Patent ID: 6496201
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A conferencing system, comprising:a hardware platform including processor, memory, input, and display means; conferencing hardware; an operating system, at least partially residing in the memory of the hardware platform and suitable for controlling execution of application programs; and a conferencing application suitable for supporting a multi-party conferencing session; wherein the conferencing application generates a graphical user interface (GUI) including a call control section for managing an active conferencing session, a phone control section, including means for generating video windows that are detachable from the GUI and that display video images of one or more parties to the conferencing session, and a mode section for facilitating access to another conferencing system; and wherein the GUI is further configured to generate a first external window responsive to a first type of event and a second external window responsive to a second type of event, wherein the GUI includes means for determining placement on the display of the external window according to the event type.