Patent ID: 7739109

Claim:
A system for muting the audio data transmission from a location of a participant engaged in a multi-party, computer network-based teleconference, comprising: a general purpose computing device having an associated keyboard; a computer program comprising program modules executable by the computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to, monitor keyboard activity to determine when the participant is using the keyboard; and gradually mute the audio data transmissions from the participant's location to other participants in the teleconference whenever it is determined that the participant has begun using the keyboard, wherein said gradually muting comprises, establishing a keystroke number representing the number of keystrokes typically occurring during a typing session involving the participant, wherein a typing session is defined as the period of time a participant types before a keystroke threshold period is exceeded, and wherein the keystroke threshold period represents a period of time which if exceeded without a keystroke occurring indicates the participant has stopped using the keyboard, and gradually muting the audio data gain over time based on the keystroke number and a prescribed decreasing function.