Theming for virtual collaboration

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques that enable a communication server hosting a virtual communication session to receive theme parameters from a remote server to control the look and feel of the virtual communication session. In one example, a method includes sending a plurality of video feeds for display at a plurality of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) of client devices coupled to a communication session. The communication session enables communication among a plurality of users of the client devices. The method also includes receiving a set of parameters of a theme to modify one or more visual properties of the GUIs. The method also includes sending the set of parameters to the client devices connected to the communication session to modify visual properties of the GUIs displaying the plurality of video feeds at the plurality of client devices based on the parameters of the theme.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 sending a request to a server computing device from a source computing device associated with a source user, to initiate a videoconference session including a plurality of computing devices associated with respective participants;   selecting a layout theme, wherein the layout theme is associated with at least a one parameter to modify a visual property of at least one graphical element of a videoconference layout for display on each of the plurality of computing devices during the videoconference session, wherein the at least one parameter specifies a trigger condition to modify the visual property;   sending, by the source computing device, the selected layout theme to the server computing device to provide the at least one parameter to the plurality of computing devices to modify the visual property of the at least one graphical element of a videoconference graphical user interface (GUI) generated at each of the plurality of computing devices, wherein each videoconference GUI of the plurality of computing device has a similar look, and wherein the at least one graphical element includes video windows for respective video feeds from the plurality of computing devices; and   upon occurrence of the trigger condition, applying the at least one parameter to the respective video feeds.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the visual property includes at least one of chrominance or luminance applied to the video windows. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the visual property Preliminary Amendment  3  includes applying a background image. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one parameter includes identification of a group of graphical elements of the at least one graphical element by specifying a respective unique identifier of each graphical element of the group of graphical elements. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one parameter includes a first parameter and a second parameter, and the method further comprises:
 receiving the video feeds and respective user attributes associated with each video feed;   identifying a first group and a second group of the plurality of computing devices associated with a first group attribute and a second group attribute, respectively; and   applying the first parameter to each video feed of the first group attribute and the second parameter to each video feed of the second group attribute.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising sending by the source computing device to at least a subset of the plurality of computing devices associated with respective participants, invitations to join the videoconference session. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing on a GUI of the source computing device, indications of one or more layout themes from which a user of the source computing device selects the selected layout theme. 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to perform operations comprising:
 sending a request to a server computing device from a source computing device associated with a source user, to initiate a videoconference session including a plurality of computing devices associated with respective participants; 
 selecting a layout theme, wherein the layout theme is associated with at least a one parameter to modify a visual property of at least one graphical element of a videoconference layout for display on each of the plurality of computing devices during the videoconference session, wherein the at least one parameter specifies a trigger condition to modify the visual property; 
 sending, by the source computing device, the selected layout theme to the server computing device to provide the at least one parameter to the plurality of computing devices to modify the visual property of the at least one graphical element of a videoconference graphical user interface (GUI) generated at each of the plurality of computing devices, wherein each videoconference GUI of the plurality of computing device has a similar look, and wherein the at least one graphical element includes video windows for respective video feeds from the plurality of computing devices; and 
 upon occurrence of the trigger condition, applying the at least one parameter to the respective video feeds. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the visual property includes at least one of chrominance or luminance applied to the video windows. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the visual property includes applying a background image. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one parameter includes identification of a group of graphical elements of the at least one graphical element by specifying a respective unique identifier of each graphical element of the group of graphical elements. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one parameter includes a first parameter and a second parameter, and the operations further comprise:
 receiving the video feeds and respective user attributes associated with each video feed;   identifying a first group and a second group of the plurality of computing devices associated with a first group attribute and a second group attribute, respectively; and   applying the first parameter to each video feed of the first group attribute and the second parameter to each video feed of the second group attribute.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise sending by the source computing device to at least a subset of the plurality of computing devices associated with respective participants, invitations to join the videoconference session. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise providing on a GUI of the source computing device, indications of one or more layout themes from which a user of the source computing device selects the selected layout theme. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 sending a request to a server computing device from a source computing device associated with a source user, to initiate a videoconference session including a plurality of computing devices associated with respective participants;   selecting a layout theme, wherein the layout theme is associated with at least a one parameter to modify a visual property of at least one graphical element of a videoconference layout for display on each of the plurality of computing devices during the videoconference session, wherein the at least one parameter specifies a trigger condition to modify the visual property;   sending, by the source computing device, the selected layout theme to the server computing device to provide the at least one parameter to the plurality of computing devices to modify the visual property of the at least one graphical element of a videoconference graphical user interface (GUI) generated at each of the plurality of computing devices, wherein each videoconference GUI of the plurality of computing device has a similar look, and wherein the at least one graphical element includes video windows for respective video feeds from the plurality of computing devices; and   upon occurrence of the trigger condition, applying the at least one parameter to the respective video feeds.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the visual property includes at least one of chrominance or luminance applied to the video windows. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the visual property includes applying a background image. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one parameter includes identification of a group of graphical elements of the at least one graphical element by specifying a respective unique identifier of each graphical element of the group of graphical elements. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one parameter includes a first parameter and a second parameter, and the operations further comprise:
 receiving the video feeds and respective user attributes associated with each video feed;   identifying a first group and a second group of the plurality of computing devices associated with a first group attribute and a second group attribute, respectively; and   applying the first parameter to each video feed of the first group attribute and the second parameter to each video feed of the second group attribute.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise sending by the source computing device to at least a subset of the plurality of computing devices associated with respective participants, invitations to join the videoconference session.