{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854013","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854013","title":"Synchronous communication system and method","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2013-10-16T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04L","G06F"],"num_claims":19,"abstract":"A method and computing system for providing, using one or more computing devices, a synchronous communication session for a plurality of users of a social network. A first video stream of a first user of the plurality of users is rendered within a primary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session. A placeholder for the first user of the plurality of users is rendered within a first portion of a secondary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session. The secondary viewing field includes a plurality of portions. A video stream of the remaining users of the plurality of users is rendered within the remaining portions of the secondary viewing field."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Synchronous Communication System and Method patent (US 9854013) introduces an innovative approach to enhancing synchronous communication within social networks. The core innovation lies in dynamically managing video streams and viewing fields to create a more engaging and seamless user experience. The problem being solved is the disjointed and often awkward nature of traditional video interactions, where users struggle to follow conversations and maintain engagement. The key technical approach involves rendering a primary video stream of the active speaker while simultaneously displaying other participants in a secondary viewing field. This dynamic layout ensures that the focus remains on the current speaker while keeping other participants visible and engaged.\n\nThe business value and applications of this patent are significant. By creating a more synchronous and engaging communication environment, social networks can increase user participation, improve user satisfaction, and drive revenue growth. This innovation also has broad implications for other industries, including virtual meetings, online education, and remote collaboration. The system's ability to prioritize the active speaker and manage viewing fields dynamically addresses a critical need in these sectors. The market opportunity for this technology is substantial. As social networks continue to evolve and virtual interactions become more prevalent, the demand for seamless and engaging communication experiences will only increase. The Synchronous Communication System and Method patent provides a valuable solution to this growing need, positioning it as a key player in the future of synchronous communication technologies. The system could also be integrated into existing video conferencing platforms to improve the user experience.","layman_explanation":"The Synchronous Communication System and Method patent addresses a common problem in online social interactions: the difficulty of maintaining engagement and focus during video calls with multiple participants. Existing solutions often fall short because they don't effectively prioritize the active speaker, leading to a disjointed and confusing experience.\n\nThis patent solves this problem by dynamically adjusting the video display to highlight the person who is currently speaking. Imagine a traditional video conference where everyone appears in equally sized boxes. This invention automatically makes the speaker's box larger and more prominent, while the other participants remain visible but smaller. It's similar to how a director might focus a camera on the person who is talking in a movie scene. This approach makes it easier to follow the conversation and stay engaged, as the focus is always on the most relevant participant.\n\nThis innovation matters because it has the potential to significantly improve the user experience in a wide range of applications. Social networks can use it to create more engaging and interactive video chats. Online education platforms can use it to make virtual classrooms feel more like real classrooms. Businesses can use it to improve the effectiveness of remote meetings and collaborations. The market impact is potentially huge, as it addresses a fundamental need in the rapidly growing market for online communication tools. The future of this technology could involve even more sophisticated features, such as automatic translation and sentiment analysis. As the demand for online communication continues to grow, innovations like this will be essential for creating seamless and engaging virtual experiences. This has great ROI potential for many business models.","technical_analysis":"The Synchronous Communication System and Method patent details a system designed to improve the user experience in synchronous communication sessions, particularly within social networks. The technical architecture centers around a dynamic video stream rendering engine and a viewing field management module. The system employs algorithms to detect the active speaker, prioritizing their video stream in a primary viewing field. Simultaneously, the video streams of other participants are rendered in a secondary viewing field, ensuring they remain visible and engaged.\n\nImplementation involves sophisticated techniques for video stream processing, including encoding, decoding, and real-time transmission. The viewing field management module dynamically adjusts the size and arrangement of the primary and secondary fields based on factors such as user activity, network bandwidth, and device capabilities. This adaptability is crucial for maintaining a consistent and high-quality user experience across diverse environments. The system also incorporates error correction and bandwidth management techniques to mitigate the effects of network latency and packet loss. Integration with existing social network platforms requires careful consideration of APIs and data formats. The system must seamlessly integrate with the platform's user authentication, video streaming, and data storage infrastructure. Performance characteristics are critical, with a focus on minimizing latency, maximizing video quality, and ensuring scalability to handle a large number of concurrent users. Code-level implications include the need for efficient algorithms for video stream processing, dynamic layout management, and user activity tracking. The system may also leverage hardware acceleration to improve performance and reduce power consumption.","business_analysis":"The Synchronous Communication System and Method patent presents a significant market opportunity within the realm of social networks and real-time communication platforms. The core value proposition lies in enhancing user engagement and creating a more immersive and natural communication experience. The market opportunity size is substantial, driven by the increasing demand for seamless and engaging virtual interactions. The competitive advantages of this technology include its dynamic video stream management, active speaker detection, and adaptive viewing field arrangement. These features differentiate it from existing video conferencing and social networking solutions, offering a superior user experience.\n\nRevenue potential can be realized through various business models, including licensing the technology to social network platforms, integrating it into existing video conferencing solutions, or developing a standalone application. Strategic positioning involves targeting social networks, online education providers, and remote collaboration tools. The system's ability to improve user engagement and create a more immersive communication environment aligns with the strategic goals of these organizations. ROI projections are favorable, driven by increased user participation, improved user satisfaction, and potential revenue growth. The Synchronous Communication System and Method patent represents a valuable asset with significant commercial potential.","faqs":null,"topics":["synchronous communication","social network","video conferencing","video streaming","user engagement","synchronous","communication","system"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Synchronous Communication - Patent US-9854013","description":"Explore the Synchronous Communication System and Method patent for enhanced social video. Dynamic video streams, active speaker focus, and seamless interaction.","keywords":["synchronous communication","social network","video conferencing","video streaming","user engagement","patent","patent US-9854013"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854013","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854013","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Synchronous communication system and method\" (US-9854013). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854013","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854013","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854013","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T01:53:15.252Z"}