are determined. Other participants are notified as to the attributes and capabilities of the new participant. The interaction between participants is determined by their attributes and capabilities and that of the participant they wish to interact with. Participants can use a client device to join a session. If the device is capable of rendering a graphical display based on the capability information configured for that participant and device, participants can view multiple views rendered for the session in different regions of a display. The participants may interact with members of the session they select based on their mutual configured capabilities.
1. A conferencing device, comprising:
at least one display;
at least one processor coupled to the display;
at least one memory unit coupled to the at least one processor, the memory unit storing instructions, the instructions comprising instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
participate in a conference with one or more client-devices;
receive a list of currently participating client-devices;
receive data corresponding to a plurality display objects, wherein one or more of plurality of display objects corresponds to a participating client-device; and
display, based at least in part on the received data, a view on the display, the view including one or more of the display objects, wherein:
each display object from amongst the plurality of display objects corresponds to a client-device;
a first portion of the plurality of the display objects are arranged in a first arched row;
a second portion of the plurality of display objects are arranged in one or more successive arched rows;
each successive arched row's width is determined as a function of an immediately preceding arched row's width;
each successive arched row's width is used to determine an angle associated with the arched row; and
placement of one or more display objects relative at least one other display object is based, at least in part, on a time of entry into the conference by each of the listed participating client-devices.
2. The conferencing device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:
receive a notification that a client-device has joined the conference, left the conference, or changed its status attributes during a first time period; and
update the view according to the notification received from the client-device during a second time period.
3. The conferencing device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to update, upon receiving the notification during the first time period, the view by changing at least one of size and location of display objects corresponding to the client-devices during the second time period.
4. The conferencing device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to display a first tile showing currently participating client-devices, a second tile showing a host and any client-device the host invites to engage in public discussion, and a third tile showing a presentation received from at least one client-device.
5. The conferencing device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to resize or reposition one or more of the tiles, responsive to a user input.
6. The conferencing device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to resize or reposition one or more display objects within one or more of the tiles, responsive to a user input.
7. The conferencing device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to display a fourth tile corresponding to at least one client-device of an assistant to the host.
8. The conferencing device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to:
display a first tile showing each participating client-device, wherein a display object associated with each participating client-device shows state information corresponding to such client-device.
9. The conferencing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the instructions further comprise instructions to filter, responsive to a user input, display objects associated with one or more of the participating client-devices; and
the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to display only those display objects which have not been filtered.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising instructions executable by at least one processor to control a conferencing device to:
participate in a conference with one or more client-devices;
receive a list of currently participating client-devices;
receive data corresponding to a plurality display objects, wherein one or more of plurality of display objects corresponds to a participating client-device; and
display, based at least in part on the received data, a view on a display, the view including one or more of the display objects, wherein:
each display object from amongst the plurality of display objects corresponds to a client-device;
a first portion of the plurality of the display objects are arranged in a first arched row;
a second portion of the plurality of display objects are arranged in one or more successive arched rows;
each successive arched row's width is determined as a function of an immediately preceding arched row's width;
each successive arched row's width is used to determine an angle associated with the arched row; and
placement of one or more display objects relative at least one other display object is based, at least in part, on a time of entry into the conference by each of the listed participating client-devices.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:
receive a notification that a client-device has joined the conference, left the conference, or changed its status attributes during a first time period; and
update the view according to the notification received from the client-device during a second time period.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to update, upon receiving the notification during the first time period, the view by changing at least one of size and location of display objects corresponding to the client-devices during the second time period.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to display a first tile showing currently participating client-devices, a second tile showing a host and any client-device the host invites to engage in public discussion, and a third tile showing a presentation received from at least one client-device.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to resize or reposition one or more of the tiles, responsive to a user input.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to resize or reposition one or more display objects within one or more of the tiles, responsive to a user input.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to display a fourth tile corresponding to at least one client-device of an assistant to the host.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to:
display a first tile showing each participating client-device, wherein a display object associated with each participating client-device shows state information corresponding to such client-device.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein:
the instructions further comprise instructions to filter, responsive to a user input, display objects associated with one or more of the participating client-devices; and
the instructions to display the view further comprise instructions to display only those display objects which have not been filtered.