Groupware environment that adaptively tailors open microphone sessions based on participant locality

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by two or more users to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism controlling what each of said two or more users are able to hear based on distance between said two or more users' locations within said groupware object;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a plurality of users to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism maintaining a conversation between at least two users irrespective of distance between said at least two user's locations within said groupware object, so long as at least one of said at least two users continues to participate in said conversation;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a first, a second, and a third user to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said first, second, and third users to speak with one another, and wherein said first user's ability to hear said second user is changed based upon how often said third user speaks;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a first, a second, and a third user to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said first, second, and third users to speak with one another, and wherein said first user's ability to hear said second user is changed because a conversation limit has been exceeded;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by two or more users to simultaneously work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism allowing at least one of said two or more users to control whether at least one other user is able to hear them;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by two or more users to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism allowing at least one of said two or more users to control whether they are able to hear at least one other user;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a plurality of users to simultaneously work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said plurality of users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism being used to create subconversations amongst said plurality of users such that at least one subset of said plurality of users is allowed to engage in a conversation that is separate from that of the remaining users of said plurality of users;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

A program product, said program product comprising:

• a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a plurality of users to simultaneously work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said plurality of users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism including a mechanism that identifies what users are able to hear said first user, said first user being one of said plurality of users;
• and
• signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.