Remote participant hold and disconnect during videoconferencing

摘要

A videoconferencing system and method comprising a plurality of workstations, providing AV capture and reproduction facilities, interconnected by a network providing an AV path for carrying signals representing videoconference participants. The system and method includes one or more of a remote participant hold selection mechanism and a remote participant disconnection mechanism. The remote participant hold selection mechanism is operable to place at least one of the other participants on hold, during a videoconference call among a hold-activating participant and a plurality of other participants. The remote participant disconnection mechanism is operable by a participant teleconference call among the participant and a plurality of the other participants without disconnecting the remaining participants.