Abstract: A method for providing a virtual conference is described. The method includes: a conferencing system receiving a request to schedule a meeting; the conferencing system displaying a calendar associated with a first conference participant identifier of the virtual conference; and the conferencing system receiving a request to retrieve calendar data associated with one or more second conference participant identifiers of the virtual conference. The conferencing system then receives calendar data through one or more communication channels associated with one or more second conference participant identifiers.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a conference system for providing an audio conference and an associated server having a participant profile module comprising: logic configured to presenting a conference user interface to the first and second computing devices, the conference user interface displaying a first object identifying the first participant in association with a first audio indicator and a second object identifying the second participant in association with a second audio indicator; logic configured to present, in the conference user interface, a participant profile control associated with the first participant for specifying one or more profile parameters associated with the first participant; and logic configured to receive, from the second participant via the second computing device and during the audio conference, a selection of the one or more or more profile parameters associated with the first participant.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods, systems, and computer programs are disclosed for providing advertisements in a conference user interface. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing a conference between a plurality of participants via a corresponding computing device connected to the conferencing system via a communication network; presenting a conference user interface to the computing devices, the conference user interface displaying each of the participants as a unique participant object in a virtual location; an online advertising platform selecting advertisement data from one or more advertisers; providing the selected advertisement data to the conferencing system; and displaying the advertisement data with an associated advertisement object in the virtual location during the conference.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing real-time resources to participants in an audio conference session. One embodiment is a method for providing real-time resources to participants in an audio conference session via a communication network. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference session between a plurality of computing devices via a communication network, each computing device generating a corresponding audio stream comprising a speech signal; and in real-time during the audio conference session, a server: receiving and processing the audio streams to determine the speech signals; extracting words from the speech signals; analyzing the extracted words to determine a relevant keyword being discussed in the audio conference session; identifying a resource related to the relevant keyword; and providing the resource to one or more of the computing devices.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for customizing participant information in an online conference. One embodiment is a method for customizing display of participant information in an online conference. The method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an online conference with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, each client device associated with a participant in the online conference; the conferencing system presenting a conference user interface to the client devices, the conference user interface displaying an interactive participant object identifying each of the participants; and during the online conference, one of the participants customizing presentation of at least one of the interactive participant objects via the conference user interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing a virtual conference. One embodiment is a method for providing a virtual conference that includes a conferencing system obtaining participant location information associated with a plurality of participant identifiers, the conferencing system establishing an audio conference with participants associated with the plurality of participant identifiers, and executing logic that selects a stored representation and communicates the stored representation to a rendering device that displays, during the audio conference, a graphical view responsive to the stored representation on a display device. A distributed system includes a conferencing system that establishes an audio conference among participants and a licensing application that communicates a representation to a rendering device that displays, during the audio conference, a graphical view responsive to the representation on the display device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for incorporating a social networking feature in a conferencing system. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing server establishing an audio conference between a plurality of computing devices connected via a communication network; the conferencing server presenting to the computing devices a user interface associated with the audio conference, the user interface comprising a social networking component for providing a social networking feature to a participant during the audio conference; a social networking server authenticating the participant as a member of a social networking system; and during the audio conference, the conferencing server enabling the authenticated participant to access the social networking feature via the social networking component in the user interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for joining an online conference already in progress. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting to the participants via a graphical user interface the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and the content; during the audio conference, receiving from a new participant a request to join the audio conference already in progress; and in response to the request to join the audio conference, playing back the synchronized audio conference and the content presented in the conference interface to the new participant beginning from a recording start location.

Abstract: A method for selectively reviewing a conference includes synchronously recording an audio conference and content presented in a conference user interface to generate a recorded conference, the conference user interface published to a client device associated with one or more participants, using a characteristic of the conference user interface to index the recorded conference and providing a review interface, responsive to at least one indicator that identifies content of interest within the recorded conference. A conferencing system includes client devices with respective displays, a conference host computer operating a web server and coupled to the client devices via one or more networks, and a data store coupled to the conference host computer. The data store includes a synchronously recorded audio conference and content presented in a conference user interface that defines a recorded conference. The recorded conference includes an index responsive to a characteristic of the conference user interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for recording and playing back an online conference. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants in the audio conference; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and content; and playing back the synchronized audio conference and content.

