Systems and methods for forming group communications within an online event
First Claim
1. A method for combining user communications, comprising:
- maintaining, amongst a plurality of participants accessing a live online event, a first communications link and a second communications link, wherein the first communications link comprises at least one of textual, audio, or video communications transmitted from a host to each participant of the plurality of participants, and wherein the second communications link comprises maintaining an instant ready-on mode of communication between the plurality of participants with one another;
providing, on a user interface, a plurality of indicators wherein each indicator of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a different participant of the plurality of participants, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises a first indicator corresponding to a first online participant of the plurality of participants and a second indicator corresponding to a second online participant of the plurality of participants;
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;
creating, in response to the input, a third communications link directly between the first online participant and the second online participant while maintaining the first communications link and the second communications link, wherein the third communications link comprises at least one of an intermediate mode of communication and an active mode of communication; and
transmitting, using the third communications link, additional communications directed to at least one of the first online participant and the second online participant at least one of a higher priority level and a lower priority level than communications transmitted using the second communications link;
wherein the higher priority level comprises the third communications link including video communications while the second communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications; and
wherein the lower priority link comprises the second communications link including video communications while the third communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications.
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Accused Products
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.
106 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for combining user communications, comprising:
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maintaining, amongst a plurality of participants accessing a live online event, a first communications link and a second communications link, wherein the first communications link comprises at least one of textual, audio, or video communications transmitted from a host to each participant of the plurality of participants, and wherein the second communications link comprises maintaining an instant ready-on mode of communication between the plurality of participants with one another; providing, on a user interface, a plurality of indicators wherein each indicator of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a different participant of the plurality of participants, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises a first indicator corresponding to a first online participant of the plurality of participants and a second indicator corresponding to a second online participant of the plurality of participants; 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; creating, in response to the input, a third communications link directly between the first online participant and the second online participant while maintaining the first communications link and the second communications link, wherein the third communications link comprises at least one of an intermediate mode of communication and an active mode of communication; and transmitting, using the third communications link, additional communications directed to at least one of the first online participant and the second online participant at least one of a higher priority level and a lower priority level than communications transmitted using the second communications link; wherein the higher priority level comprises the third communications link including video communications while the second communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications; and wherein the lower priority link comprises the second communications link including video communications while the third communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a device, cause the device to:
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maintain, amongst a plurality of participants accessing a live online event, a first communications link and a second communications link, wherein the first communications link comprises at least one of textual, audio, or video communications transmitted from a host to each participant of the plurality of participants, and wherein the second communications link comprises maintaining an instant ready-on mode of communication between the plurality of participants with one another; provide, on a user interface, a plurality of indicators wherein each indicator corresponds to a different participant of the plurality of participants, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises a first indicator corresponding to a first online participant of the plurality of participants and a second indicator corresponding to a second online participant of the plurality of participants; 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; create, in response to the input, a third communications link directly between the first online participant and the second online while maintaining the first communications link and the second communications link, wherein the third communications link comprises at least one of an intermediate mode of communication and an active mode of communication; and transmit, using the third communications link, additional communications directed to at least one of the first online participant and the second online participant at least one of a higher priority level and a lower priority level than communications transmitted using the second communications link; wherein the higher priority level comprises the third communications link including video communications while the second communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications; and wherein the lower priority link comprises the second communications link including video communications while the third communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for combining user communications, comprising:
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a touch-sensitive display screen; storage; communication circuitry; and at least one processor operable to; maintain, amongst a plurality of participants accessing a live online event, a first communications link and a second communications link, wherein the first communications link comprises at least one of textual, audio, or video communications transmitted from a host device to each participant of the plurality of participants, and wherein the second communications link comprises maintaining an instant ready-on mode of communication between the plurality of participants with one another; provide, on a user interface displayed on the display screen, a plurality of indicators wherein each indicator corresponds to a different participant of the plurality of participants, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises a first indicator corresponding to a first online participant of the plurality of participants and a second indicator corresponding to a second online participant of the plurality of participants; 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; create, in response to the input, a third communications link using the communication circuitry directly between the first online participant and the second online participant while maintaining the first communications link and the second communications link, the third communications link comprising at least one of an intermediate mode of communication and an active mode of communication; and transmit, using the third communications link, additional communications directed to at least one of the first online participant and the second online participant at least one of a higher priority level and a lower priority level than communications transmitted using the second communications link; wherein the higher priority level comprises the third communications link including video communications while the second communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications; and wherein the lower priority link comprises the second communications link including video communications while the third communications link includes at least one of audio and textual communications. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification