Abstract: A method and system for controlling the interaction between a primary application and a virtual meeting application and assigning the responsibility between them for providing user interface components is provided. The virtual meeting application provides the functionality for a virtual meeting and provides user interface components related to transient state changes in the virtual meeting. The virtual meeting application is called from the user interface provided by the primary application. In response to state change event notification sent by the virtual meeting application to the primary application, the primary application updates user interface components that supplement the user interface provided by the virtual meeting application. The virtual meeting application is invoked through an application interface that is exposed by the virtual meeting application in a global name space.

Abstract: A method and system for scheduling a virtual meeting and automatically making the required connections near the time the virtual meeting is scheduled to take place between a meeting host's computer and at least one meeting participant's computer. The virtual meeting is scheduled by sending a meeting request from the meeting host's computer over a communication network to each meeting participant's computer. The meeting request is stored on the meeting host's computer and on each meeting participant's computer that accepts the meeting request. A personal information manager component on the meeting host's computer and on each meeting participant's computer activates a virtual meeting utility component near the time of the virtual meeting based on the time and date of the virtual meeting contained in the virtual meeting request.