Abstract: A method for providing a virtual conference includes obtaining participant information associated with participant identifiers, establishing an audio conference using the participant identifiers, and executing logic that receives information from a client device coupled to a conferencing system via a network, the conferencing system further executing logic that communicates the information to one or more client devices. A distributed system includes client devices with respective graphical interfaces and a conferencing system coupled to the client devices via a network. The conferencing system includes a first interface, an audio conferencing application, and a survey application. The first interface obtains information associated with respective participant identifiers. The audio conference application establishes an audio conference using the participant identifiers.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for producing an online event. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting an event production user interface to an event producer, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to selectively control a viewer user interface presented to the listen-only viewers during the online event; obtaining analytics data associated with the online event; and during the online event, providing a production recommendation to the event producer in the event production user interface based on the analytics data.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for producing an online event. One embodiment is a method comprising: creating a production script for an online event comprising an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers, the production script comprising a series of production prompts associated with a production timeline; a server presenting an event production user interface to an event producer and a viewer user interface to the listen-only viewers, the event production user interface configured to selectively control the viewer user interface during the online event; and presenting, in the event production user interface, the production prompts in accordance with the production timeline during the online event.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for transitioning from a phone-only mode to a web conference mode. One embodiment is a method for participating in an audio conference comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants via a communication network, at least one of the participants participating in the audio conference in a phone-only mode; and a server in communication with the conferencing system presenting to the phone-only participant, via a user interface on a computing device, a phone-only control menu for enabling the phone-only participant to selectively transition from the phone-only mode to a web conferencing mode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for joining an online conference already in progress. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting to the participants via a graphical user interface the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and the content; during the audio conference, receiving from a new participant a request to join the audio conference already in progress; and in response to the request to join the audio conference, playing back the synchronized audio conference and the content presented in the conference interface to the new participant beginning from a recording start location.

Abstract: A method for selectively reviewing a conference includes synchronously recording an audio conference and content presented in a conference user interface to generate a recorded conference, the conference user interface published to a client device associated with one or more participants, using a characteristic of the conference user interface to index the recorded conference and providing a review interface, responsive to at least one indicator that identifies content of interest within the recorded conference. A conferencing system includes client devices with respective displays, a conference host computer operating a web server and coupled to the client devices via one or more networks, and a data store coupled to the conference host computer. The data store includes a synchronously recorded audio conference and content presented in a conference user interface that defines a recorded conference. The recorded conference includes an index responsive to a characteristic of the conference user interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing and/or producing an online event. One embodiment is a computer program embodied in a computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing an online event. One such computer program comprises: logic configured to establish an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers; logic configured to present the audio conference to the plurality of listen-only viewers via a viewer user interface; and logic configured to present an event production user interface to an event producer, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to selectively control the viewer user interface presented to the listen-only viewers during the online event.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for customizing participant information in an online conference. One embodiment is a method for customizing display of participant information in an online conference. The method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an online conference with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, each client device associated with a participant in the online conference; the conferencing system presenting a conference user interface to the client devices, the conference user interface displaying an interactive participant object identifying each of the participants; and during the online conference, one of the participants customizing presentation of at least one of the interactive participant objects via the conference user interface.

Abstract: A method for providing a cue when a nonparticipant joins a conference includes identifying received data indicating that a particular nonparticipant has joined the conference, searching a cue store for information associated with the particular nonparticipant, and publishing a cue responsive to the information associated with the nonparticipant. A conferencing system includes client devices with respective display devices, a conference host computer coupled to the client devices via one or more networks, the conference host computer operating a web server, and a cue store coupled to the host computer. The cue store includes at least one cue element identified by a nonparticipant privileged to join the conference, the cue element including information designated for publication by the web server to one or more client devices connected to the conference.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for transferring a conference session with a conferencing system from a first client device to a second client device. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing a first conference session for an online conference with a first client device via a communication network; presenting a conference interface via a graphical user interface to the first client device, the conference interface displaying a participant object corresponding to a participant identifier associated with a first participant operating the first client device; the participant initiating a transfer request comprising the participant identifier; sending the transfer request to a second client device; the second client device acknowledging the transfer request; and the second client device establishing a second conference session with the conferencing system using the participant identifier.