IP Library Granted Patent US 12,566,539
Granted Patent B1
US 12,566,539 · App. 18/467,844 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Privileged instant one-on-one video sessions

Inventor: Aleksandra Swerdlow (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: Zoom Communications, Inc.
G06F3/0484G06F3/0481H04L65/1069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,566,539
App. No.
18/467,844
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A user interface that enables a first user to transmit text-based chat messages to a second user is activated. The user interface can be activated in response to a user input received at a first device associated with the first user. In response to activating the user interface, a video stream representative of the second user an received from a second device associated with the second user is displayed at the first device. In an example, an indication that the first user is engaged with another user in a one-on-one video session may be displayed in the user interface. In an example, an indication of a number of other users waiting to have one-on-one video sessions with the second user may be displayed in the user interface.

Claims (55)

1 . A method, comprising:

activating, in response to a user input received at a first device associated with a first user, a user interface of a text-based messaging application that enables the first user to transmit text-based chat messages to a second user; and

in response to activating the user interface, displaying at the first device a video stream representative of the second user received from a second device associated with the second user, wherein displaying at the first device the video stream comprises:

determining whether the second user is engaged in an other one-on-one video session; and

in response to determining that the second user is engaged in the other one-on-one video session:

displaying the video stream without establishing an audio channel between the first device and second device; and

displaying an indication that the second user is engaged with another user in a one-on-one video session.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at the first device the video stream comprises:

in response to an indication that the second user is not engaged in the other one-on-one video session, establishing an audio channel between the first device and the second device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to an indication that the second user is available for a one-on-one video session, establishing a video channel between the first device and the second device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the first user meets one-on-one video session privileges with respect to the second user; and

in response to determining that the first user meets the one-on-one video session privileges with respect to the second user, displaying the video stream at the first device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, in the user interface, an indication of a number of other users waiting to have one-on-one video sessions with the second user.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a command from the first user indicating to add the first user to a list of waiting users; and

adding the first user to the list of waiting users.

7 . A system, comprising:

one or more memories; and

one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored in the one or more memories to:

activate, in response to a user input received at a first device associated with a first user, a user interface of a text-based messaging application that enables the first user to transmit text-based chat messages to a second user; and

in response to activating the user interface, display at the first device a video stream representative of the second user received from a second device associated the second user, wherein to display at the first device the video stream comprises to:

determine whether the second user is engaged in an other one-on-one video session; and

in response to determining that the second user is engaged in the other one-on-one video session:

display the video stream without establishing an audio channel between the first device and second device; and

display an indication that the second user is engaged with another user in a one-on-one video session.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions stored in the one or more memories to:

display, in the user interface, a text message indicating that the first user is engaged with another user in a one-on-one video session.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the video stream representative of the second user comprises a blurred version of a video stream obtained via a camera of the second device.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions stored in the one or more memories to:

establish a video communication session between the first device and the second device.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the video stream is displayed at the first device in response to a determination that the first user meets one-on-one video session privileges with respect to the second user.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the user interface includes an indication of a number of other users waiting to have one-on-one video sessions with the second user.

13 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions stored in the one or more memories to:

adding the first user to a list of waiting users in response to a command received from the first user.

14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

activating, in response to a user input received at a first device associated with a first user, a user interface of a text-based messaging application that enables the first user to transmit text-based chat messages to a second user; and

in response to activating the user interface, displaying at the first device a video stream representative of the second user received from a second device associated with the second user, wherein displaying at the first device the video stream comprises:

determining whether the second user is engaged in an other one-on-one video session; and

in response to determining that the second user is engaged in the other one-on-one video session:

displaying the video stream without establishing an audio channel between the first device and second device; and

displaying an indication that the second user is engaged with another user in a one-on-one video session.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the video stream representative of the second user indicates that the first-second user is engaged with another user in a one-on-one video session.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a video communication session between the first device and the second device in response to a command received from the second device to terminate a one-on-one video session with another user.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a video communication session between the first device and the second device if the second user is not engaged in a one-on-one video session with another user.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to determining that the user interface is activated within an availability schedule with respect to the second user, displaying the video stream at the first device.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying, in the user interface, an indication that other users are waiting to have one-on-one video sessions with the second user.

20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the user interface is activated within an availability schedule with respect to the second user, displaying the video stream at the first device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 7, 2025
From: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: ZOOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069839/0593 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2023
From: SWERDLOW, ALEKSANDRA
To: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064916/0576 →
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