Abstract: A videoconference system in which a plurality of users communicate video and audio data to each other, the system including at least two conference servers each having a plurality of users linked to one another over the server wherein the plurality of users can share real time audio and video data with one another, the conference servers being in communication with each other, a plurality of redundant videoconference applications configured to be run on the at least two conference servers, and at least one resource distribution node configured to determine in response to a request for access to one of the videoconference applications which of the plurality of redundant videoconference applications to utilize.

Abstract: One example embodiment of the invention is directed to a computer program product for initiating a process for use during a data sharing event on a packet based network, the program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the data sharing event including a plurality of users sharing streaming data with one another. The example program product instructions when executed by one or more computers causing the one or more computers to perform steps comprising receive a request to initiate the process communicated from one of the plurality of users participating in the data sharing event, respond to the request by initiating the process on the data network whereby at least one of the users participating in the data sharing event may access the process, and terminate the process after one or more termination conditions has been satisfied.

Abstract: One example method for communicating a file modification during a collaboration event includes steps of a first computer communicating a file modification status request to a second computer, the status request including at least a file identifier and a file property. The second computer uses the file identifier from the request to identify a current property of a corresponding file. The second computer compares the current file property to the file property from the status request and communicates a response to the first computer when the current property does not match the property from the status request.