Method and apparatus for providing egalitarian control in a multimedia collaboration session

1. A system, comprising:

a central server;

a plurality of client devices operated by a plurality of participants;

a session controlled by the central server comprising the plurality of participants which are participating via their respective client devices, each client device having equal access and control of the session and each client device is provided with private communications directly with another client device;

a presentation control of the session operated by the central server;

a viewer control of the session operated by the central server;

at least one display section on each of the client devices that continuously displays live history information of presented elements that have been previously presented in the session, wherein the live history information is a series of iconic representations that continuously scrolls;

generating a live history dynamic list of the live history information; and

hyperlinking iconic representations of the presented elements;

wherein when created information is shared by the one of the plurality of participants the created information is broadcast via the central server to include at least one link to a section that stores the created information;

wherein an individual presentation space is at least one of individually and collectively viewed during the session; and

wherein the broadcast is based on a control command that includes information to broadcast the created information and wherein the broadcast created information is provided to each of the plurality of participants and displayed in each of the plurality of participants' client devices and a copy of the created information is stored at each of the plurality of participant's client devices.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of participants is assigned equal privilege levels.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a presenter role can be assumed by any of the plurality of participants at any time during the session.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information can be shared freely under the presentation control of any of the plurality of participants.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information can comprise any type of media supported by a network.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of participants designate which of the plurality of participants will act as a presenter.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the session is configured to allow multiple presentations to be presented by the plurality of participants at the same time.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the session comprises a private preview area for each of the plurality of participants.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the information is privately viewed prior to sharing the information with other of the plurality of participants in the session.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a central shared presentation area that can be controlled by any one of the plurality of participants at any time.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central server is interfaced with a network and is configured to coordinate distribution of media streams associated with the session between the plurality of participants.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of participants are able to speak with any of the other participants at any time.

13. A method, comprising:

connecting client devices participating in a session, each client device having equal access and control of the session and each client device is provided with private communications directly with another client device;

continuously displaying a list of live history information of presented elements that have been previously presented in the session on at least one of the client devices of the session, wherein the live history information is a series of iconic representations that continuously scrolls;

generating a live history dynamic list of the live history information;

hyperlinking iconic representations of the presented elements;

enabling each of the client devices in the session to view at least a part of the previously presented information, wherein each of the client devices is configured to create information wherein an individual presentation space is at least one of individually and collectively viewed during the session; and

broadcasting the created information between the client devices, wherein the broadcasting is based on a control command that includes information to broadcast the created information and wherein the broadcast created information is provided to each of the client devices and a copy of the created information is stored at each of the client devices.

14. A system, comprising:

a plurality of participants operating respective participant devices; and

a session controlled by a central server comprising the plurality of participants which are participating via their respective client devices, each client device having equal access and control of the session and each client device is provided with private communications directly with another client device, wherein each of the plurality of participants have no pre-assigned hierarchical role during the operation of the session, and have full privileges to share information during the operation of the session, wherein when the information is shared by one of the participants with at least another one of the participants, wherein a list of live history information that has been previously presented in the session on at least one of the client devices of the session is continuously displayed, wherein the live history information of presented elements is a series of iconic representations that continuously scrolls, wherein a live history dynamic list of the live history information is generated; and wherein iconic representations of presented elements are hyperlinked, the information is broadcast to each of the participants' devices, wherein the broadcast is based on a control command that includes information to broadcast the information being presented, wherein the broadcast information is provided to each of the plurality of participants and displayed at each of the plurality of participant devices and a copy of the broadcast information is stored at each of the plurality participant devices and wherein an individual presentation space is at least one of individually and collectively viewed during the session.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a media type control that allows each of the participants to dynamically select a media type for the information to be broadcast.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a media type control that allows each of the participants to dynamically select a media type for the information to be viewed.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a display interface configured to display information that has been previously presented in the session.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the display information that has been previously presented in the session can be viewed by each of the plurality of participants.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of participants can create their own presentation space within the session.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the session comprises a private preview area for each of the plurality of participants in which information is configured to be privately viewed prior to broadcast.