IP Library Granted Patent US 12,513,018
Granted Patent B2
US 12,513,018 · App. 18/616,646 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Allocating a physical space to a participant for use in connection with a virtual breakout room

Inventor: Cary Arnold Bran (Vashon, WA)
Assignee: Zoom Communications, Inc.
H04L12/1822G06V40/103H04N7/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,513,018
App. No.
18/616,646
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer assigns a participant of a video conference to a virtual breakout room associated with the video conference. The computer determines an availability of a physical space for the virtual breakout room. The computer allocates the physical space for use in connection with the virtual breakout room. The computer captures an image of the participant from a video stream associated with the video conference. The computer displays the image of the participant on a display of a computing device located in the physical space.

Claims (60)

1 . A method, comprising:

assigning a participant of a video conference to a virtual breakout room associated with the video conference;

determining an availability of a physical space for the virtual breakout room;

allocating the physical space for use in connection with the virtual breakout room;

capturing an image of the participant from a video stream associated with the video conference; and

displaying the image of the participant on a display of a computing device located in the physical space.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a remote participant uses a remote client device to attend the video conference remotely, the remote participant being assigned to the virtual breakout room via the remote client device without physically moving to the physical space.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating with a reservation system to determine the availability of the physical space for the participant; and

in response to determining that the physical space is available, reserving the physical space for the participant.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

pushing an update to a digital signage device, wherein the update causes the digital signage device to display a location of the physical space for directing the participant to the physical space.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

connecting the computing device to the virtual breakout room based on an authentication of the participant using the computing device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an identity of the participant using human body recognition; and

configuring the computing device for use by the participant based on the determined identity.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

pushing a configuration associated with the participant to the computing device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a second participant to a second virtual breakout room associated with the video conference;

determining a second availability of a second space resource for the second participant to use in connection with the second virtual breakout room; and

allocating the second physical space to the second participant for use in connection with the second virtual breakout room based on the second availability.

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

assigning a participant of a video conference to a virtual breakout room associated with the video conference;

determining an availability of a physical space for the virtual breakout room;

allocating the physical space for use in connection with the virtual breakout room;

capturing an image of the participant from a video stream associated with the video conference; and

displaying the image of the participant on a display of a computing device located in the physical space.

10 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein a remote participant uses a remote client device to attend the video conference, the remote participant being assigned to the virtual breakout room via the remote client device without physically moving to the physical space.

11 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

communicating with a reservation system to determine the availability of the physical space for the participant; and

in response to determining that the physical space is available, reserving the physical space for the participant.

12 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

pushing an update to a signage device, wherein the update causes the signage device to display a location of the physical space for directing the participant to the physical space.

13 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

connecting the computing device to the virtual breakout room based on an authentication of the participant using the computing device.

14 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

determining an identity of the participant; and

configuring the computing device for use by the participant based on the determined identity.

15 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

pushing a configuration associated with the participant to the computing device.

16 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

assigning a second participant to a second virtual breakout room associated with the video conference;

determining a second availability of a second space resource for the second participant to use in connection with the second virtual breakout room; and

allocating the second physical space to the second participant for use in connection with the second virtual breakout room based on the determined second availability.

17 . A system, comprising:

memory hardware; and

processing hardware configured to execute instructions stored in the memory hardware to:

assign a participant of a video conference to a virtual breakout room associated with the video conference;

determine an availability of a physical space for the virtual breakout room;

allocate the physical space for use in connection with the virtual breakout room;

capture an image of the participant from a video stream associated with the video conference; and

display the image of the participant on a display of a computing device located in the physical space.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein a remote participant uses a remote device to attend the video conference remotely, the remote participant being assigned to the virtual breakout room via the remote device without physically moving to the physical space.

19 . The system of claim 17 , the processing hardware further configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory hardware to:

communicate with a space reservation system to determine the availability of the physical space for the participant; and

in response to determining that the physical space is available, reserve the physical space for the participant.

20 . The system of claim 17 , the processing hardware further configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory hardware to:

push an update to a digital signage device, wherein the update causes the digital signage device to display a location of the physical space.

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 Mar 26, 2024
From: BRAN, CARY ARNOLD
To: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066901/0932 →