Patent ID: 7679640

Claim:
A method implementable with a multipoint control unit for conducting a plurality of videoconferences between a plurality of endpoints, comprising: conducting a main videoconference between a group of endpoints; receiving a request from a requesting endpoint, which belongs to the group of endpoints, to conduct a sub-videoconference with less than all of the endpoints of the group, the request identifying one or more selected endpoints of the less than all of the endpoints of the group to participate in the sub-videoconference; sending an invitation to each of the one or more selected endpoints to join the requesting endpoint in the sub-videoconference; receiving one or more responses to the invitations from the one or more selected endpoints; while the main videoconference is still pending, establishing the sub-videoconference between the requesting endpoint and the one or more selected endpoints of the group responding affirmatively to the invitation; and after establishing the sub-videoconference, allowing the endpoints participating in the sub-videoconference to actively select either (a) to listen to the audio of the main videoconference only or mixed with the audio of the sub-videoconference and (b) to listen only to the audio of the sub-videoconference.