Patent ID: 7362349

Claim:
A videoconferencing system configured to utilize peer-to-peer videoconferencing software to provide a multi-participant conference environment for a plurality of participants, comprising: a client component, the client component including, a conference client enabled to execute peer-to-peer videoconferencing software, the conference client communicating video and audio data across a conference channel; and a client monitor configured to monitor both, whether the conference channel is active and participant-executed events within a video window displayed by the conference client, wherein the participant-executed events within the video window are communicated across a back-channel connection, the back-channel connection established when the conference channel is active; a server component, the server component having a back-channel controller in communication with the client monitor through the back-channel connection, the server component receiving each of the participant-executed events, interpreting each received event as a request to change a configuration of an audio/video stream being delivered to the client component, and changing the configuration of the audio/video stream being delivered to the client component in accordance with request.