System and method for interactive internet video conferencing
A system and method for Internet video conferencing is provided. The method includes, generating a facilitator user interface on a display associated with a facilitator user device comprising a plurality of participant icons corresponding to a plurality of participant user devices for a conference, forming a plurality of subgroups comprising a first subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices and a second subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices, generating a participant user interface on each screen display associated with the first subgroup and the second subgroup for controlling interaction with a respective subgroup, linking each participant user device within the first subgroup with a second video signal, linking each participant user device in the second subgroup with a second video signal and intercommunicating between the first subgroup at the participant user devices without intercommunicating to the second subgroup.
1. A video teleconferencing method comprising:
generating a facilitator user interface on a display associated with a facilitator user device comprising a plurality of participant icons corresponding to a plurality of participant user devices for a conference, wherein each of the plurality of participant icons is a single combined icon indicating a participant type and a participant status;
forming a plurality of subgroups comprising a first subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices and a second subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices;
generating a participant user interface on each screen display associated with the first subgroup and the second subgroup for controlling interaction with a respective subgroup;
linking each participant user device within the first subgroup with a first video stream; and
linking each participant user device within the second subgroup with a second video stream.
2. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 further comprising controlling a first size of the first subgroup and a second size of the second subgroup from the facilitator user interface.
3. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 further comprising controlling a participant user device composition of the first subgroup and the second subgroup from the facilitator user interface.
4. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating a message to each of the plurality of subgroups through the facilitator user interface.
5. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating a message to each of the participant user devices of the plurality of subgroups through the facilitator user interface.
6. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming the plurality of subgroups comprises randomly forming the plurality of subgroups.
7. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming the plurality of subgroups comprises forming the first subgroup by comparing a first profile to characteristics associated with the plurality of participant user devices and forming the second subgroup by comparing a second profile to characteristics associated with the plurality of participant user devices.
8. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of subgroups are formed for a predetermined time and thereafter a third subgroup and fourth subgroup is formed from the participant user devices of the conference.
9. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 further comprising sequentially accessing the first subgroup and the second subgroup from the facilitator user interface so that the facilitator user device first participates in the first subgroup and, thereafter participates in the second subgroup.
10. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 further comprising controlling the first subgroup from the facilitator user interface and relinquishing controlling the first subgroup to a first participant user device after the facilitator user device exits the first subgroup.
11. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 further comprising controlling a subgroup from a first participant user device in the first subgroup.
12. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 11 further comprising removing the first participant user device from controlling the first subgroup with an action from a second participant user device of the first subgroup and a third participant user device of the first subgroup.
13. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 12 further comprising removing the first participant user device from controlling the subgroup with the facilitator user device.
14. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a plurality of subgroups comprises forming a plurality of dyads.
15. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 14 wherein forming a plurality of dyads comprises forming the plurality of dyads in a mill.
16. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 15 further comprising controlling the mill to randomly form dyads.
17. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 16 wherein controlling the mill comprises controlling the mill to form dyads based on participant user device compatibility.
18. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 14 wherein forming a plurality of dyads comprises forming a first dyad from a first participant user device and a second participant user device, and dissolving the dyad by control of either the first participant user device, the second participant user device or both.
19. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 wherein the participant type is one a text, audio, video, or facilitator.
20. The video teleconferencing method as recited in claim 1 wherein participant status is one present, hand raised, text message pending, or speaking.