US 11258676

Here is a concise summary of US Patent 11258676:

Title: Electronic tool and methods for meetings

Assignee: Barco NV

Inventors: Koen Simon Herman Beel, Yoav Nir, Filip Josephine Johan Louwet, Guy Coen

Filing Date: December 15, 2020

Issue Date: February 22, 2022

Abstract: An electronic meeting tool and method facilitates communicating arbitrary media content from users in a meeting. It includes a node configuration that operates a display node of a communications network, coupled to a first display. This node configuration receives user-selected arbitrary media content and controls its display on the first display. A peripheral device, acting as a connection unit, communicates the content via the network. This peripheral device features a connector to interface with a port of a processing device (which has its own display, memory, and operating system) and a transmitter. A program, loaded onto and run on the processing device's operating system, obtains the user-selected arbitrary media content, leaving no trace upon termination (zero footprint). A user action on an input device triggers the transfer of this content to the transmitter through the processing device's port.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method Claim): This claim describes a method for sharing media content in meetings. It involves a central display system (display node) that receives and shows content. Users connect a peripheral device to their personal computing device. A special program runs on the user's device from the peripheral device, capturing screen content without installing permanent software (zero footprint). The user then presses a button or takes an action on an input device to send their screen content wirelessly to the central display system.

  • Key aspects: Operating a display node, connecting a peripheral device to a processing device, loading and running a "zero footprint" program from the peripheral device to get user-selected media content, and triggering transfer via a user action on an input device.

• Independent Claim 7 (Peripheral Device Claim): This claim describes the peripheral device itself. It's designed to connect to a user's computer (processing device) that has standard pre-installed drivers. The peripheral device contains software that, when run on the computer, performs several functions:

  1. Sets up communication between the peripheral device and the computer using the computer's existing generic drivers.
  2. Connects the computer to a communications network through the peripheral device's transceiver.
  3. "Screen scrapes" data from the computer's display.
  4. Routes the screen-scraped data between the computer and the network via the established communication means.
  • Key aspects: A peripheral device with memory storing executable software code for execution on a processing device, using pre-installed generic drivers to set up communication, connecting to a network via the peripheral device's transceiver, screen scraping data, and routing that data.

• Independent Claim 14 (Peripheral Device Claim): This claim describes a physical peripheral device with specific structural components. It includes:

  • A "base" (the main body of the device).
  • A connector for plugging into a "plug and play" port (like a USB port) of a host computer.
  • A flexible connection (e.g., a cable) between the base and the connector for transmitting data and power.
  • An actuator (e.g., a button) on the base that generates a signal, which is then sent through the connector to the computer's port.
  • The base also contains internal electronics, including permanent storage for a portable application, a processing engine, a transceiver for wireless communication, and a visual indicator (like an LED).
  • Key aspects: A peripheral device with a base, a connector for a plug-and-play port, a flexible connection, an actuator on the base, and electronics within the base including permanent storage for a portable application, a processing engine, a transceiver, and a visual indicator.

Litigation Status:
The patent US11258676 is currently active and is involved in litigation.

• District Court Litigation: A case titled "Barco, Inc. et al v. Yealink (USA) Network Technology Co., Ltd. et al" (Docket Number 2:23-cv-00521) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on November 14, 2023. As of October 14, 2025, the case was actively addressing motions to strike and exclude expert opinions, indicating ongoing proceedings.
• PTAB Litigation: An Inter Partes Review (IPR) case, IPR2024-01438, has been filed with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), with the status indicating a "Final Written Decision". Specific details regarding the outcome or further appeal of this IPR were not explicitly found in the 2026 docket search results.
• CAFC 2026 Dockets: As of April 26, 2026, the available scheduled cases for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for May and June 2026 do not explicitly list patent US11258676. Therefore, no direct CAFC appeal for this patent is currently scheduled for argument in the provided 2026 dockets.

Known litigation involving US patent 11258676 includes the following cases:

1. PTAB Case IPR2024-01438

   • Plaintiff(s): Unified Patents (implied petitioner)
   • Defendant(s): Barco NV (patent owner)
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2024-01438
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the case was "filed (Final Written Decision)" as of the patent's information.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Final Written Decision has been filed.

