Audio-video multi-participant conference systems using pstn and internet networks

A multi-participant conference system comprising:

• a public switched telephone network (PSTN) client configured to communicate audio data;
• at least one remote client connected to the Internet configured to receive audio-video data;
• a first participant client configured to receive audio-video data, wherein the first participant client includes,
• a voice over IP encoder that compresses audio data transported to the PSTN client,
• a voice over IP decoder that decodes audio data from the PSTN client,
• a first audio mixer that mixes the decoded audio data from the PSTN client with the audio-video data from the first participant into a first mixed audio-video data stream, wherein the first mixed audio-video data stream is transmitted to the at least one remote client connected to the Internet;
• a second audio mixer that mixes the audio-video data stream from the first participant with the audio-video data stream from the at least one remote client connected to the Internet into a second mixed audio, wherein the second mixed audio is compressed by the voice over IP encoder, which is then transmitted to the PSTN client.

A system for supporting a multi-participant conference call comprising:

• a first mixer configured to mix a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) client audio data stream with a moderator audio-video data stream into a first mixed data stream;
• a first transport output configured to transmit the first mixed data stream to at least one remote client configured to receive the first mixed data stream, the at least one remote client connected to the Internet and configured to generate a remote client audio-video data stream;
• a second mixer configured to mix the moderator audio-video data stream with the remote client audio-video data stream into a second mixed data stream;
• and
• a second transport output configured to transmit a mixed audio data stream, corresponding to the second mixed data stream, to the PSTN client.

A method for supporting a multi-participant conference call, the method comprising:

• receiving a PSTN audio data stream from a public switched telephone network (PSTN) client;
• receiving a moderator audio-video data stream from a moderator;
• receiving a remote client audio-video data stream from at least one remote client connected to the Internet;
• mixing the PSTN audio data stream with the moderator audio-video data stream into a first mixed data stream;
• transmitting the first mixed data stream to the remote client;
• mixing the moderator audio-video data stream with the remote client audio-video data stream into a second mixed data stream;
• transmitting a mixed audio data stream, corresponding to the second mixed data stream, to the PSTN client.