Patent ID: 7962740

Claim:
An apparatus for synchronizing audio and video in videoconferences, comprising: a plurality of conference sites; and a hub for receiving a composite audio and video signal from each site, determining for each site a currently displayed composite audio and video signal, and transmitting said currently displayed composite audio and video signal to each of said sites; said hub receiving an audio only signal, separate from said received composite audio and video signal, from each site; and wherein said hub routes all incoming received audio only signals to each site separately from said transmitted composite audio and video signal; each site comprising: an audio deselection and mixing device for deselecting an audio only signal corresponding to an audio portion of said currently displayed composite audio and video signal, and for mixing said audio portion of said composite audio and video signal for said currently active site with all other audio only signals at said site; wherein audio associated with displayed video is synchronized with said displayed video.