2. US Case in Texas Eastern District Court

   • Plaintiff(s): Barco, Inc. et al.
   • Defendant(s): Yealink (USA) Network Technology Co., Ltd. et al.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court.
   • Case Number: 2:23-cv-00521.
   • Filing Date: November 14, 2023.
   • Outcome or Current Status: The case was filed and is ongoing, with no final outcome reported in the provided information.

3. Worldwide Family Litigation

   • The patent notes that there is "First worldwide family litigation filed" related to patent family 80249395, which includes US11258676. Specific details regarding plaintiffs, defendants, jurisdiction, case number, filing date, and outcome are available on the Darts-ip platform via the provided link: https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=80249395&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US11258676(B2). However, the current tools do not allow for direct extraction of these specific details from that external database.

Proceedings overview

One Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding has been filed against US Patent 11,258,676. The IPR is currently in a "Final Written Decision" status. The specific outcome regarding claims invalidated or sustained is not immediately available from the provided overview, requiring further investigation into the Final Written Decision.

IPR2024-01438 — Yealink (USA) Network Technology Co., Ltd. et al. v. Barco N.V.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2024-09-16
• Status: Final Written Decision
• Judge panel: Not publicly available from the initial data.
• Petition grounds: Not publicly available from the initial data.
• Institution decision: Not publicly available from the initial data.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not publicly available from the initial data. I will need to search the USPTO PTAB Decisions for IPR2024-01438 to determine the claim-level outcome.
• Settlement / termination: Not publicly available from the initial data.
• Appeal: Not publicly available from the initial data.
• Defensive value: The impact of this proceeding for a defendant facing assertion of this patent depends entirely on the outcome of the Final Written Decision. If claims were invalidated, the patent's scope would be narrowed, potentially weakening any infringement theories relying on those claims. Conversely, if claims were sustained, the patent's validity would be strengthened against similar prior art arguments.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, only one IPR proceeding, IPR2024-01438, has been filed against US Patent 11,258,676. The status of this IPR is "Final Written Decision," meaning a determination on the patentability of the challenged claims has been made by the PTAB. However, without access to the full Final Written Decision, it is impossible to determine which claims, if any, were canceled or sustained. This lack of detailed information prevents a comprehensive assessment of the patent's narrowed scope or the availability of prior-art grounds for a potential defendant. The petitioner for this IPR is Yealink (USA) Network Technology Co., Ltd. et al., and the patent owner is Barco N.V.

Recommended next steps

To understand the defensive value of US Patent 11,258,676, a defendant should:

• Obtain and meticulously review the Final Written Decision for IPR2024-01438. This document will explicitly state which claims, if any, were found unpatentable and provide the reasoning behind the PTAB's decision. The FWD can be found on the USPTO PTAB Decisions portal by searching for IPR2024-01438.
• Analyze the claims upheld as patentable (if any) to understand the remaining scope of the patent and to identify any potential infringement theories that may still be viable for the patent owner.
• Investigate whether the Final Written Decision of IPR2024-01438 has been appealed to the Federal Circuit. If an appeal is pending, the ultimate validity of the challenged claims remains uncertain. Information on Federal Circuit appeals can be found on CourtListener or the Federal Circuit's docket.

Inventors

• Koen Simon Herman Beel (employer: Barco NV)
• Yoav Nir (employer: Barco NV)
• Filip Josephine Johan Louwet (employer: Barco NV)
• Guy Coen (employer: Barco NV)
  All inventors were employees of Barco NV at the time of the assignment, which occurred prior to the patent's filing date. There are no unusual patterns indicating inventors departing the original assignee around the filing date.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Barco NV. Barco NV is a global technology company that designs and develops visualization and collaboration solutions, including projectors, LED displays, and their ClickShare wireless presentation system. They ship products embodying the claims related to electronic meeting tools and display technology. Barco NV is currently an operating, publicly traded company.

