Abstract: A scalable virtual conferencing system which implements a hub and spoke architecture. For example, one embodiment of a scalable virtual conferencing system comprises: a participant management module to logically group each participant in the virtual conferencing system into a hub or one of a plurality of spokes; and a data flow management module to control communication of information between participants in the spokes and participants in the hub, the data flow management module to limit intercommunication from the spokes to the hub in accordance with the manual user input and/or participant management policy; wherein at least one participant in a first spoke is designated as a spoke leader for the first spoke, the spoke leader logically grouped into both the hub and the first spoke, the data flow management module to allow information generated within the first spoke to be propagated into the hub based on input from the spoke leader.

Abstract: Methods, system and computer readable medium for allowing a user to participate in an online private conversation for a head content includes detecting a selection of the content published on a website hosted by a host. A conversation interface is provided for initiating a private conversation within a context of the content. A comment related to the content is provided and one or more users are selected, using the conversation interface. The selected users are socially related to the user and are selected from one or more social networking sites. A link to the private conversation for the content is generated and the generated link is forwarded to the selected users in a notification inviting the users to participate in the private conversation. The link provides access to the content and the private conversation initiated for the content at the website.

Abstract: Methods, system and computer readable medium for allowing a user to participate in an online private conversation for a head content includes detecting a selection of the content published on a website hosted by a host. A conversation interface is provided for initiating a private conversation within a context of the content. A comment related to the content is provided and one or more users are selected, using the conversation interface. The selected users are socially related to the user and are selected from one or more social networking sites. A link to the private conversation for the content is generated and the generated link is forwarded to the selected users in a notification inviting the users to participate in the private conversation. The link provides access to the content and the private conversation initiated for the content at the website.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adding content from a search to a document or message such as an electronic mail message are disclosed. A graphical user interface may be provided, where the graphical user interface includes an input portion and a template for generating a document or message. A query including one or more search terms may be received via the input portion of the graphical user interface. Search results associated with the query may be obtained. The search results associated with the query may be provided. A user selection may be received, where the user selection selects at least a portion of the search results. A hypertext link or content from the search results may be added to a document or message generated (or being generated by) via the template, wherein the hypertext link or content from the search results is added to the document or message in response to the user selection.

Abstract: Described is a method of handling automated conversations by categorizing a plurality of events which occur during automated conversations based on an impact of the events on a level of user satisfaction with the automated conversations, assigning to each category of events a quality score corresponding to the impact on user satisfaction of the events in each category and initiating a conversation handling action for one of the conversations based on the categories of events detected during the one of the conversations.