Patent ID: 7631039

Claim:
A system comprising: a plurality of client nodes, wherein each of the plurality of client nodes comprises a memory and a processor; and one or more processors that initiate a video conference from an instant message request, the one or more processors comprising: an instant messaging server for supporting instant messages between the plurality of client nodes; a second server for supporting video conferences between the plurality of client nodes; and a video conference allocator for setting up and managing video conferences on the second server, wherein the video conference allocator is configured to: receive the instant message request, from one of the plurality of client nodes via the instant messaging server, for the video conference, wherein the instant message request is received over a first communication channel opened between the video conference allocator and the instant messaging server, and wherein the instant message request invites one or more of the plurality of client nodes; in response to receiving the instant message request, determine conference information for the one of the plurality of client nodes and the one or more invited client nodes of the plurality of client nodes, wherein the determined conference information includes a communication mode associated with each of the one or more invited client nodes of the plurality of client nodes; initiate the video conference by transmitting the determined conference information to the second server over a second communication channel between the video conference allocator and the second server; and communicate to the one or more invited client nodes of the plurality of client nodes, via the first communication channel opened between the video conference allocator and the instant messaging server, an instant message to join the video conference; wherein the communication mode is embedded in the instant message request such that the video conference is set up between the one of the plurality of client nodes and each of the invited client nodes of the plurality of client nodes using the communication mode.