Apparatus and Method for Controlling a User Screen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025377851-A1
Application number	US-202519232497-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2025
Priority date	Jun 10, 2024
Publication date	Dec 11, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus and method of controlling a display of a client device connected to an online communication session is provided and includes receiving, at a communication server from a client device, display control information assets that identify a display format and content streams being displayed on the client device operating in a first communication mode, distributing, by the communication server, the provided control information to at least one other client device determined to be operating in the first communication mode, and using, by the at least one other client device operating in the first communication mode, the distributed control information to obtain content streams and cause a user interface on the at least one other client device to have a same format and same content as the client device.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method of controlling a display of a client device connected to an online communication session, the method comprising
receiving, at a communication server from a client device, display control information assets that identify a display format and content streams being displayed on the client device operating in a first communication mode; distributing, by the communication server, the provided control information to at least one other client device determined to be operating in the first communication mode; and using, by the at least one other client device operating in the first communication mode, the distributed control information to obtain content streams and cause a user interface on the at least one other client device to have a same format and same content as the client device.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising
continually checking, by the communication server, at predetermined time intervals for updated control information; and using, by the at least one other client device operating in the first communication mode, the updated control information to cause the user interface to be modified in accordance with the updated control information.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising;
receiving, by the communication server, an operational mode signal that indicates that the client device is caused to operate in the first communication mode; and providing the operational mode signal to each of the at least one other client device; causing the user interface on each of the other client devices to display a selectable image element on the user interface to notify the at least one other client device that the client device is operating in the first communication mode; and enabling receipt of a selection by each respective one of the at least one other client devices indicating whether to operate in the first communication mode.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein receipt of the selection indicating that the respective other client device is to operate in the first communication causes the respective other client device to use the distributed control information to cause the user interface to have the same format and same content as the client device.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein receipt of the selection indicating that the respective other client device is not operating in the first communication mode causes the respective other client device to operate in a second communication mode whereby the respective other client device provides second control information to the communication server that allows a user of the respective other client device operating in the second mode to define its own display format and content.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein display control information includes display format information indicating a number of individual display windows and respective sizes for each of the number of individual display windows.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available content streams each have a respective content source identifier and is includes at least one or more of (a) first live video data captured by a first image capture device; (b) a second live vide data selected from a region within the first live video data; (c) a still image captured by the first image capture device or a second image capture device different from the first image capture device; and/or (d) data provided by an application executing on the client device.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first operational mode is a leader mode identifying the client device as the leader and causes all other client devices connected to the communication server and operating in the first communication mode to be designated as a follower and have a same user interface and content view as the leader.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the communication server from one or more of the other client devices, a mode change signal indicating a change from the first communication mode to a second communication mode, whereby in the second communication mode the one of the one or more other client devices does not use the control information provided by the client device.

10 . A communication server comprising:
one or more memories storing instructions; and one or more processors that, upon execution of the stored instructions, are configured to execute operations comprising: receiving, from a client device, display control information assets that identify a display format and content streams being displayed on the client device operating in a first communication mode; distributing the provided control information to at least one other client device determined to be operating in the first communication mode; and causing the at least one other client device operating in the first communication mode, the distributed control information to obtain content streams and cause a user interface on the at least one other client device to have a same format and same content as the client device.

11 . The communication server method according to claim 10 , wherein execution of the stored instruction further configures the one or more processors to execute the following operations:
continually checking, by the communication server, at predetermined time intervals for updated control information; and using, by the at least one other client device operating in the first communication mode, the updated control information to cause the user interface to be modified in accordance with the updated control information.

12 . The communication server to claim 10 , wherein execution of the stored instruction further configures the one or more processors to execute the following operations:
receiving, by the communication server, an operational mode signal that indicates that the client device is caused to operate in the first communication mode; and providing the operational mode signal to each of the at least one other client device; causing the user interface on each of the other client devices to display a selectable image element on the user interface to notify the at least one other client device that the client device is operating in the first communication mode; and enabling receipt of a selection by each respective one of the at least one other client devices indicating whether to operate in the first communication mode.

13 . The communication server according to claim 12 , wherein receipt of the selection indicating that the respective other client device is to operate in the first communication causes the respective other client device to use the distributed control information to cause the user interface to have the same format and same content as the client device.

14 . The communication server according to claim 10 , wherein display control information includes display format information indicating a number of individual display windows and respective sizes for each of the number of individual display windows.

15 . The communication server according to claim 10 , wherein the first operational mode is a leader mode identifying the client device as the leader and causes all other client devices connected to the communication server and operating in the first communication mode to be designated as a follower and have a same user interface and content view as the leader.

16 . A client terminal comprising:
a display; one or more memories storing instructions; and one or more processors that, upon execution of the stored i

Assignees

• Canon Usa Inc

Inventors

• Seikh Attaullah Samsul
• Murata Shingo
• Suzuki Stephanie Ann
• Huang Hung Khei

Classifications

• G06F3/1454 Primary

  involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• H04L65/756

  adapting media to device capabilities · CPC title

• H04L65/403

  Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences (data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15) · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title