Abstract: Aspects of this present disclosure relate to hybrid conference user interface. The hybrid conference interface provides an establishing shot before the meeting begins that places meeting attendees in a specific spatial arrangement, such as in specific seats around a conference table. Upon starting the conference, the hybrid user interface renders an appropriate perspective view of the meeting that is tailored to each attendee's perspective while also being spatially consistent for the entire group of attendees. Allowing attendees to place themselves where they want gives attendees a sense of physical space that helps them stay spatially oriented relative to the other people and resources in the room.

Abstract: Aspects of this present disclosure relate to hybrid conference user interface. The hybrid conference interface provides an establishing shot before the meeting begins that places meeting attendees in a specific spatial arrangement, such as in specific seats around a conference table. Upon starting the conference, the hybrid user interface renders an appropriate perspective view of the meeting that is tailored to each attendee's perspective while also being spatially consistent for the entire group of attendees. Allowing attendees to place themselves where they want gives attendees a sense of physical space that helps them stay spatially oriented relative to the other people and resources in the room.

Abstract: Aspects of this present disclosure relate to hybrid conference user interface. The hybrid conference interface provides an establishing shot before the meeting begins that places meeting attendees in a specific spatial arrangement, such as in specific seats around a conference table. Upon starting the conference, the hybrid user interface renders an appropriate perspective view of the meeting that is tailored to each attendee's perspective while also being spatially consistent for the entire group of attendees. Allowing attendees to place themselves where they want gives attendees a sense of physical space that helps them stay spatially oriented relative to the other people and resources in the room.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure are directed towards providing contextual information (such as high resolution still images) during an audio or video call. A receiver of the contextual information may send commands to the sending device to specify a desired resolution and frame rate of such images. A receiving user also may determine how to display any video call frames and/or the contextual information on one or more display devices available to the receiving user. Other contextual information such as location-related data by which a user can determine and display a location of the other call participant (or participants) may be transmitted during the call.

Abstract: According to a disclosed example, a first video stream is captured via a first camera associated with a first communication device engaged in a multi-party video conference. The first video stream includes a plurality of two-dimensional image frames. A subset of pixels corresponding to a first human subject is identified within each image frame of the first video stream. A second video stream is captured via a second camera associated with a second communication device engaged in the multi-party video conference. A composite video stream formed by at least a portion of the second video stream and the subset of pixels of the first video stream is rendered, and the composite video stream is output for display at one or more of the first and/or second communication devices. The composite video stream may provide the appearance of remotely located participants being physically present within the same visual scene.

Abstract: A communication augmentation agent (CAA) is described herein which presents a shared user experience to at least a first user and a second user. In one manner of operation, the CAA operates by intelligently determining. (1) when to offer a shared user experience to the users; (b) the particular form of the shared user experience; and (c) the manner of delivering the shared user experience to the users. In determining the form of the shared experience, the CAA can optionally customize the shared resource so that it includes common-interest information and, with respect to each user, user-specific information. The CAA also includes a mechanism by which a registered user may invite a non-registered user to take part in the shared user experience.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.

Abstract: Participants of a group of participants in a chat may be associated with neighborhoods. A neighborhood associated with a participant includes a subset of the participants and represents the participants whose messages the associated participant can see in the chat. When a participant generates a message, the message is presented to an audience that includes each participant with the participant that generated the message in their associated neighborhood. As the message receives indications of approval (e.g., “likes”), the size of the audience is increased to include additional participants. Once the message receives a threshold number of indications of approval, the message may be displayed to all of the participants in the chat. The size of the neighborhoods may be dynamically adjusted based on the number of messages that are generated in each neighborhood to keep the number of messages that are presented within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to enabling a lightweight way of recording and sharing video messages intended to provide input to a future meeting that cannot be personally attended. A person who cannot attend the meeting pre-records their thoughts and remarks for the meeting as video clips for presentation at the meeting. A physical device with at least a display is presented at the meeting. The physically present participants can play the pre-recorded clips on the device. Video of participants' responses to the clips is recorded and made available so that the represented attendee can view the participants' responses.

