Patent ID: 7949117

Claim:
A heterogeneous conference system comprising: first and second non-focus point computers for participating in a heterogeneous conference; and a focus point computer for participating in said heterogeneous conference, wherein said participating comprises (i) receiving conference content data from first and second remote conference participants through the first and second remote non-focus point computers, respectively, (ii) receiving conference content data at the focus point computer from a local conference participant that is locally using the focus point computer to participate in the conference, (iii) generating composite conference content data streams that include the conference content data received from the remote conference participants and the conference content data received from the local conference participant that uses the focus point computer, and (iv) distributing the composite conference content data streams to the non-focus point computers, wherein the first non-focus point computer is for providing conference content data from the first remote conference participant to the focus point computer, said conference content data based on a first set of conference parameters, wherein the second non-focus point computer is for providing conference content data from the second remote conference participant that is based on a different second set of conference parameters to the focus point computer.