Patent ID: 8436888

Claim:
A system comprising: a plurality of participant systems each associated with at least one corresponding participant of a videoconference and including a plurality of audio devices to capture and present audio information of videoconference participants, and a plurality of video devices to capture and present video information of videoconference participants, wherein each participant system produces a loudness metric for each corresponding videoconference participant indicating an amplitude of said captured audio information; and a switching device coupled to each participant system to receive said loudness metrics and said audio and video information of said videoconference participants, wherein said switching device includes a switch processor to process and distribute said received audio and video information, said switch processor including: a lecture module to analyze said received loudness metrics and designate a videoconference participant as a lecturer; and an audience module to cyclically distribute to one of said participant systems associated with said designated lecturer said received audio and video information of videoconference participants from others of said participant systems to facilitate presentation of each of said videoconference participants for a predetermined audience time interval to said designated lecturer.