Apparatus, system and method for a web-based interactive video platform

Abstract

An apparatus, a system, a method and a computer program product are provided. The system includes a controller configured to broadcast a web-based meeting between a first user and a second user. The system further includes a graphical user interface configured to display the broadcasted web-based meeting. The controller is configured to receive a request from the first user through the graphical user interface. The request includes one of a text question, a recorded video question and a request from the first user to present a live video question to the second user. The controller is further configured to broadcast the request through the graphical user interface as a real time video feed of the first user, so that the first user can ask the question in real time and the second user can respond to the first user’s question in real time.

1 . A system comprising:
 a controller configured to broadcast a web-based meeting between a first user and a second user; and   a graphical user interface configured to display the broadcasted web-based meeting,   wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive a request from the first user through the graphical user interface, wherein the request comprises one of a text question, a recorded video question and a request from the first user to present a live video question to the second user; and 
 broadcast the request through the graphical user interface; 
 wherein, when the received request comprises the request from the first user to present the live video question, the controller is configured to broadcast the request as a real time video feed of the first user, so that the first user can ask the question in real time and the second user can respond to the first user’s question in real time. 
   
     
     
         2 . A video conference system comprising:
 at least one memory including computer program code; and   at least one electronic processor;   wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one electronic processor, cause the apparatus at least to, broadcast a web-based meeting between a plurality of audience members and a host through a graphical user interface such that:
 the host is displayed to the audience members in a first display element of the graphical user interface; 
 a plurality of the audience members are displayed to the audience members in respective second display elements of the graphical user interface; and 
 the first display element is at least the same size as any one of the second display elements. 
   
     
     
         3 . The video conference system of  claim 2 , wherein the video of the host is displayed in the first display element. 
     
     
         4 . The video conference system of  claim 2 , wherein the video of the plurality of the audience members is displayed in the respective second display elements. 
     
     
         5 . The video conference system of  claim 2 , wherein thumbnails of the audience members that are broadcasting their video streams is displayed in the second display element. 
     
     
         6 . The video conference system of  claim 2 , wherein the first display element and the second display elements are located side by side. 
     
     
         7 . A video conference system comprising:
 at least one memory including computer program code; and   at least one electronic processor;   wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one electronic processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
 broadcast, through a graphical user interface, a web-based meeting between a host and a plurality of audience members, wherein the plurality of audience members comprises a requester; 
 receive, through a graphical user interface, a request from the requester to ask a question to the host; 
 store the request in the at least one memory; 
 retrieve the request from the at least one memory; and 
 concurrently broadcast, through the graphical user interface, video of the requester asking the question and the question in text. 
   
     
     
         8 . The video conference system of  claim 7 , wherein the video of the requester and the question in text are side by side. 
     
     
         9 . The video conference system of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to display, through the graphical user interface, a thumbnail video of the plurality of audience members. 
     
     
         10 . The video conference system of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to display, through the graphical user interface, a thumbnail video of the requester before broadcasting the video of the requester. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the thumbnail video of the requester is visible only to the administrative users of the web-based meeting, the administrative users comprising the host. 
     
     
         12 . A video conference system comprising:
 at least one memory including computer program code; and   at least one electronic processor;   wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one electronic processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
 broadcast, through a graphical user interface, a web-based meeting between a plurality of users, the plurality of users comprising a host and a plurality of audience members; and 
 provide, in the graphical user interface, a multi-shot button that is selectable by the host; 
 receive a command indicating the multi-shot button has been selected; and 
 in response to the command, change from a first display mode to a second display mode;
 wherein, in the first display mode, a main window of the graphical user interface displays live video of only the host; 
 wherein, in the second display mode, the main window of the graphical user interface displays live video of a selected plurality of the users. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The video conference system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one electronic processor, cause the apparatus to receive a selection indication, the selection indication indicating which of the plurality of the users are in the selected plurality of the users.