Patent ID: 8848019

Claim:
A system for enabling an online classroom with virtual live video, comprising: a live video media server stored and operating on a network-attached computer; a network-connected host computing device comprising at least a processor, a memory, a camera, a microphone or other audio input device such as a telephone, and a display; and a plurality of network-connected participant computing devices each comprising at least a processor, a memory, a camera, a microphone or other audio input device such as a telephone, and a display; wherein a host user establishes a session using the host computing device and a plurality of participants log in to the session each using one of the plurality of participant computing devices; further wherein at least some of the participants are selected for live video viewing by the host, whereupon the respective participant computing devices are caused to send live video over the Internet to the live video media server and microphones or other audio input devices such as a telephone; whereupon each participant computing device receives live video from the host instructor computing machine via the live video media server, the live video comprising video content captured by the camera of the host computing machine; wherein the host computer, upon receiving a request to call on a first participant not currently sending live audio, sends a message to the first participant's computing device directing it to commence sending the first participant's live video and audio to a plurality of other participants via the live video media server; and wherein the host computing device subscribes to a plurality of participant cameras' video feeds and a plurality of participant video feeds is displayed in a grid on the host computing device.