Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein improve existing systems by monitoring data indicative of the communication session and identifying a predefined trigger indicative of a desired engagement level of a user with respect to the communication session. A promotion action is determined that corresponds to the predefined trigger. In response to confirmation of the promotion action, the user s promoted on the user interface in accordance with the promotion action.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and promoting a user in an online meeting based on a mention of a username in a chat/audio session. The system is configured to identify meeting participants, detect a first signal that a first participant has mentioned a name of a second participant in the chat/audio session, cause a user interface to display on each client device of participants, identify a first location on the user interface at which a representation of the first/second participant is displayed, the first location being associated with a first ranking value, and promote a display location of the first/second participant by moving the representation of the first/second participant from the first location for display to a second location on the user interface, the second location being associated with a second ranking value representing a higher ranking than that represented by the first ranking value of the first location.

Abstract: An online meeting service is configured to determine whether a prospective meeting participant is among a known group of trusted users (e.g., logged in to a trusted domain). If the prospective meeting participant is validated as a trusted user, they may join a meeting without additional steps. If the prospective meeting participant is not validated as a trusted user, they may consent to have the meeting organizer view them through their camera in order to confirm that they may have meeting access. If the organizer recognizes the prospective participant through the camera image (still or video), the organizer may admit them to the meeting.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein utilize predictive gestures to preload and/or execute application components to provide improved responsiveness and loading times in software applications. In some configurations, a system can monitor user input gestures to determine if a user-controlled cursor moves into a detection area positioned in proximity to one or more selectable user interface (“UI”) elements. When a user input causes a cursor to move into the detection area, a computing device can preload or execute one or more application components in memory. The system can also dynamically adjust the position, size and/or shape of the detection area based on a number of factors, including the recognition of one or more predetermined input gestures. By dynamically adjusting a detection area, the system can optimize the predictive techniques for identifying the intent of a user for initiating preload or pre-execution operations for one or more application components.

Abstract: A system provides a notification associated with joining a communication session based on trigger events other than a scheduled start time for the communication session. The notification informs the recipient user of current contextual information associated with the communication session and to provide the user with an effective and efficient way to join the communication session (a.k.a., the meeting). The contextual information may indicate that some other user has initiated the communication session (e.g., is the first to join the communication session), that a predefined user has joined the communication session (e.g., a user's manager has joined), and/or that a topic of interest has been brought up during the communication session (e.g., one or more users start speaking about the topic). As described herein, the notification(s) can be provided based on occurrences of different types of events that occur at times that are different than a scheduled start time.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide a notification to a user that has been invited to participate in a communication session (e.g., a virtual meeting such as a video conference). The notification informs the user of contextual information associated with a meeting and provides a mechanism for the user to efficiently join the meeting. The notification can be provided based on different types of join events signaling that the meeting may be able to start. One type of join event can occur when the first person joins the meeting. Other types of join events can occur when an organizer of the meeting joins the meeting, when a required attendee is the first required attendee to join the meeting, when an external user is the first external user to join the meeting, or when a representative from each of a plurality of different stakeholder groups has joined the meeting.

Abstract: A system determines whether to obscure a portion of an image frame of a video. The system receives a video stream comprising a plurality of video frames and determines whether a portion of a video frame of the plurality of video frames includes a feature. The feature may be a detected marker in the video frame or video data that matches contents of a file marked in a database for obfuscation. The system further obfuscates the portion of the video frame based on the determination that the portion of the video frame includes the feature and replaces the portion of the video frame with the obfuscated portion of the video frame. The system may then communicate the video stream to a remote device, wherein the video stream comprises the video with the obfuscated portion.

Abstract: Online conference technology that permits failing over an online meeting to a non-video connection with the online meeting. While video is often important content of an online meeting, video connections are not always possible. The principles described herein failover to a non-video connection when a video connection is not to be made or continued between an online meeting that is hosted by an online meeting computing system and a participant computing system that interfaces with a participant in the online meeting. As examples, that non-video connection might include audio and potentially a sequence of images (albeit not video). Thus, a user might continue to listen to the online meeting, and may view presentations of image sequences, and may even view image samples of video being presented.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide a notification to a user that has been invited to participate in a communication session (e.g., a virtual meeting such as a video conference). The notification informs the user of contextual information associated with a meeting and provides a mechanism for the user to efficiently join the meeting. The notification can be provided based on different types of join events signaling that the meeting may be able to start. One type of join event can occur when the first person joins the meeting. Other types of join events can occur when an organizer of the meeting joins the meeting, when a required attendee is the first required attendee to join the meeting, when an external user is the first external user to join the meeting, or when a representative from each of a plurality of different stakeholder groups has joined the meeting.

Abstract: In a device including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the device to perform functions of storing a first modality setting for configuring conferencing-related operations of the device; receiving, from a user via a user interface, a first user input indicating an intention to join a first conference; determining whether the first modality setting is relevant to the first conference based on an attribute of the first conference; and when it is determined that the first modality setting is relevant to the first conference, allowing the user to join the first conference using the first modality setting. The device thus allows the user to join the conference without needing to adjust a modality setting and worrying about how he or she would be seen or heard by other participants.

Abstract: A method of providing a geographically distributed live mixed-reality meeting is described. The method comprises receiving, from a camera at a first endpoint, a live video stream; generating an mixed reality view incorporating the received video stream; rendering the mixed reality view at a display at the first endpoint and transmitting the mixed reality view to at least one other geographically distant endpoint; receiving data defining a bounding area; calculating a real world anchor for the bounding area using the data defining the bounding area; rendering the bounding area in the mixed reality view at a real world position determined using the real world anchor; and applying different rule sets to content objects placed into the mixed reality view by users dependent upon the position of the content objects relative to the bounding area in real world space.