Patent ID: 9131059
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: H04M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for joining an online conference already in progress, the method comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting to the participants via a graphical user interface the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and the content; during the audio conference, receiving from a new participant a request to join the audio conference already in progress; in response to the request to join the audio conference, prompting the new participant whether to join in a live mode or a recorded mode before adding the new participant to the audio conference; if the recorded mode is selected by the new participant: playing back the synchronized audio conference and the content presented in the conference interface to the new participant beginning from a recording start location; and presenting the conference interface to the plurality of participants without adding a further participant object identifying the new participant; and if the live mode is selected by the new participant: adding the new participant to the audio conference; and adding a new participant object to the conference interface identifying the new participant; and the method further comprising: while in the recorded mode, receiving a “go live” input from the new participant; and in response to the “go live” input, adding the new participant to the audio conference and adding the further participant object identifying the new participant to the conference interface.