Online conference broadcast using broadcast component

An online conferencing system comprising:

• a user interface presentation component configured to present an online conference interface on a display of each of a plurality of conference participants;
• a participant contact list including a plurality of participant contacts representing a plurality of potential conference participants;
• a broadcast component list including a plurality of broadcast components, wherein each of the plurality of broadcast components is selected from a broadcast component library and includes properties configured to modify the online conference in a particular way;
• a video gathering component configured to gather video streams for each of at least some of the current participants in an online conference;
• a broadcast start triggering component configured to allow one or more of the conference participants to trigger operation of one or more of the plurality of broadcast components within the online conference interface by invoking one of the plurality of broadcast components by adding the broadcast component contact to the online conference interface;
• wherein, the system is configured to, in response to a participant invoking the broadcast component by adding the broadcast component to on the online conference interface, publish a resulting video stream comprising at least a composite of at least some of the gathered video streams to a plurality of viewers according to properties of the invoked broadcast component.

A method for broadcasting an online conference, the method comprising:

• a user interface presentation component presenting an online conference interface on a display of each of a plurality of conference participants;
• a participant contact list including a plurality of participant contacts representing a plurality of potential conference participants;
• a broadcast component list including a plurality of broadcast components selected from a broadcast component library and including properties configured to modify the online conference in a particular way;
• a video gathering component gathering video streams for each of at least some of the current participants in an online conference;
• one or more of the conference participants invoking one of the plurality of broadcast components by adding the broadcast component to the online conference interface;
• as a result of the invoking, a broadcast start triggering component triggering operation of one or more of the plurality of broadcast components within the online conference interface;
• and
• as a result of the triggering, publishing a resulting video stream comprising at least a composite of at least some of the gathered video streams to a plurality of viewers according to properties of the invoked broadcast component.

A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable hardware storage media having thereon computer-executable instructions that are structured such that, when executed by one or more processors of the computing system, adapt the computing system to performing the following:

• present, using a user interface presentation component, an online conference interface on a display of each of a plurality of conference participants;
• display a participant contact list, including a plurality of participant contacts representing a plurality of potential conference participants;
• display a broadcast component list including a plurality of broadcast components, wherein each of the plurality of broadcast components is selected from a broadcast component library and includes properties configured to modify the online conference in a particular way;
• gather video streams, at a video gathering component, for each of at least some of the current participants in an online conference;
• enable a broadcast start triggering component configured to allow one or more of the conference participants to trigger operation of one or more of the plurality of broadcast components within the online conference interface by invoking one of the plurality of broadcast components by adding the broadcast component contact to the online conference interface;
• in response to a participant invoking the broadcast component by adding the broadcast component to on the online conference interface, publish a resulting video stream comprising at least a composite of at least some of the gathered video streams to a plurality of viewers according to properties of the invoked broadcast component.