Assignment timeline

• 2020-12-11 (executed) / recorded 2022-02-18 — Reel 061261/0430

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: BEEL, KOEN SIMON HERMAN
  • Assignor: LOUWET, FILIP JOSEPHINE JOHAN
  • Assignor: COEN, GUY
  • Assignor: NIR, YOAV
  • Assignee: BARCO N.V.
  • Correspondent: MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP - CHICAGO, IL. This correspondent also appears on the subsequent record for this patent.
  • Context: Transfer of ownership from the individual inventors to their employer, Barco N.V.

• 2020-12-11 (executed) / recorded 2022-02-18 — Reel 061261/0436

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: BARCO NV
  • Assignee: BARCO NV
  • Correspondent: MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP - CHICAGO, IL. This correspondent also appears on the preceding record for this patent.
  • Context: Internal confirmatory assignment or record cleanup within Barco NV.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11258676
    2020 : Inventors assign to Barco NV
         : Barco NV assigns to Barco NV
    2022 : Patent issued to Barco NV
    2023 : First infringement suit filed
    2024 : PTAB case IPR2024-01438 filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The patent was assigned from individual inventors to Barco NV, an operating company, and remains with Barco NV per the USPTO records.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Barco NV is not listed as a known NPE.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — unclear. MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP - CHICAGO, IL, appears on both recorded assignments (Reel 061261/0430 and 061261/0436). However, these are initial assignments from inventors to the operating company and an internal transfer, not transfers between different entities in a licensing chain, which is the typical signal.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. There are only two assignments recorded, both related to the initial transfer of ownership to the operating company, and not multiple consecutive assignments through chained LLCs.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. The recorded assignments occurred on 2020-12-11 (executed) / 2022-02-18 (recorded), prior to the patent's issue date of 2022-02-22. The first known infringement suit was filed in 2023 (Texas Eastern District Court case 2:23-cv-00521).
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. Barco NV is an active, operating company.
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence of Barco NV transferring the patent to an NPE to assert on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is currently owned by Barco NV, an operating company, and there is no indication of transfer to a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion
The patent was assigned from the inventors to Barco NV, an established operating company that produces products embodying the claims, and the patent remains with Barco NV. While there is active litigation (2:23-cv-00521), it appears to be a direct assertion by the operating company.

USPTO Assignment Center search for US11258676

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 11258676, based on the patent's own citations and an understanding of 35 U.S.C. § 102 (Anticipation). The current date is April 26, 2026.

US Patent 11258676: Electronic tool and methods for meetings

• Publication Date: February 22, 2022
• Earliest Priority Date: September 14, 2011 (from U.S. provisional application 61/534,592)

The most relevant prior art typically predates the earliest priority date of the patent (September 14, 2011) and discloses all elements of a claim in a single reference. The patent's background and cited references highlight existing solutions and their shortcomings, which helps in identifying potentially anticipatory art.

Here are the prior art references cited by US11258676, with their details and potential anticipation analysis:

1. US 2002/0196378 A1 (Slobodin et al.)

   • Full Citation: US 2002/0196378 A1, "System and method for screen scraping presentations for display on remote monitors"
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published December 26, 2002; Filed June 20, 2001.
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for screen scraping presentations for display on remote monitors. It teaches reading video frame buffers and processing them to capture display content for transmission.
   • Potential Anticipation:
     • Claim 2: This reference directly anticipates Claim 2, which states, "The electronic meeting tool of claim 1, wherein the program is adapted to screen scrape content of the second display." US11258676 explicitly cites Slobodin et al. as describing "Screen scraping for presentations... which is included herein by reference."
     • Claim 14 (partially): It also anticipates the "algorithm for screen scraping" portion of Claim 14.
     • Claim 1: While Slobodin et al. clearly teaches screen scraping, it does not appear to disclose all elements of Claim 1 in combination, particularly the "program leaving a zero footprint on termination" or an input device on a peripheral unit specifically triggering the transfer of arbitrary media content via a dedicated transmitter on that peripheral device. The reference focuses on the screen scraping technique itself rather than the specific deployment and user interaction model of US11258676.

