SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORMING GROUP COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN AN ONLINE EVENT

• US 20150301720A1
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golden Boy Technology & Innovation S.R.L., Shindig, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shindig, Inc.
• Inventors: GOTTLIEB, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,952,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for combining user communications are described herein. In some embodiments, indicators corresponding to online participants accessing an online event are provided on a user interface. An input selecting one of the indicators may be detected from an online participant, and a merged display of the selected indicator and the indicator of the online participant who made the selection may be presented on the user interface. In response to the input, a communications link between the online participants of the merged display may be created. The communication link may allow transmission of reception of prioritized communication between the online participants of the merged display.

Claims

1. A method for combining user communications, comprising:

providing, on a user interface, a first indicator corresponding to a first online participant accessing an online event and a second indicator corresponding to a second online participant accessing the online event;

detecting an input from the first online participant using the user interface, the input selecting the second indicator;

presenting, in response to the input, a merged display on the user interface, the merged display comprising the first indicator and the second indicator; and

creating, in response to the input, a communications link between the first online participant and the second participant such that the first online participant and the second online participant at least one of;

transmit prioritized communications to one another; and

receive prioritized communications from one another.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first online participant operates a first user device; and

the second online participant operates a second user device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein creating further comprises:

establishing the communications link between the first user device and the second user device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, in response to creating, video communications between the first online participant and the second online participant using the communications link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting any additional communications directed to at least one of the first online participant and second online participants at a lower priority level than the prioritized communications using an additional communications link.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the additional communications comprise at least one of:

communications from a third online participant accessing the online event;

communications from a plurality of online participants each accessing the online event; and

communications from at least one online participant within a group of online participants comprising at least one of the first online participant and the second online participant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is displayed on at least one of:

a first user device corresponding to the first online participant; and

a second user device corresponding to the second online participant.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the merged display displays at least one of:

the first indicator located proximate the second indicator;

the first indicator and the second indicator converged into a single indicator;

the first indicator overlapping at least a portion of the second indicator; and

the second indicator overlapping at least a portion of the first indicator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first indicator comprises video corresponding to the first online participant; and

the second indicator comprises video corresponding to the second online participant.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface is displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen; and

the input is detected via the touch-sensing display screen.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a device, cause the device to:

provide, on a user interface, a first indicator corresponding to a first online participant accessing an online event and a second indicator corresponding to a second online participant accessing the online event;

detect an input from the first online participant using the user interface, the input selecting the second indicator;

display, in response to the input, the first indicator and the second indicator in a merged display on the user interface; and

create a communication link between the first online participant and the second online participant, such that the first online participant and the second online participant at least one of transmit and receive prioritized communications from one another.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

the first online participant operates a first user device; and

the second online participant operates a second user device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, when executed by the at least one processor of the device, further causes the device to:

establish the communication link between the first user device and the second user device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, when executed by the at least one processor of the device, further causes the device to:

transmit, in response to the creation of the communication link, video communications between the first online participant and the second online participant.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, when executed by the at least one processor of the device, further causes the device to:

transmit, in response to the creation of the communication link, additional communications directed to at least one of the first and second online participants at a lower priority level than the prioritized communications.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the additional communications comprise at least one of:

communications from a third online participant accessing the online event;

communications from a plurality of online participants each accessing the online event; and

communications from at least one online participant within a group of online participants comprising at least one of the first online participant and the second online participant.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the user interface is displayed on at least one of:

a first user device corresponding to the first online participant; and

a second user device corresponding to the second online participant.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the merged display comprises at least one of:

the first indicator located proximate the second indicator;

the first indicator and the second indicator converged into a single indicator;

the first indicator overlapping at least a portion of the second indicator; and

the second indicator overlapping at least a portion of the first indicator.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

the first indicator comprises video corresponding to the first online participant; and

the second indicator comprises video corresponding to the second online participant.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

the user interface is displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen; and

the input is detected via the touch-sensing display screen.

21. A device for combining user communications, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display screen;

storage;

communication circuitry; and

at least one processor operable to;

provide, on a user interface displayed on the display screen, a first indicator corresponding to a first online participant accessing an online event and a second indicator corresponding to a second online participant accessing the online event;

detect an input on the touch-sensitive display screen selecting the second indicator;

display, in response to the input, the first indicator and the second indicator in a merged display on the user interface; and

create a communication link using the communications circuitry between the first online participant and the second online participant, such that the first online participant and the second online participant at least one of transmit and receive prioritized communications from one another.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the device corresponds to the first online participant.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the communication circuitry creates the communication link with another device corresponding to the second online participant.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the detected input is transmitted to a server hosting the online event using the communication circuitry.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein:

the storage is operable to store information corresponding to various inputs capable of being detected by the touch-sensitive display screen; and

the at least one processor is operable to receive the stored information for each input and perform a corresponding action.