Dynamically selected bridge configurations for overlapping on-line meetings

A computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions for selectively using identical or different bridge configurations for overlapping meetings, the computer-executable instructions to cause one or more processing units of a system to:

• receive a first request for generating a primary meeting object defining attributes of a primary meeting for a first time period, the first request causing generation of a first bridge configuration for facilitating a first communication session;
• generate the primary meeting object including attributes of the primary meeting;
• store, within the primary meeting object, the first bridge configuration, wherein the first bridge configuration comprises at least one of a mixer identifier, dial-in number, participant access code, host access code, or media routing configuration;
• receive a second request for causing a generation of a sub-meeting object defining attributes of a sub-meeting for a second time period that overlaps at least a portion of the first time period;
• compare one or more attributes of the sub-meeting to one or more corresponding attributes of the primary meeting and determine, based on the comparison, whether a predefined relationship criterion between the sub-meeting and the primary meeting is satisfied, the predefined relationship criterion indicating whether the sub-meeting constitutes a deliberate overlapping meeting relative to the primary meeting;
• in response to determining that the predefined relationship criterion is satisfied:
• copy the first bridge configuration from the primary meeting object for storage in association with the sub-meeting object, such that invitees of the sub-meeting join the first communication session with invitees of the primary meeting using the same mixer identifier and access code, and
• store, within the sub-meeting object, the first bridge configuration, wherein the first bridge configuration comprises at least one of the mixer identifier, dial-in number, participant access code, host access code, or media routing configuration;
• and
• in response to determining that the predefined relationship criterion is not satisfied,
• generate a unique bridge configuration instantiated on a communication logically isolated from the communication bridge of the primary meeting, such that invitees of the sub-meeting are prevented from exchanging audio streams or video streams with invitees of the primary meeting, and
• store, within the sub-meeting object unique bridge configuration instantiated on a communication bridge logically isolated from the communication bridge of the primary meeting.

A method for selectively using identical or different bridge configurations for overlapping meetings, the method causing one or more processing units of a system to:

• receive a first request for generating a primary meeting object defining attributes of a primary meeting for a first time period, the first request causing generation of a first bridge configuration for facilitating a first communication session;
• generate the primary meeting object including attributes of the primary meeting;
• store, within the primary meeting object, the first bridge configuration, wherein the first bridge configuration comprises at least one of a mixer identifier, dial-in number, participant access code, host access code, or media routing configuration;
• receive a second request for causing a generation of a sub-meeting object defining attributes of a sub-meeting for a second time period that overlaps at least a portion of the first time period;
• compare one or more attributes of the sub-meeting to one or more corresponding attributes of the primary meeting and determine, based on the comparison, whether a predefined relationship criterion between the sub-meeting and the primary meeting is satisfied, the predefined relationship criterion indicating whether the sub-meeting constitutes a deliberate overlapping meeting relative to the primary meeting;
• in response to determining that the predefined relationship criterion is satisfied:
• copy the first bridge configuration from the primary meeting object for storage in association with the sub-meeting object, such that invitees of the sub-meeting join the first communication session with invitees of the primary meeting using the same mixer identifier and access code, and
• store, within the sub-meeting object, the first bridge configuration, wherein the first bridge configuration comprises at least one of the mixer identifier, dial-in number, participant access code, host access code, or media routing configuration;
• and
• in response to determining that the predefined relationship criterion is not satisfied,
• generate a unique bridge configuration instantiated on a communication logically isolated from the communication bridge of the primary meeting, such that invitees of the sub-meeting are prevented from exchanging audio streams or video streams with invitees of the primary meeting, and
• store, within the sub-meeting object unique bridge configuration instantiated on a communication bridge logically isolated from the communication bridge of the primary meeting.