2. IBM, IP.com No. IPCOMOOOOI 171 ID

   • Full Citation: IBM, IP.com No. IPCOMOOOOI 171 ID, "Mood indicators on electronic meeting tools"
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: March 12, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This article proposes "mood indicators" and "I want to ask a question" indicators to facilitate feedback and participation in electronic meetings, aiming to make meetings less clumsy and more efficient.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference is unlikely to anticipate any claims of US11258676. It addresses participant feedback in a meeting context but does not disclose any elements related to communicating arbitrary media content, screen scraping, peripheral devices, zero-footprint programs, or user-triggered content transfer, which are central to Claim 1.

3. US 6,966,035 B2

   • Full Citation: US 6,966,035 B2, "System and method for electronic meeting management"
   • Publication/Filing Date: Granted November 15, 2005; Filed April 25, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This patent suggests displaying a "murmur frame" for participants to express views within an electronic meeting management system.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to the IBM IP.com reference, this patent focuses on specific feedback mechanisms ("murmur frame") rather than the broad communication of arbitrary media content with the specific technical implementation of US11258676. It does not disclose the unique combination of elements in Claim 1, such as the peripheral device, zero-footprint program, or user-initiated arbitrary content transfer.

4. US 2006/0095376 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2006/0095376 A1, "System and method for secure voting in a meeting"
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 4, 2006; Filed November 2, 2004.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a system for secure voting in an electronic meeting.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference is limited to secure voting, a specific type of pre-defined interaction. It does not disclose the communication of "arbitrary media content" via screen scraping, a peripheral device with a zero-footprint program, or a user-triggered transfer of such content as claimed in US11258676.

5. US 2009/0198839 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2009/0198839 A1, "Multi-function cable for video output"
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published August 6, 2009; Filed February 2, 2009.
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a pluggable cable arrangement (e.g., a USB interface) for extracting display content from a computer.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference is relevant to the hardware aspect of "using the well-known USB interface of the computer for extracting the display content." It may anticipate aspects of Claim 1(E)(a) (connector adapted to couple to a port of a processing device) and the general idea of a peripheral device for display content. However, US11258676 notes that such solutions "usually requires special drivers and even special hardware in the computer," implying that US 2009/0198839 likely does not teach the "zero footprint on termination" program that utilizes only "pre-installed generic drivers" (Claim 1 and Claim 15). It also doesn't explicitly describe an input device on the peripheral unit for triggering the transfer of arbitrary content.

6. US 2010/0087139 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2010/0087139 A1, "System and method for electronic voting and feedback in a meeting"
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published April 8, 2010; Filed October 7, 2008.
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a system for sending a selection (e.g., feedback or votes) to another computer in a meeting context.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to the other voting/feedback systems, this reference deals with limited user selections rather than arbitrary media content. It lacks the specific peripheral device architecture, zero-footprint software, and triggering mechanism for arbitrary content transfer as defined in Claim 1 of US11258676.

7. US 2011/0115689 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2011/0115689 A1, "Wireless display system and method using USB"
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 19, 2011; Filed November 15, 2010.
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a USB solution for wireless connection to a projector, facilitating wireless display from a computer.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly describes a "USB solution for wireless connection to a projector," aligning with the hardware and wireless communication aspects of US11258676. It likely anticipates elements like a peripheral device (connection unit) with a connector (USB) and a transmitter for wireless communication (Claim 1, parts (E)(a) and (E)(b)). However, US11258676 distinguishes itself by noting that such solutions "usually requires special drivers and even special hardware in the computer." This implies that US 2011/0115689 may not teach the "zero footprint on termination" program (Claim 1) or the use of "pre-installed generic drivers" (Claim 15). The specific mechanism of obtaining arbitrary media content (e.g., screen scraping, Claim 2) and the user-actuated input device for triggering transfer (Claim 1) would need a detailed review of US 2011/0115689 to determine full anticipation. It is one of the closest references regarding the general problem solved and the hardware approach.

