Multi-User (Group) Video Conference

A group or multi-point video conference is a meeting that enables simultaneous participation of several remote users, unlike a point-to-point conference, which connects only two endpoints. During a group session, participants can not only see and hear each other but also share data and use collaboration tools to work with documents. The main purpose of multi-user video conferencing is to allow participants who cannot attend in person to join the meeting remotely.

The purpose of multi-user video conferencing is to allow participants who are unable to attend the meeting in person to take part in it remotely.

Group video conferences open up opportunities across different fields. Business partners can collaborate on new projects, students can attend training seminars and lectures remotely, and doctors can both advise patients and enhance their expertise through virtual conferences and symposia.

Group video conferences can be symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric conferences, all participants interact equally: everyone can see, hear, and communicate with each other. In asymmetric conferences, some participants have limited roles: for example, they may only watch and listen without engaging in dialogue. Typically, symmetric conferences accommodate up to several dozen participants, while asymmetric ones can scale to hundreds of remote users.

Types of Multi-User Video Conferences

There are three types of asymmetric video conferences: teleconferences or virtual meetings, video lectures or online seminars and video streaming.

Virtual Meeting

In a virtual meeting (role-based conference), participants are divided into two groups. The first group engages in two-way communication: they can see, hear, and speak simultaneously. This typically includes the host and a few designated speakers. The second group consists of viewers who can only see and hear the presenters without actively participating. With the support of a self hosted messenger, both groups can also exchange messages, share resources, and stay connected during and after the session.

Video Lecture

A video lecture is a type of video conferencing session that enables closer interaction between the lecturer and a small group of listeners. Unlike the virtual meeting mode, where the speaker broadcasts to a large audience without seeing or hearing them, the video lecture format allows direct communication with participants. Students, however, can only see the lecturer and do not interact with one another.

Video Streaming

In a real-time video streaming session, feedback from the audience is not required, as the speaker’s primary goal is to deliver information and convey key messages clearly. Because live broadcasting does not involve instant interaction, the video stream for remote participants may be delayed by a few seconds.

What Technologies Are Used in Group Video Conferencing to Communicate in Real Time?

Multi-user video conferencing demands high scalability to support many participants at once, and this is where the WebRTC server plays a key role. It enables real-time video and audio communication worldwide, ensuring smooth multi-party calls. The technology is optimized to minimize media data transfer, making it possible to connect all participants efficiently in a multi-user conference.