CREATE PRIVATE INTERACTION WORKSPACE

1 . A method of facilitating a multiparty interaction, comprising:

sending a first instruction that causes a graphical user interface of a first communication device participating in a multiparty interaction to display an interaction workspace comprising an audience area and a presentation area, the interaction workspace further comprising a plurality of icons distributed between the audience area and the presentation area, wherein the plurality of icons comprises a first icon displayed within the audience area and corresponding to the first communication device, each of the plurality of icons corresponding to a separate communication device;

enabling the first communication device to receive presentation communications from a presenter communication device corresponding to a presenter icon from among the plurality of icons that is displayed in the presentation area;

receiving a first command from the first communication device to create a private interaction space within the audience area;

in response to the command, sending a second instruction that causes the graphical user interface to display, within the interaction workspace, a private interaction space comprising a second icon corresponding to the first communication device; and

enabling the first communication device to engage in private communications with communication devices corresponding to every other icon from among the plurality of icons displayed in the private interaction space, wherein the private communications do not include communication devices corresponding to icons from among the plurality of icons that are not contained within the private interaction space, and further wherein the first communication device continues to receive the presentation communications.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second command to move one of the plurality of icons from outside of the private interaction space to inside of the private interaction space;

in response to the second command, sending a third instruction that causes the graphical user interface to display the one of the plurality of icons within the private interaction space; and

enabling the communication device corresponding to the one of the plurality of icons to engage in the private communications.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second command is received from the first communication device via a communication interface.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second command is received from a communication device of a moderator of the multiparty interaction via a communication interface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second command from the first communication device to move one of the plurality of icons from inside of the private interaction space to outside of the private interaction space;

in response to the second command, sending a third instruction that causes the graphical user interface to display the one of the plurality of icons outside of the private interaction space; and

disabling the communication device corresponding to the one of the plurality of icons from participating in the private communications.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interaction workspace further comprises a tool area, the tool area comprising a partition tool used to generate the first command.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a first audio instruction that causes the presentation communications and the private communications to be simultaneously reproduced.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the presentation communications and the private communications each comprise an audio component, and further wherein the first audio instruction causes the audio component of the presentation communications to be reproduced with a first apparent source and the audio component of the private communications to be reproduced with a second apparent source that is distinct from the first apparent source.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a location of the second apparent source relative to the first apparent source corresponds to a location of the first icon on the displayed interaction workspace relative to the second icon.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation communications comprise at least one of audio signals, video signals, or data signals.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the data signals comprise signals corresponding to a digital slide show, a video show, a digital whiteboard, or a screen share.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the private communications comprise at least one of audio signals, video signals, or data signals.

13 . A collaboration server, comprising:

a communication interface for communicating with a plurality of communication devices participating in a multiparty interaction;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions configured to cause the processor to:

associate a first subset of the plurality of communication devices with a presentation area and a second subset of the plurality of communication devices with an audience area;

mute the second subset of the plurality of communication devices with respect to each other and with respect to the first subset of the plurality of communication devices;

enable the second subset of the plurality of communication devices to receive presentation communications from the first subset of the plurality of communication devices;

in response to a first command received via the communication interface, associate at least one of the second subset of the plurality of communication devices with a private interaction area while maintaining the association of the at least one of the second subset of the plurality of communication devices with the audience area; and

enable the at least one of the second subset of the plurality of communication devices to engage in private communications with any other communication devices associated with the private interaction area, wherein the private communications do not include communication devices that are not associated with the private interaction space, and further wherein the at least one of the second subset of the plurality of communication devices continues to receive the presentation communications.

14 . The collaboration server of claim 13 , wherein the first command is received from a moderator of the multiparty interaction or a participant of the multiparty interaction.

15 . The collaboration server of claim 13 , wherein the enabling the at least one of the second subset of the plurality of communication devices to engage in private communications with any other communication devices associated with the private interaction area comprises unmuting the at least one of the second subset of the plurality of communication devices with respect to any other communication devices associated with the private interaction area.

16 . The collaboration server of claim 13 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor, the additional instructions configured to cause the processor to:

disassociate one of the plurality of communication devices from the private interaction area in response to a second command received via the communication interface; and

disable the one of the plurality of communication devices from participating in the private communications.

17 . The collaboration server of claim 16 , wherein the second command is received from the one of the plurality of communication devices.

18 . The collaboration server of claim 13 , wherein the presentation communications comprise at least one of audio signals, video signals, or data signals.

19 . A communication device comprising:

a communication interface for receiving signals related to a multiparty interaction among a plurality of communication devices;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to:

send a first instruction that causes a graphical user interface of a first communication device to display an interaction workspace comprising an audience area, a presentation area, and a plurality of icons, wherein the plurality of icons comprises a first icon displayed within the audience area and corresponding to the first communication device, each of the plurality of icons corresponding to a communication device from among the plurality of communication devices;

enable the first communication device to receive presentation communications from a communication device corresponding to an icon from among the plurality of icons that is displayed in the presentation area;

receive a first command from the first communication device to create a private interaction space within the interaction workspace;

in response to the first command, send a second instruction that causes the graphical user interface to display, within the interaction workspace, a private interaction space comprising a second icon corresponding to the first communication device; and

enable the first communication device to engage in private communications only with communication devices corresponding to other icons from among the plurality of icons displayed in the private interaction space, while continuing to enable the first communication device to receive the presentation communications.

20 . The communication device of claim 19 , wherein the presentation communications and the private communications each comprise an audio component and the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor, the additional instructions, when executed by the processor, further causing the processor to:

send an audio instruction that causes the audio component of the presentation communications to be reproduced with a first apparent source and the audio component of the private communications to be reproduced with a second apparent source distinct from the first apparent source.