From One Click to Face-to-Face: Instant Video Calling Made Easy

This documentation covers an iOS video calling app built using QuickBlox, tailored specifically for iPad devices. The app enables users to connect through seamless one-on-one video calls with automatic matching based on online status. To foster interaction, random questions are shuffled during calls, encouraging engaging conversations. Users can also choose to hide their selfie camera for added comfort and privacy.

Post-call features include the ability to review previous sessions and edit user profile details. A battery alert system is integrated to notify users when the device’s power is low, helping avoid unexpected call drops. Designed with simplicity and user experience in mind, this app delivers a smooth, real-time communication flow ideal for social, educational, or professional use.

• QuickBlox-Powered Video Calling
  The app leverages QuickBlox to deliver reliable and high-quality video calling capabilities, ensuring stable and real-time communication between users on iPads.
• Automatic Connection to Online Users
  Upon successful registration, the system intelligently detects and connects users who are currently online, streamlining the process of initiating conversations without manual intervention.
• Interactive Random Question Feature
  To encourage meaningful engagement, the app includes a feature that dynamically shuffles and presents random questions during video calls, sparking interesting discussions and breaking the ice between users.
• Optional Selfie Camera Toggle
  For added user comfort and privacy, individuals have the option to disable or hide their selfie camera during video calls without affecting the ongoing communication.
• Post-Call Review System
  After each video call, users are prompted to rate their experience and provide feedback, enabling continuous improvement and helping maintain a quality communication environment.
• Customizable User Profiles
  A dedicated profile screen allows users to update their details, enhancing personalization and improving the relevance of future interactions.
• Battery Status Alerts
  To avoid interruptions, the app includes a battery monitoring feature that alerts users when their device’s battery level is critically low during a video call, helping them take action before disconnection occurs.

1. Real-Time Connectivity with QuickBlox

Ensuring seamless and stable video communication was a core requirement of the application.

• Utilized QuickBlox’s robust real-time communication SDK to establish and maintain high-quality video calls.
• Implemented automatic user connection logic to initiate calls between active users without manual pairing.
• Optimized media stream handling for low latency and uninterrupted interaction.

2. Interactive Question Shuffling

Enhancing user engagement during video calls required a dynamic and non-intrusive feature.

• Developed a lightweight shuffle algorithm to display random questions at intervals without disrupting the video feed.
• Ensured that questions were synchronized between users in real-time for shared interaction.
• Maintained minimal resource usage to keep the video call smooth and responsive.

3. Profile Management

A flexible yet secure user profile system was essential for personalizing interactions.

• Enabled users to update and manage profile details, including display names and avatars, directly within the app.
• Leveraged QuickBlox’s data sync features to ensure real-time updates and consistency across sessions.
• Implemented validation and access control to safeguard user data integrity.

4. Battery Check Alert

Maintaining call continuity required proactive device condition monitoring.

• Introduced a real-time battery monitoring feature to alert users during low battery conditions.
• Provided early warnings to allow users to take necessary actions without interrupting the call.
• Ensured alerts were non-disruptive and integrated seamlessly into the ongoing session UI.

Dealing with Roadblocks & How We Solved Them

1. Seamless Video Communication with QuickBlox

Delivering high-quality video calls with responsive connection handling.

• Leveraged QuickBlox SDK to ensure low-latency video streaming across different network conditions.
• Deployed adaptive bitrate strategies to maintain smooth visuals and audio synchronization.
• Monitored live connection metrics to preemptively address potential call disruptions.

2. Dynamic In-Call Engagement

Boosting user interaction through spontaneous content delivery.

• Designed an intelligent shuffling engine that rotates questions contextually without disrupting the call flow.
• Used session tracking to prevent repeat content and keep conversations fresh and engaging.
• Ensured real-time synchronization so both participants receive the same question prompts simultaneously.

3. Real-Time Profile Interaction

Keeping user information up-to-date with instant edits and syncing.