Abstract: Participants of a group of participants in a chat may be associated with neighborhoods. A neighborhood associated with a participant includes a subset of the participants and represents the participants whose messages the associated participant can see in the chat. When a participant generates a message, the message is presented to an audience that includes each participant with the participant that generated the message in their associated neighborhood. As the message receives indications of approval (e.g., “likes”), the size of the audience is increased to include additional participants. Once the message receives a threshold number of indications of approval, the message may be displayed to all of the participants in the chat. The size of the neighborhoods may be dynamically adjusted based on the number of messages that are generated in each neighborhood to keep the number of messages that are presented within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for placeholder management in a unified activity manager in a collaborative computing environment. A method for managing placeholders in a unified activity manager in a collaborative environment can include the step of inserting a placeholder in an activity in lieu of a specified collaborator, resource, or event. The inserting step can include describing a type of resource without specifying an identity of an actual resource; and, inserting the described type in the placeholder. The inserting step also can include describing a type of event without specifying an identity of an actual event; and, inserting the described type in the placeholder. The inserting step also can include describing a type of collaborator without specifying an identity of an actual collaborator; and, inserting the described type in the placeholder.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to enabling a lightweight way of recording and sharing video messages intended to provide input to a future meeting that cannot be personally attended. A person who cannot attend the meeting pre-records their thoughts and remarks for the meeting as video clips for presentation at the meeting. A physical device with at least a display is presented at the meeting. The physically present participants can play the pre-recorded clips on the device. Video of participants' responses to the clips is recorded and made available so that the represented attendee can view the participants' responses.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to enabling a lightweight way of recording and sharing video messages intended to provide input to a future meeting that cannot be personally attended. A person who cannot attend the meeting pre-records their thoughts and remarks for the meeting as video clips for presentation at the meeting. A physical device with at least a display is presented at the meeting. The physically present participants can play the pre-recorded clips on the device. Video of participants' responses to the clips is recorded and made available so that the represented attendee can view the participants' responses.

Abstract: A communication system is described herein which provides an indicator that helps hub participants of a meeting (or other environmental setting) determine a direction of attention of a satellite participant (who is not physically present at the meeting). The indicator can be implemented as a mechanical pointer, a solid-state display mechanism, a rotating display mechanism, a display mechanism which presents visual information that reflects directionality, and so on. The communication system can assess the directionality of the satellite participant based on any combination of control inputs from explicit input mechanism(s) and/or implicit input mechanism(s). The communication system can also choose between explicit and/or implicit control of the indicator based on at least one selection criterion.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure are directed towards providing contextual information (such as high resolution still images) during an audio or video call. A receiver of the contextual information may send commands to the sending device to specify a desired resolution and frame rate of such images. A receiving user also may determine how to display any video call frames and/or the contextual information on one or more display devices available to the receiving user. Other contextual information such as location-related data by which a user can determine and display a location of the other call participant (or participants) may be transmitted during the call.

Abstract: A Media Presentation System (MPS) identifies a user's current activity and then attempts to deliver one or more media items that are relevant to the user's current activity. In other words, those media items are determined to exhibit a pattern of previous user activity that matches the user's current activity. In one case, the MPS may determine that the user is engaged in a communication system with another user, using a communication system, such as a video communication system. In response, the MPS can present media items that pertain to the two users in the course of their communication session. For instance, at least some of the media items may have been captured in previous communication sessions between the two users.

Abstract: A communication augmentation agent (CAA) is described herein which presents a shared user experience to at least a first user and a second user. In one manner of operation, the CAA operates by intelligently determining. (1) when to offer a shared user experience to the users; (b) the particular form of the shared user experience; and (c) the manner of delivering the shared user experience to the users. In determining the form of the shared experience, the CAA can optionally customize the shared resource so that it includes common-interest information and, with respect to each user, user-specific information. The CAA also includes a mechanism by which a registered user may invite a non-registered user to take part in the shared user experience.