Audio conference platform with dynamic speech detection threshold

Software for conferencing, comprising:

• software for receiving audio signals over a plurality of ports;
• for at least one port,
• software for determining a dynamic threshold value based on one or more characteristics of signals received on the port;
• software for associating said dynamic threshold value with the port;
• and
• software for comparing one or more characteristics of signals subsequently received on the port to the dynamic threshold value;
• and
• software for summing signals received over the plurality of ports, wherein signals received on the at least one port whose characteristics have a specified relationship to the dynamic threshold value are not contained in the sum.

A system for conferencing, comprising:

• means for receiving audio signals over a plurality of ports;
• for at least one port,
• means for determining a dynamic threshold value based on one or more characteristics of signals received on the port;
• means for associating said dynamic threshold value with the port;
• and
• means for comparing one or more characteristics of signals subsequently received on the port to the dynamic threshold value;
• and
• means for summing signals received over the plurality of ports, wherein signals received on the at least one port whose characteristics have a specified relationship to the dynamic threshold value are not contained in the sum.