Electronic communication method to provide visual assistance to a participant from an advisor via private communication
An electronic communication method and system for providing private communications from one or more advisors to a participant of an electronic communication are provided. Exemplary methods include establishing an electronic communication between two or more participants (e.g., using a first communication session) and establishing a private session between an advisor and one or more of the participants.
1. An electronic communication method to provide visual assistance to a participant of an electronic communication, the method comprising the steps of:
using a communication network, establishing the electronic communication between two or more participants;
using a participant client, inviting a first advisor to join a private communication between a participant of the participants and the first advisor;
using a media server, mixing audio information from the participants during the electronic communication; and
using the media server, providing private communication information from the first advisor to the participant during the electronic communication.
2. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of the participant using the participant client to selectively communicate with the first advisor or one or more other participants.
3. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of requesting permission from one or more of the other participants to allow access to communication information by the advisor.
4. The electronic communication method of claim 3 , wherein, upon granting of access, another private communication channel is formed.
5. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of using the participant client, inviting a second advisor to join a private communication.
6. The electronic communication method of claim 5 , wherein the media server provides information from the first advisor and the second advisor to the participant.
7. The electronic communication method of claim 6 , wherein the media server provides information from the second advisor to the first advisor.
8. The electronic communication method of claim 5 , wherein the media server provides information from the first advisor to the second advisor.
9. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of using the participant client, authorizing the advisor to join the private communication.
10. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of storing meeting information on a server.
11. The electronic communication method of claim 10 , further comprising a step of the advisor editing the meeting information.
12. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the participant client displays the private communication information on a participant device.
13. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the private communication information comprises audio information.
14. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the participant provides information provided by the advisor to the other participants.
15. An electronic communication system comprising:
a participant client;
an advisor client;
a media server communicatively coupled to the participant client and the advisor client;
a storage device coupled to the media server;
a streaming server coupled to the storage device; and
a content delivery network coupled to the streaming server,
wherein the participant client communicates with one or more other participant clients using a first channel of the media server, and
wherein the participant client and the advisor client communicate in private mode using a second channel of the media server.
16. The electronic communication system of claim 15 , wherein the participant client displays information received on the first channel and information received on the second channel.
17. The electronic communication system of claim 15 , wherein a protocol used to transmit information over the second channel comprises real-time transport protocol.
18. The electronic communication system of claim 15 , wherein the storage device stores meeting information.
19. The electronic communication system of claim 18 , wherein the advisor client is used to edit the meeting information.
20. An electronic communication method to provide visual assistance to a participant of an electronic communication, the method comprising the steps of:
using a communication network, establishing the electronic communication comprising participant information between two or more participants;
using a participant client, inviting an advisor to join a private communication between a participant of the participants and the advisor;
using a media server, mixing audio information from the participants during the electronic communication;
using the media server, providing a private communication channel between an advisor and the participant;
displaying private communication information on a participant device; and
providing the participant information on the participant device.