Summary of Most Relevant Prior Art:

• US 2002/0196378 A1 (Slobodin et al.) is most relevant for its direct disclosure of screen scraping technology, potentially anticipating Claim 2 and parts of Claim 14. Its primary limitation regarding Claim 1 is the absence of the "zero footprint" software from a peripheral device and the specific triggering mechanism for arbitrary content.
• US 2011/0115689 A1 is highly relevant for describing a wireless display system using USB, which addresses similar problems related to connecting a computer to a projector wirelessly via a peripheral device. Its primary limitation regarding Claim 1 appears to be the lack of a "zero footprint" program using generic drivers, and potentially the specific input device for triggering arbitrary content transfer.
• US 2009/0198839 A1 is also relevant for showing a general "multi-function cable for video output" via USB, but it faces similar limitations as US 2011/0115689 A1 regarding the "zero footprint" software and specific triggering.

The distinguishing features of US11258676, particularly the "zero footprint on termination" program stored on the peripheral device, operating with "pre-installed generic drivers," and an input device on the peripheral device to trigger the transfer of arbitrary screen-scraped media content, appear to be key aspects designed to overcome the limitations of the cited prior art.

To analyze the obviousness of US patent 11258676 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, we will identify combinations of prior art references that would render the claims obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA), and explain the motivation for combining them. The patent itself identifies several problems with existing meeting tools and outlines various prior art solutions and their drawbacks.

The key distinguishing features of US11258676, as highlighted in its summary and definitions, include:

• Communicating "arbitrary media content" via "screen scraping" (rather than application sharing).
• A program that leaves a "zero footprint" on termination.
• Use of "pre-installed generic drivers" (e.g., Human Interface Device (HID) or Mass Storage Device (MSD) drivers) for connectivity.
• An "input device" (e.g., a physical button on the peripheral device) to trigger content transfer.
• "Democratic screen sharing" or "unilateral access" to a central display with "auto composition" of multiple content streams.

Identified Prior Art References from US11258676:

1. US 2009/0198839: Discloses a pluggable cable arrangement for extracting display content from a computer via a USB interface.
2. US 2011/0115689: Discloses a USB solution for wireless connection to a projector, similar to US 2009/0198839 but with wireless capability.
3. LJS2002/0196378 to Slobodin et al.: Describes screen scraping for presentations.
4. "portable application" definition: The patent provides a detailed definition of a "portable application" as a program designed to run without installation and leave a "zero footprint" on termination, typically stored on a removable storage device like a USB flash drive. This is presented as a known concept.
5. General knowledge of generic drivers: The patent defines "pre-installed generic driver" (e.g., HID, mass storage device drivers) as standard drivers installed with the operating system, eliminating the need for specific driver installation. This is common knowledge in computing.
6. "Mood indicators on electronic meeting tools" IBM, IP.com number: IPCOMOOOOI 171 ID (Mar. 12, 2003): Addresses the lack of direct feedback in meetings and proposes mood/question indicators to increase participation.
7. U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,035: Suggests displaying a "murmur frame" for a participant to express a view, aimed at increasing user participation.
8. US 2010/0087139: Discloses a system for sending a selection to another computer.
9. US 2006/0095376: Discloses a system for secure voting.

Obviousness Combinations and Motivations

A PHOSITA, seeking to overcome the "Complexity of the networking infrastructure," "High demands on technical expertise of users," "Barriers to the use of complicated technology in meetings," and "Lack of, or restriction of participation by members of a meeting" explicitly detailed in the background of US11258676, would have been motivated to combine the following prior art references.

Combination 1: USB-based Wireless Display with Screen Scraping and Zero-Footprint Portable Software

• References: US 2009/0198839, US 2011/0115689, LJS2002/0196378, and the general concept of portable applications.

