Configurable group-based media streams during an online communication session

A communication system for configurable group-based media stream transmission during an online communication session, the communication system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable mediums storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the communication system to perform operations comprising:
• receiving media configurations for establishing the online communication session, the media configurations identifying an audience group and a presenter group, each of the audience and presenter groups including at least one client device;
• receiving a first media stream, a source of the first media stream being a client device of the audience group;
• transmitting the first media stream exclusively to the presenter group, and not to the audience group, based on the received media configurations;
• receiving a second media stream, a source of the second media stream being a client device of the presenter group;
• and
• transmitting the second media stream to the audience group and to the presenter group, excluding the source of the second media stream, based on the received media configurations.

A method for configurable group-based media stream transmission during an online communication session by a communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving media configurations for establishing the online communication session, the media configurations identifying participants in first and second participant groups, wherein the first participant group is an audience group and the second participant group is a presenter group;
• receiving a first media stream from a first client device engaged in the online communication session, the first client device being included in the audience group defined by the media configurations established for the online communication session;
• determining, based on the media configurations established for the online communication session, that a third client device engaged in the online communication session is included in the presenter group;
• transmitting the first media stream to the third client device based on the third client device being included in the presenter group;
• inhibiting transmission of the first media stream to a second client device based on the second client device being included in the audience group;
• receiving a second media stream from the third client device;
• transmitting the second media stream to the first client device based on the first client device being included in the audience group;
• and
• transmitting the second media stream to the second client device based on the second client device being included in the presenter group.