Virtual lobby for data conferencing

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a lobby server that is logically located within a buffer zone between an intranet and an external network, cause the lobby server to:

• receive a request to establish a data conference from a conference organizing computing system in the intranet;
• determine whether the conference organizing computing system is authorized to establish the data conference;
• establish a lobby within the buffer zone to which potential participating computing systems in the external network are admitted to await authorization to join the data conference;
• intercede a request to join the data conference from a potential participating computing system in the external network;
• admit the potential participating computing system to the lobby;
• notify the conference organizing computing system that the potential participating computing system has requested to join the data conference;
• receive an indication from an intranet computing system that the potential participating computing system is authorized to join the data conference;
• and
• subsequent to receiving the indication, join the potential participating computing system to the data conference.

A system comprising:

• an intranet;
• a lobby server that establishes a data conference in response to receiving a request from a conference organizing computing system to establish a data conference for an intranet computing system and a computing system in an external network, wherein the lobby server is located within a demilitarized zone between the intranet and the external network;
• wherein, in response to receiving a request to join the data conference from the computing system in the external network, the lobby server performs a method comprising:
• notifying the conference organizing computing system that the computing system in the external network has requested to join the data conference;
• admitting the computing system in the external network to a lobby located within the demilitarized zone to which potential participating computing systems in external network are admitted awaiting authorization to join the data conference;
• in response to receiving an indication that the computing system is authorized to join the data conference, joining the computing system to the data conference.