• Enabled users to view and modify their profiles seamlessly during app usage.
• Real-time updates reflect instantly across devices using QuickBlox’s data synchronization capabilities.
• Maintained data consistency and security during updates with encrypted data transfers.

4. Proactive Battery Health Monitoring

 Minimizing call drop risks due to power loss with timely alerts.

• Continuously tracked device battery levels during live calls.
• Triggered user notifications when charge levels dropped below a safe threshold.
• Helped users manage their call duration by providing early low-battery warnings.

A) QuickBlox Integration

import Quickblox
// Initialize QuickBlox session
let session = QBSession()
session.createSessionWithUser(user, password: password) { result, error in
  if let error = error {
    print(“Error creating QuickBlox session: \(error.localizedDescription)”)
  } else {
    print(“QuickBlox session established”)
  }
}

B) Auto-connect Logic

func connectToOnlineUser() {
    if let user = getOnlineUser() {
        startVideoCall(with: user)
    }
}
func getOnlineUser() -> User? {
    // Logic to fetch online users and connect automatically
    return fetchOnlineUser()
}

func startVideoCall(with user: User) {
    // Logic to start video call
    print(“Connecting to \(user.name)…”)
}

C) Random Question Shuffle

let questions = [“What’s your favorite color?”, “What’s your dream vacation destination?”, “What’s your favorite food?”]

func showRandomQuestion() {
    let randomIndex = Int.random(in: 0..<questions.count)
    let question = questions[randomIndex]
    displayQuestionOnScreen(question)
}
func displayQuestionOnScreen(_ question: String) {
    // Display the question on the screen during the video call
    print(“Displaying question: \(question)”)
}

D) Call Review System

func promptUserForReview() {
    let alert = UIAlertController(title: “Rate the Call”, message: “How was your call?”, preferredStyle: .alert)
    alert.addTextField { textField in
        textField.placeholder = “Leave a comment”
    }
    alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: “Submit”, style: .default, handler: { _ in
        self.saveReview(comment: alert.textFields?.first?.text)
    }))
    present(alert, animated: true)
}

func saveReview(comment: String?) {
    // Save the review to the database
    print(“Review submitted: \(comment ?? “No comment”)”)
}

E) Battery Check Alert

import UIKit

func checkBatteryLevel() {
    let batteryLevel = UIDevice.current.batteryLevel
    if batteryLevel < 0.2 { // 20% or less
        showBatteryAlert()
    }
}

func showBatteryAlert() {
    let alert = UIAlertController(title: “Low Battery”, message: “Your battery is low. Please connect to a charger to avoid call interruption.”, preferredStyle: .alert)
    alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: “OK”, style: .default, handler: nil))
    present(alert, animated: true, completion: nil)
}

F) Real-time VideoCall view on iPad.

Maximizing Efficiency and Scalability in System Design

1. Real-Time Video Call Performance

• QuickBlox SDK was optimized to support seamless real-time video call quality across different devices and networks. Adaptive video quality was implemented to adjust according to network conditions, reducing strain on the system.
• Network performance was constantly monitored, and fluctuations were handled dynamically to maintain call quality.
• Efficient media streaming techniques, such as compression and encoding, were used to reduce bandwidth usage while maintaining an acceptable video call quality.

2. Efficient Shuffling of Random Questions

• A dynamic algorithm was implemented to shuffle questions efficiently, ensuring a diverse and engaging experience for users during video calls.
• The app was optimized to manage random question delivery without adding significant overhead, ensuring a seamless user experience.
• A caching system was used to minimize redundant API calls for fetching new questions, ensuring quicker responses, and reducing server load.

3. Handling Concurrent Video Calls and User Load

• The infrastructure was designed to scale dynamically, utilizing cloud services to manage and distribute load efficiently.
• Server-side logic was optimized to manage a large number of concurrent connections without performance degradation, ensuring a smooth experience even with high traffic