Patent ID: 8660039

Claim:
A non-blocking client/server software based system that provides full audio summing, comprising a plurality of processors and software components embodied in a plurality of communication devices that provide audio communication, one of said processors comprising a server side processor that provides said full audio summing, said server software: a) utilizes Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) techniques for audio distribution; b) receives audio information from a plurality of audio sources using said VoIP techniques; c) sends audio information to a plurality of communication devices using said VoIP techniques; d) provides control information to a control panel interface that permits a client using said control panel interface to manage said audio information; e) provides control information to a system administration interface that permits all clients using said system to dynamically configure one or more or all of features of the system; f) provides control information to a device interface that permits a client using said device interface to interface the system to external audio systems; g) permits all clients to communicate with any or all other clients in any combination without restriction; h) permits audio initiated and directed from one client to another to be delivered and heard by the other client without any action required on the part of the receiving client; i) permits clients to talk and listen in a single conference or multiple conferences in any combination and in any sequence, wherein for instant channel access for talking and monitoring all paths are set up in advance and are always on and j) manages features a)-i) over a private local area network and over a public Internet.