Abstract: A user device comprises a network interface, a rendering module, and a scene modification module. The network interface is configured to receive a video signal from another device via a network. The rendering module is configured to control display apparatus of the user device to display a virtual element to a user of the user device, the virtual element comprising a video image derived from the video signal. The modification module is configured to generate rendering data for displaying a modified version of the virtual element at the other device. The modified version does not include said video image. The network interface is configured to transmit the rendering data to the other device via the network. Alternatively or in addition, the rendering data can be modified at the other device to the same end.

Abstract: A system configured to host a teleconference session is disclosed. The system hosts a teleconference session between a plurality of client computing devices. The system provides transitions of displayed content between various positions of a user interface that displays a teleconference stream. The transitions can occur in response to an event that changes a state of the teleconference session, where the state of the teleconference session can be associated with a total number of users participating in the teleconference session. Accordingly, in various examples described herein, a change in state of the teleconference session can be attributed to an event in which a user joins the teleconference session or an event in which a user leaves the teleconference session.

Abstract: Described herein is a system that generates and displays an interactive timeline for a teleconference session, where the interactive timeline includes a representation of supplemental recorded content that has been added after a live viewing of the teleconference session has ended. The system can inject the supplemental recorded content into previously recorded content or append the supplemental recorded content to the interactive timeline. Moreover, the system can cause the supplemental recorded content to subsequently be displayed in one of multiple different views. Furthermore, the system can generate and/or distribute a notification of the supplemental recorded content so that participants to the teleconference session can be made aware of additional activity contributed to the teleconference session (e.g., by someone who missed the live viewing of the teleconference session).

Abstract: Described herein are techniques to display live content of a teleconference session and recorded content of a teleconference session concurrently, in the same user interface. The recorded content and the live content can be part of the same teleconference session. Consequently, if a user joins the teleconference session late, the use can catch-up on missed activity of the teleconference session by viewing the recorded content while also staying engaged with the live content of the teleconference session as the teleconference session progresses. Alternatively, the recorded content and the live content can be part of different teleconference sessions. For instance, while viewing the live content of a live teleconference session, a user can view recorded content of a completed teleconference session. Consequently, the user is enabled to multi-task by viewing recorded content of a completed teleconference session that she or he missed (e.g., previous team meetings pertinent to the current meeting).

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a living avatar within a virtual meeting. One system includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive a position of a cursor-control device associated with a first user within the virtual meeting. The electronic processor is configured to receive live image data collected by an image capture device associated with the first user. The electronic processor is configured to provide, to the first user and a second user, an object within the virtual meeting. The object displays live visual data based on the live image data and the object moves with respect to the position of the cursor-control device associated with the first user.

Abstract: Described herein is a system that generates and displays an interactive timeline for a teleconference session. The system determines notable events that occur in association with live and/or recorded content of the teleconference session. The system adds a representation of a notable event to the interactive timeline in association with a time at which the notable event occurs. Moreover, the system enables varying levels of user interaction with a representation so that the user can view different amounts of information associated with a notable event. For example, first input associated with a representation can cause first information about a notable event to be displayed to a user without interrupting a current view of content being displayed. In an event the user wants to view more detailed information about the notable event, the user can provide second input which causes second information about the notable event to be displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying a teleconference session are described. Teleconference data including display streams is transmitted to a number of client computers. Each of the streams may include at least a video and an audio component. A user interface includes a first display area rendering a first stream and a second display area rendering a second stream. An event may occur that removes a video component from the first stream. In response to the event, the rendering of the first stream may be removed from the first display area, and one or more streams of the plurality of streams may be displayed in at least a portion of the first display area. Such techniques for modifying user interface displays based on the actions of select users that have transitioned to an audio-only mode can optimize the use of a display area.

Abstract: Described herein is a system configured to generate and/or display a side chat conversation within a conference session. The side chat conversation enables communications between some, but not all, of the users participating in a conference session. Consequently, the side chat conversation enables private information to be shared within the context of a conference session. In various examples, a user can provide input that defines an accessibility life span for the side chat conversation and/or an individual communication submitted to the side chat conversation. In this way, access to the side chat conversation and/or the individual communication is limited to a defined period of time and/or to a defined number of accesses. Furthermore, the side chat conversation and/or the individual communication does not become part of a historic record of the conference session over time.

Abstract: In a communication event between a first user and one or more second users via a communication network. A plurality of video streams is received via the network at a computer connected to the network. Each of the streams carries a respective moving image of at least one respective user. The computer causes the respective moving image of a first of the video streams to be displayed at a user device of the first user for a first time interval. The computer detects, in the respective moving image of a second of the video streams that is not displayed at the user device in the first time interval, a change in the visual content thereof. In response to detecting said change in the visual content, the computer causes at least the second video stream to be displayed at the user device for a second time interval.

Abstract: In one or more implementations, a first video stream of multiple video streams is displayed at a display of a first user device. A reaction that matches an expected reaction of multiple expected reactions is detected in a second video stream of the multiple video streams. If the reaction matches one of the multiple expected reactions, the detected reaction of the second video stream is displayed at a first area of the display of the first user device. In some cases, the second video stream replaces the first video stream which was previously displayed at the first area of the display. Alternately or additionally, the second video stream is moved from being displayed at a second area of the display to the first area of the display.

