Why Video Consultation Features prove to be Game Changers

• Convenience: Connect with customers or clients without geographical limitations.
• Efficiency: Save time and resources by eliminating the need for physical meetings.
• Interactivity: Enhance the user experience with real-time video and chat integration.

Building Blocks for Video Consultation with Chat

• Frontend: ReactJS for creating a responsive and dynamic user interface.
• Backend: Ruby on Rails for managing API endpoints and business logic.
• WebRTC: For video and audio communication.
• Socket.IO: For real-time chat.
• Third-party APIs/SDKs: Such as Twilio or Agora for video functionality.
  
  

Step-by-Step Guide to Building the Feature

rails new video_consultation --api
cd video_consultation

gem 'devise' # For user authentication
gem 'action_cable' # For real-time WebSocket integration
gem 'twilio-ruby' # If using Twilio for video API 

bundle install

rails generate model User name:string email:string
rails generate model ConsultationSession user_id:integer session_id:string

class RoomChannel < ApplicationCable::Channel  
  def subscribed    
    stream_from "room_#{params[:room]}"  
  end

  def receive(data)    
    ActionCable.server.broadcast("room_#{params[:room]}", data)  
  end
end

npx create-react-app video-consultation
cd video-consultation

 npm install socket.io-client @twilio/video

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { connect, createLocalTracks } from '@twilio/video';

const VideoConsultation = ({ roomName, token }) => {
  const [room, setRoom] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    const joinRoom = async () => {
      const localTracks = await createLocalTracks();
      const room = await connect(token, { name: roomName, tracks: localTracks });
      setRoom(room);
    };
    joinRoom();

    return () => {
      room && room.disconnect();
    };
  }, [roomName, token]);

  return <div id="video-container">{/* Video elements here */}</div>;
};

export default VideoConsultation;

import io from 'socket.io-client';

const Chat = ({ roomId }) => {
  const socket = io('http://localhost:3000');
  const [messages, setMessages] = useState([]);
  const [message, setMessage] = useState('');

  const sendMessage = () => {
    socket.emit('message', { roomId, message });
    setMessage('');
  };

  useEffect(() => {
    socket.on('message', (data) => setMessages([...messages, data]));
  }, [messages]);

  return (
    <div>
      <div>
        {messages.map((msg, idx) => (
          <p key={idx}>{msg}</p>
        ))}
      </div>
      <input
        value={message}
        onChange={(e) => setMessage(e.target.value)}
      />
      <button onClick={sendMessage}>Send</button>
    </div>
  );
};

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

1. Latency Issues:
   • Use reliable APIs like Twilio or Agora for seamless video communication.
2. Scalability:
   • Host WebSocket servers on cloud platforms like AWS or Google Cloud.
3. Security:
   • Use HTTPS for all communication.
   • Implement token-based authentication for users.
     
     

Examples and Real-Life Use Cases

Basic Plugins and Resources

• Video SDKs: Twilio Video, Agora
• Real-Time Messaging: Socket.IO
• Frontend Frameworks: ReactJS
• Backend Framework: Ruby on Rails
  
  

Open Source Solutions

• Jitsi 
• Mediasoup
• Pion
• Janus

Commercial / Saas

• Amazon Chime
• Agora
• Twilio
• Daily

Conclusion