US Patent 11596871 Initiating real-time games in video communications

In one embodiment, a method includes, by a client system of a first user, presenting a communication interface including a plurality of layers, wherein a first layer of the communication interface includes a video communication of the second user, and wherein a second layer of the communication interface includes a thumbnail view of a video communication of the first user, receiving a request from the second user to initiate a first game, receiving a user input indicative an acceptance of the request to initiate the first game, generating a game container containing the first game in a third layer of the communication interface, reducing the first layer to a thumbnail within the communication interface, and overlaying the first layer onto the third layer, wherein the second layer is closed responsive to the overlaying of the first layer onto the third layer.