Abstract: A system populates a share-tray graphical user interface (GUI) with content items that are salient to a conference session. The system can analyze computing activities that a user has performed with respect to a set of content items to determine a subset of the content items. The system may analyze the computing activities with respect to share-tray population parameters to identify individual content items that have attributes which generally increase the probability of those content items being salient with respect to the conference session. Once the system has identified the subset of content items, user interface elements (UIEs) corresponding to individual salient content items can be displayed within the share-tray GUI to enable the user to select and share the salient content items during the conference session. The UIEs may be graphically arranged according to relative saliencies so that more salient content is more conspicuous to the user.

Abstract: Techniques for indication of communication across applications are described. According to various implementations, a graphical user interface (GUI) for a first application is presented. The GUI for the first application, for instance, enables a first user to communicate with a second user via the first application. An indication of communication between the first user and the second user via a second application is presented within the GUI for the first application. In at least one implementation, the first application and the second application enable communication via different respective modalities.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques provide for the management of immersion levels and notifications of conference activities that are of interest to a user. In some embodiments, a system can monitor a conference session, that a user is not attending, on the user's behalf to determine when activity that is of interest to the user occurs during the conference session. The system can then send a notification to the user to inform her of the identified activity. In some embodiments, the notification may enable the user to control her immersion level with respect to the conference session. For example, the notification may include user interface element(s) that the user may select to observe or even join the conference session. In some embodiments, the notification may enable the user to directly share content with attendees of the conference session without having to observe or join the conference session.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques to enable a user to concurrently engage with live content and/or chat conversations of multiple conference sessions at the same time. The concurrent engagement is enabled within a single user interface. The user interface is configured to enable the concurrent engagement with live content and/or chat conversations of multiple conference sessions via an adjacent view (e.g., side-by-side, top and bottom, etc.) or a tabbed view. The live content can be configured for display in a first display region of the user interface. The chat conversations can be configured for display in a second display region of the user interface that is adjacent to the first display region. Consequently, a user is able to manage levels of engagement with live content and chat conversations of multiple conference sessions, and switch the levels of engagement to view and/or hear activity amongst the multiple conference sessions.

Abstract: Described herein is a system configured to generate and/or display a transcript associated with a conference session. The transcript can include text reflecting words spoken during the conference session and markers that describe activity that occurs in the conference session. The transcript can be used to determine an activity hotspot (e.g., bursts of activity) so that a user can efficiently and effectively locate a time in the conference session where engagement among participants is strongest. For example, via the transcript, a user can locate a moment when a general audience sentiment was “happy” or the audience generally “liked” what was spoken or what was presented during a conference session.

Abstract: Described herein is a system configured to determine when burst activity (e.g., an activity hotspot) occurs in a conference session, and to associate the burst activity with a speaker that is speaking at a time when the burst activity occurs. Burst activity occurs when a threshold number of notable events (e.g., five, ten, fifty, one hundred, one thousand, etc.) occur within a threshold time period (e.g., ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, etc.). In various examples, the thresholds can be established relative to a number of participants in a conference session and/or a duration of a conference session (e.g., a scheduled duration). The system can then communicate data indicating that a threshold number of events occurred while an individual speaker is speaking.

Abstract: Described herein is a system that enables a user to filter notable events, representations for which are presented on an interactive timeline associated with a teleconference session or a collaboration environment. The filtering can be implemented based on a type of a notable event and/or based on a specific notable event. The system is also configured to enable a user to search for instances of a type of event and instances of a specific notable event. The system is configured to provide results to the search request that list the teleconference sessions that include the located instances. The user can then select a teleconference session from the results to view an interactive timeline that includes representations of the located instances. Consequently, the system provides a tool that enables a user to efficiently and effectively locate events on an interactive timeline that are desirable (e.g., activity the user wants to view).

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying group expressions made during a teleconference session are presented. A system can be configured to provide different expressions of a group expression view in response to receiving the same indication of expression from a number of computing devices that exceed a threshold. For instance, in response to receiving an indication of a first expression from at least the threshold number of computing devices, a teleconference system can generate a group expression view that provides users with an indication of the group expression. The display characteristics of the group expression view can be changed based on a number of users providing the indication of the expression.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques to display live content of a teleconference session and recorded content of a teleconference session concurrently, in the same user interface. The recorded content and the live content can be part of the same teleconference session. Consequently, if a user joins the teleconference session late, the use can catch-up on missed activity of the teleconference session by viewing the recorded content while also staying engaged with the live content of the teleconference session as the teleconference session progresses. The live content and the recorded content can be respectively displayed in a first display area and a second display area. The live content and the recorded content switched, toggled, in response to an event. Subsequent to the switch, the system can visually share a portion of the recorded content with participants of the live communication session.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques to display live content of a teleconference session and recorded content of a teleconference session concurrently, in the same user interface. The recorded content and the live content can be part of the same teleconference session. Consequently, if a user joins the teleconference session late, the use can catch-up on missed activity of the teleconference session by viewing the recorded content while also staying engaged with the live content of the teleconference session as the teleconference session progresses. The live content and the recorded content can be respectively displayed in a first display area and a second display area. The live content and the recorded content switched, toggled, in response to an event. Subsequent to the switch, the system can visually share a portion of the recorded content with participants of the live communication session.