System for managing an audio conference

A system for setting up an audio conference comprising:

• a sending element configured to send a message to potential conference participants regarding an audio conference;
• a receiving element configured to receive messages from actual ones of the potential conference participants indicating a desire to be conference participants;
• and
• a transmitting element configured to transmit display data to the actual conference participants with information about the audio conference and without video information of the actual conference participants, wherein the display data includes at least one of the following:
• at least one name of the actual participants, audio conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.

A method for setting up an audio conference comprising the steps of:

• sending a message to potential conference participants regarding an audio conference;
• receiving messages from ones of the potential conference participants indicating a desire to be actual conference participants;
• and
• sending display data to the other ones of the actual conference participants with information about the audio conference and without video information of the actual conference participants, wherein the display data display data includes at least one of the following:
• name of the actual participants, conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda list, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.

An audio conferencing system for servicing a plurality of potential conference participants, at least one of the potential conference participants having a computer terminal, the system comprising:

• means for determining which ones of the plurality of potential conference participants are active participants in the conference;
• means to determine which ones of the active participants have computer terminals connected to a communications network;
• and
• means for outputting instructions over a network to the computer terminals of the active participants to display conference data, wherein the conference data does not include video information of the active participants, and wherein the conference data includes at least one of the following:
• at least one name of the actual participants, audio conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.

An audio conferencing system for servicing a plurality of potential conference participants, at least one of the potential conference participants having a computer terminal, the system comprising:

• a determining element configured to determine which ones of the plurality of potential conference participants is an active participant actively participating in the conference;
• and
• a second determining element configured to determine which ones of the active participants has a computer terminal connected to a communications network;
• and
• a transmitting unit configured to transmit instructions over the network to processors of the computer terminals of the active participants to display conference data, wherein the conference data does not include video information of the active participants, and wherein the conference data includes at least one of the following:
• name of the actual participants, conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda list, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.

A method for servicing a plurality of potential audio conference participants, at least one of the potential conference participants having a computer terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining which ones of the plurality of potential conference participants are active participants actively participating in the conference;
• determining which ones of the active participants have computer terminals connected to a communications network;
• and
• outputting instructions over the network to the computer terminals of the active participants to display conference data, wherein the conference data does not include video information of the active participants, and wherein the conference data includes at least one of the following:
• at least one name of the actual participants, audio conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.

A system for use in an audio conference having a plurality of participants comprising:

• means for receiving a message regarding an audio conference;
• means for sending a reply message regarding the audio conference to a conference controller;
• and
• means for receiving and presenting display data with information about the audio conference, wherein the display data does not include video information of the plurality of participants, and wherein the display data includes at least one of the following:
• at least one name of the actual participants, audio conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.

A system for use in an audio conference having a plurality of participants comprising:

• a receiving element configured to receive a message regarding an audio conference;
• a sending element configured to send a reply message regarding the audio conference to a conference controller;
• and
• a second receiving element configured to receive and present display data with information about the audio conference, wherein the display data does not include video information of the plurality of participants, and wherein the display data includes at least one of the following:
• at least one name of the actual participants, audio conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.

A method of conducting an audio conference having a plurality of participants comprising the steps of:

• receiving a message regarding an audio conference;
• sending a reply message regarding the audio conference to a conference controller;
• receiving display data;
• and
• presenting display data with information about the audio conference, wherein the audio conference does not include video information of the plurality of participants, and wherein the display data includes at least one of the following:
• at least one name of the actual participants, audio conference title, audio conference time, a conference agenda, and statuses of communication connections to each of the actual participants.