IP Library Granted Patent US 11,336,865
Granted Patent B1
US 11,336,865 · App. 17/163,369 · Granted May 17, 2022

Multiple host management of videoconferencing sub-meetings

Inventors: Lin Han (Los Altos, CA); Nitasha Walia (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
H04N7/152H04L12/1822
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,336,865
App. No.
17/163,369
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

One example system for multiple host management of videoconferencing sub-meetings includes a processor and at least one memory device. The processor establishes a main videoconferencing meeting and establishes a host of the main videoconferencing meeting. The host participates using a first host client device. The processor can receive a selection of a participant to be a co-host. The co-host participates in the main videoconferencing meeting from a second host client device. The processor receives a first sub-meeting control input from the second host client device, wherein the first sub-meeting control input identifies an action to perform with respect to a sub-meeting. The system generates a second sub-meeting control input based on the first sub-meeting control input, executes the second sub-meeting control input, and discards the first sub-meeting control input so that the sub-meeting command is associated with the main host.

Claims (63)

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

at least one memory device including instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

establish a main videoconferencing meeting, the main videoconference meeting including a plurality of participants;

establish a host of the main videoconferencing meeting, the host participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a first host client device;

receive a selection, in response to a host selection input at the first host client device, of a first participant of the plurality of participants to be a co-host, the first participant participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a second host client device;

receive a first sub-meeting control input from the second host client device, the first sub-meeting control input identifying an action initiated by the co-host with respect to a sub-meeting associated with the main videoconferencing meeting;

apply a preselected prioritization to the action initiated by the co-host, the preselected prioritization based on at least one of a host client device type or a host client device location;

generate a second sub-meeting control input associated with the host, the second sub-meeting control input based on the first sub-meeting control input; and

execute the second sub-meeting control input from a host command queue and discard the first sub-meeting control input to establish the action as though initiated by the host.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises at least one of starting the sub-meeting, moving a second participant into the sub-meeting, moving the second participant out of the sub-meeting, or ending the sub-meeting.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

receive a selection, in response to a host selection input at the first host client device, of at least a second participant of the plurality of participants to be an additional co-host, the second participant participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a third host client device;

receive a third sub-meeting control input from the third host client device, the third sub-meeting control input identifying an additional command to perform with respect to the sub-meeting associated with the main videoconferencing meeting;

generate a fourth sub-meeting control input associated with the host, the fourth sub-meeting control input based on the third sub-meeting control input; and

execute the fourth sub-meeting control input and discard the third sub-meeting control input.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

determine that at least two of the first sub-meeting control input, the third sub-meeting control input, or a host sub-meeting control input conflict; and

apply a preselected prioritization to the at least two of the first sub-meeting control input, the third sub-meeting control input, or a host sub-meeting control input.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the preselected prioritization is further based on at least one of last sub-meeting control input received, issuing host client device, host client device status, or host client device activity.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first host client device and the second host client device are configured to transmit a request to move a second participant from the sub-meeting to the main videoconferencing meeting.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a network services server including a stored acceptance criteria to selectively transmit a notification of the request to and receive an acceptance of the request from the second participant.

8. A method comprising:

establishing a main videoconferencing meeting, the main videoconference meeting including a plurality of participants;

establishing a host of the main videoconferencing meeting, the host participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a first host client device;

receiving a selection, in response to a host selection input at the first host client device, of a first participant of the plurality of participants to be a co-host, the first participant participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a second host client device;

receiving a first sub-meeting control input from the second host client device, the first sub-meeting control input identifying an action initiated by the co-host with respect to a sub-meeting associated with the main videoconferencing meeting;

applying a preselected prioritization to the action initiated by the co-host, the preselected prioritization based on at least one of a host client device type or a host client device location;

generating a second sub-meeting control input associated with the host, the second sub-meeting control input based on the first sub-meeting control input; and

executing the second sub-meeting control input from a host command queue and discard the first sub-meeting control input to establish the action as though initiated by the host.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the action comprises at least one of starting the sub-meeting, moving a second participant into the sub-meeting, moving the second participant out of the sub-meeting, or ending the sub-meeting.

10. The method of claim 8 , further:

receiving a selection, in response to a host selection input at the first host client device, of at least a second participant of the plurality of participants to be an additional co-host, the second participant participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a third host client device;

receiving a third sub-meeting control input from the third host client device, the third sub-meeting control input identifying an additional command to perform with respect to the sub-meeting associated with the main videoconferencing meeting;

generating a fourth sub-meeting control input associated with the host, the fourth sub-meeting control input based on the third sub-meeting control input; and

executing the fourth sub-meeting control input and discard the third sub-meeting control input.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that at least two of the first sub-meeting control input, the third sub-meeting control input, or a host sub-meeting control input conflict; and

applying a preselected prioritization to the at least two of the first sub-meeting control input, the third sub-meeting control input, or a host sub-meeting control input.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the preselected prioritization is based on at least one of last sub-meeting control input received, issuing host client device, host client device status, or host client device activity.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the action comprises moving a second participant from the sub-meeting to the main videoconferencing meeting in response to a request from at least one of the first host client device or the second host client device.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

transmitting a notification of the request to the second participant; and

receiving an acceptance of the request from the second participant.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that is executable by a processor for causing the processor to:

establish a main videoconferencing meeting, the main videoconference meeting including a plurality of participants;

establish a host of the main videoconferencing meeting, the host participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a first host client device;

receive a selection, in response to a host selection input at the first host client device, of a first participant of the plurality of participants to be a co-host, the first participant participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a second host client device;

receive a first sub-meeting control input from the second host client device, the first sub-meeting control input identifying an action initiated by the co-host with respect to a sub-meeting associated with the main videoconferencing meeting;

apply a preselected prioritization to the action initiated by the co-host, the preselected prioritization based on at least one of a host client device type or a host client device location;

generate a second sub-meeting control input associated with the host, the second sub-meeting control input based on the first sub-meeting control input; and

execute the second sub-meeting control input from a host command queue and discard the first sub-meeting control input to establish the action as though initiated by the host.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the action comprises at least one of starting the sub-meeting, moving a second participant into the sub-meeting, moving the second participant out of the sub-meeting, or ending the sub-meeting.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the code is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

receive a selection, in response to a host selection input at the first host client device, of at least a second participant of the plurality of participants to be an additional co-host, the second participant participating in the main videoconferencing meeting from a third host client device;

receive a third sub-meeting control input from the third host client device, the third sub-meeting control input identifying an additional command to perform with respect to the sub-meeting associated with the main videoconferencing meeting;

generate a fourth sub-meeting control input associated with the host, the fourth sub-meeting control input based on the third sub-meeting control input; and

execute the fourth sub-meeting control input and discard the third sub-meeting control input.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the code is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:

determine that at least two of the first sub-meeting control input, the third sub-meeting control input, or a host sub-meeting control input conflict; and

apply a preselected prioritization to the at least two of the first sub-meeting control input, the third sub-meeting control input, or a host sub-meeting control input.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the preselected prioritization is based on at least one of last sub-meeting control input received, issuing host client device, host client device status, or host client device activity.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the action comprises moving a second participant from the sub-meeting to the main videoconferencing meeting.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 11, 2025
From: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: ZOOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071545/0573 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2021
From: HAN, LIN; WALIA, NITASHA
To: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055372/0335 →
Cited By (5)
US 12,231,478 US 12,316,689 US 12,356,116 US 12,401,537 US 12,689,667