Individual participant control of conference data
A conference call system with a plurality of endpoints, a participant control server, a conference bridge and a switch is described. A first endpoint transmits conference data to the participant control server. The participant control server transmits the conference data to the other endpoints. In response to requests from the endpoint, the participant control server transmits recorded conference data for video, audio and web sessions that are individually controllable to pause, fast-forward and rewind the conference data. The participant control server establishes secondary connections for the endpoints including a ghost hold and a sidebar.
1. A method comprising:
receiving from a first endpoint a request to initiate a conference;
receiving from a second endpoint a request to join the conference;
receiving a request from the second endpoint to establish a ghost hold;
muting the second endpoint's microphone input;
receiving a request from the second endpoint to establish a secondary connection;
establishing the secondary connection for the second endpoint;
associating the second endpoint's microphone input with the secondary connection; and
transmitting audio for the second endpoint from the second endpoint's microphone input.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising sending conference media for at least one participant of the conference to a first endpoint and the second endpoint.
3. The method of claim 2 , comprising:
capturing an image of a user of the second endpoint responsive to receiving the request to establish the ghost hold from the second endpoint, and
transmitting the captured image as the conference media for the second endpoint until one of the conference and the secondary connection is terminated.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conference media continues to be sent to the second endpoint after receiving the request to establish the ghost hold.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conference media includes audio and is sent the second endpoint with a reduced volume, after receiving the request to establish the ghost hold.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conference media including audio is presented to a user of the second endpoint using a first audio output and the audio for the secondary connection is presented to the user of the second endpoint using a second audio output, after receiving the request to establish the ghost hold.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conference media is one from the group of audio, video and web sessions.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising, responsive to termination of the secondary connection, associating the second endpoint's microphone input with the conference.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising recording the conference data from at least one endpoint.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein conference data for each participant is recorded independently.
11. A system comprising:
a processor, and;
a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:
receive from a first endpoint a request to initiate a conference;
receive from a second endpoint a request to join the conference;
receive a request from the second endpoint to establish a ghost hold;
mute the second endpoint's microphone input;
receive a request from the second endpoint to establish a secondary connection;
establish the secondary connection for the second endpoint;
associate the second endpoint's microphone input with the secondary connection; and
transmit audio for the second endpoint from the second endpoint's microphone input.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory also stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:
send conference media for at least one participant of the conference to a first endpoint and the second endpoint.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the memory also stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:
capture an image of a user of the second endpoint responsive to receiving the request to establish the ghost hold from the second endpoint, and
transmit the captured image as the conference media for the second endpoint until one of the conference and the secondary connection is terminated.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the conference media continues to be sent to the second endpoint after receiving the request to establish the ghost hold.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the conference media includes audio and is sent the second endpoint with a reduced volume, after receiving the request to establish the ghost hold.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the conference media including audio is presented to a user of the second endpoint using a first audio output and the audio for the secondary connection is presented to the user of the second endpoint using a second audio output, after receiving the request to establish the ghost hold.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the conference media is one from the group of audio, video and web sessions.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory also stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to, responsive to termination of the secondary connection, associate the second endpoint's microphone input with the conference.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory also stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to record the conference data from at least one endpoint.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein conference data for each participant is recorded independently.
21. A method comprising:
receiving from a first endpoint a request to initiate a conference;
receiving conference data from the first endpoint;
recording the conference data from the first endpoint;
receiving from a second endpoint a request to join the conference;
transmitting the conference data to the second endpoint;
receiving a request from the second endpoint to perform one from the group of positioning to an annotation, pause, fast-forward and rewind of the conference data; and
transmitting recorded conference data to the second endpoint that is responsive to the request, wherein the recorded conference data is simultaneously presented with real-time conference data by the second endpoint.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the conference data comprises one from the group of audio, video and web sessions.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the audio, video and web sessions are recorded independently.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the conference data for each participant is recorded independently.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the second endpoint joins an ante room to view the recorded conference data before joining the conference.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein other endpoints are notified when the second endpoint joins the ante room.
27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the request from the second endpoint further includes a request for one type of recorded conference data.