Theming for virtual collaboration

• US 10,579,243 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, David Scrymgeour, Fernandez, Eduardo, Dunn, Richard James, Singhal, Nikhyl P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US15/267,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20170003866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques that enable a communication server hosting a virtual communication session to receive theme parameters from a remote server to control the look and feel of the virtual communication session. In one example, a method includes sending a plurality of video feeds for display at a plurality of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) of client devices coupled to a communication session. The communication session enables communication among a plurality of users of the client devices. The method also includes receiving a set of parameters of a theme to modify one or more visual properties of the GUIs. The method also includes sending the set of parameters to the client devices connected to the communication session to modify visual properties of the GUIs displaying the plurality of video feeds at the plurality of client devices based on the parameters of the theme.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

joining, by a client computing device, a videoconference session hosted by a server computing device, wherein a plurality of computing devices including the client computing device participate in the videoconference session;

upon joining the videoconference session, displaying, by the client computing device, a graphical user interface (GUI) for the videoconference session on a display of the client computing device, the GUI defining a layout of video windows for respective video feeds from the plurality of computing devices associated with a plurality of users;

in response to a trigger condition, receiving, by the client computing device and from the server computing device, a command for modifying one or more parameters that identify graphical elements of the respective video feeds and specify a modifier of one or more visual properties to be applied to the respective graphical elements of the videoconference session at the client computing device to provide a look of the GUI of the client computing device that is similar to respective GUIs of each other device of the plurality of computing devices, the command being based on a theme that specifies a first group of the plurality of users and a second group of the plurality of users distinct from the first group, wherein the first group and the second group are determined based on at least one attribute associated with video feeds of respective users of the plurality of users, and wherein the trigger condition includes at least one of;

(a) a particular time, day, or season of the videoconference session, or (b) joining to the videoconference session, at least one additional computing device not already participating in the videoconference session; and

in response to receiving the command, applying the modifier to the respective graphical elements, by the client computing device, to display in a first area of the GUI, the video feeds of the respective users of the first group and to display in a second area of the GUI distinct from the first area, the video feeds of the respective users of the second group.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the client computing device and to the server computing device, a request for a list of themes stored at the server computing device;

receiving, by the client computing device and from the server computing device, the list of themes; and

outputting, by the client computing device, the list of themes.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, by the client computing device, a selection of the theme from the list of themes; and

transmitting, by the client computing device and to the server computing device, the selection, wherein receipt of the selection causes the server computing device to transmit the command to the client computing device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the theme further specifies an image, and further comprising in response to receiving the command, superimposing, by the client computing device, the image over at least one of the video feeds.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the theme further specifies at least one of a color and a background image, and further comprising in response to receiving the command, at least one of (i) modifying, by the client computing device, a graphical element of the GUI to have the color and (ii) modifying, by the client computing device, the GUI to include the background image.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each video feed has a corresponding audio feed, and further comprising in response to receiving the command, modifying, by the client computing device, a volume level of at least one of the audio feeds.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the command for modifying the one or more parameters, specifies at least one of a different size, position, or appearance of the video feeds of the respective users of the first group than the video feeds of the respective users of the second group.

8. A client computing device, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a set of instructions stored thereon; and

one or more processors configured to execute the set of instructions, which causes the client computing device to perform operations comprising;

joining, by a client computing device, a videoconference session hosted by a server computing device, wherein a plurality of computing devices including the client computing device participate in the videoconference session upon joining the videoconference session, displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) for the videoconference session on a display of the client computing device, the GUI defining a layout of video windows for respective video feeds from the plurality of computing devices associated with a plurality of users;

in response to a trigger condition, receiving, by the client computing device and from the server computing device, a command for modifying one or more parameters that identify graphical elements of the respective video feeds of the GUI of the client computing device and specify a modifier of one or more visual properties to be applied to the respective graphical elements of the videoconference session at the client computing device to provide a look of the GUI of the client computing device that is similar to respective GUI'"'"'s of each of the plurality of computing devices, the command being based on a theme that specifies a first group of the plurality of users and a second group of the plurality of users distinct from the first group, wherein the first group and the second group are determined based on at least one attribute associated with video feeds of respective users of the plurality of users, and wherein the trigger condition includes at least one of;

a particular time, day, or season of the videoconference session; and

in response to receiving the command, applying the modifier to the respective graphical elements, by the client computing device, to display in a first area of the GUI, the video feeds of the respective users of the first group and to display in a second area of the GUI distinct from the first area, the video feeds of the respective users of the second group.

9. The client computing device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting, to the server computing device, a request for a list of themes stored at the server computing device;

receiving, from the server computing device, the list of themes; and

outputting, by the client computing device, the list of themes.

10. The client computing device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a selection of the theme from the list of themes; and

transmitting, to the server computing device, the selection, wherein receipt of the selection causes the server computing device to transmit the command to the client computing device.

11. The client computing device of claim 8, wherein the theme further specifies an image, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, superimposing the image over at least one of the video feeds.

12. The client computing device of claim 8, wherein the theme further specifies at least one of a color and a background image, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, at least one of (i) modifying a graphical element of the GUI to have the color and (ii) modifying the GUI to include the background image.

13. The client computing device of claim 8, wherein each video feed has a corresponding audio feed, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, modifying a volume level of at least one of the audio feeds.

14. The client computing device of claim 8, wherein the command for modifying the one or more parameters, specifies at least one of a different size, position, or appearance of the video feeds of the respective users of the first group than the video feeds of the respective users of the second group.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having a set of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a client computing device, causes the client computing device to perform operations comprising:

joining a videoconference session hosted by a server computing device, the videoconference session including a plurality of other computing devices;

upon joining the videoconference session, displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) for the videoconference session on a display of the client computing device, the GUI defining a layout of video windows for respective video feeds from the plurality of computing devices associated with a plurality of users;

in response to a trigger condition, receiving, by the client computing device and from the server computing device, a command for modifying one or more parameters that identify graphical elements of the respective video feeds of the GUI of the client computing device and specify a modifier of one or more visual properties to be applied to the respective graphical elements of the videoconference session at the client computing device to provide a look of the GUI of the client computing device that is similar to respective GUI'"'"'s of each of the plurality of computing devices, the command being based on a theme that specifies a first group of the plurality of users and a second group of the plurality of users distinct from the first group, wherein the first group and the second group are determined based on at least one attribute associated with video feeds of respective users of the plurality of users, and wherein the trigger condition includes at least one of;

a particular time, day or season of the videoconference session, or joining to the videoconference session, at least one additional computing device not already participating in the videoconference session; and

in response to receiving the command, applying the modifier to the respective graphical elements, by the client computing device, to display in a first area of the GUI, the video feeds of the respective users of the first group and to display in a second area of the GUI distinct from the first area, the video feeds of the respective users of the second group.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting, to the server computing device, a request for a list of themes stored at the server computing device;

receiving, from the server computing device, the list of themes;

outputting, by the client computing device, the list of themes;

receiving a selection of the theme from the list of themes; and

transmitting, to the server computing device, the selection, wherein receipt of the selection causes the server computing device to transmit the command to the client computing device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the theme further specifies an image, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, superimposing the image over at least one of the video feeds.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the theme further specifies at least one of a color and a background image, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, at least one of (i) modifying a graphical element of the GUI to have the color and (ii) modifying the GUI to include the background image.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein each video feed has a corresponding audio feed, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, modifying a volume level of at least one of the audio feeds.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the command for modifying the one or more parameters, specifies at east one of a different size, position, or appearance of the video feeds of the respective users of the first group than the video feeds of the respective users of the second group.