• Motivation:

  • Overcoming cumbersome wired connections (Method 1): The patent explicitly describes "Method 1" (VGA cable connection) as "not scalable," "cumbersome," and "wastes valuable meeting time." US 2009/0198839 teaches extracting display content via USB, and US 2011/0115689 advances this by teaching a wireless USB solution to a projector. A PHOSITA would be motivated to combine these to move away from tangled cables and reboots, creating a simpler physical connection.
  • Efficiently capturing "arbitrary media content": The patent highlights the advantages of "screen scraping" over "application sharing" for its ability to capture "all material in a neutral manner rather than being limited by proprietary applications." LJS2002/0196378 directly teaches screen scraping for presentations. A PHOSITA would naturally integrate this proven method of content capture into a wireless display system to ensure comprehensive content sharing.
  • Addressing software installation and security issues (Method 2): The patent details significant drawbacks of "Method 2" (network-based remote desktop), including "danger of virus, malware or spyware transfer," "difficulty of making the connection, e.g. entry of a user code and password," and problems with "firewalls and proxies." The concept of a portable application (as defined by the patent itself) that "runs without installation on the target machine" and leaves a "zero footprint" is well-known. A PHOSITA would be strongly motivated to combine the content capture and wireless transmission (from the USB peripheral) with a portable application stored on that same peripheral to avoid installation hassles, administrative rights, and security risks, thereby making the system easily accessible to visitors in a corporate setting. The patent itself notes that "software packages that provide screen scraping require installation on the target device, or at least require the installation of dedicated and/or custom drivers," and then states that its embodiments "use software stored on the peripheral device which allows screen scraping when run on the processing device but leaves a zero footprint when terminated." This indicates that applying the known concept of portable applications to screen scraping software for meeting tools was an obvious step to solve identified problems.

• Combined Solution: This combination would result in a peripheral device (e.g., a USB "dangle") that, when plugged into a user's processing device, launches a portable, zero-footprint screen scraping application from its internal storage. This application captures the user's arbitrary screen content and transmits it wirelessly via the peripheral device to a central display node, addressing the problems of complex setup, software installation, and content limitations.

Combination 2: Incorporating Generic Drivers and Enhanced User Interaction for Participation

• References: Combination 1 references, along with the general knowledge of generic HID/MSD drivers and references related to meeting participation (IBM IP.com, U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,035).

• Motivation:

  • Simplifying "Plug and Play" connectivity: The patent points out that while USB solutions might become common, they often "requires special drivers and even special hardware in the computer." The general knowledge of pre-installed generic drivers (like HID or mass storage device drivers) that enable "plug and play" functionality without specific driver installation or administrator rights is well-established. A PHOSITA would be motivated to design the USB peripheral device to present itself as a composite device using these generic drivers (e.g., as a mass storage device for the portable software and an HID for user input) to achieve true "zero installation" and overcome the challenges of diverse operating systems and corporate IT policies.
  • Increasing meeting participation and dynamism: The background laments that many meetings are "boring" or "annoying" and suffer from a "lack of, or restriction of participation." Prior art such as IBM IP.com and U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,035 explicitly propose interactive elements like "mood indicators" or "murmur frames" to facilitate user input. A PHOSITA would be motivated to integrate a simple input device (like a physical button) on the peripheral device to allow users to easily trigger content sharing. This "unilateral electronic access" for displaying arbitrary content, though a specific implementation, is a logical extension of prior art attempts to increase participant engagement and overcome the passivity of traditional presentation modes, allowing participants to "interrupt" or "shout" akin to verbal communication. The "auto compose" feature for multiple content streams, once several users can share content, would be a conventional display management technique for multiple video inputs.

• Combined Solution: By integrating the use of generic drivers, the peripheral device (e.g., a USB dongle with a button) could achieve plug-and-play functionality on virtually any computer without requiring custom drivers. The button on the device would serve as a simple, intuitive input mechanism for users to instantly share their screen via the zero-footprint screen scraping application and wireless connection. This addresses the stated desire for enhanced user participation and ease of use in meeting environments.

In conclusion, the core elements of US11258676, including screen scraping, zero-footprint portable applications, the use of generic USB drivers for connectivity, and a physical input device for triggering content sharing, are individually taught or well-known in the prior art. A PHOSITA, motivated to solve the explicitly stated problems and limitations of existing meeting tools, would have found it obvious to combine these known elements to create the claimed electronic meeting tool and methods.