Patent ID: 9538223
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06Q,H04L,H04N

Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: providing, using one or more computing devices, a synchronous communication session for a plurality of participants; rendering a primary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session that includes a first video stream of a first participant of the plurality of participants; rendering a secondary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session that includes a placeholder associated with each of the plurality of participants; receiving an input from a particular participant of the plurality of participants via the secondary viewing field, the input corresponding to an indication that the particular participant desires to view a second video stream associated with a second participant simultaneously with the first video stream in the primary viewing field; and in response to receiving the input, simultaneously rendering the first and second video streams within the primary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session, wherein a first placeholder associated with the first participant and a second placeholder associated with the second participant are included in the secondary viewing field simultaneously with the first and second video streams being rendered within the primary viewing field.