Multimedia conference broadcast system

A computer-implemented method for requesting broadcast of a multimedia conference, the method comprising:

• participating, using one or more computing devices, in a multimedia conference with a plurality of participant devices;
• requesting, using the one or more computing devices, a broadcast of the multimedia conference;
• and
• receiving, using the one or more computing devices, an indication that the multimedia conference is being broadcast to a plurality of viewer devices that are separate from the plurality of participant devices and that each of the plurality of participant devices should transmit a video stream at a high quality level relative to a capability of the participant device,
• wherein a composite multimedia stream is generated based on a plurality of video streams and a plurality of audio streams received from the plurality of participant devices,
• wherein the composite multimedia stream is broadcasted to a plurality of viewer devices that are separate from the plurality of participant devices,
• wherein the broadcast is based on a determination that the composite video stream is associated with a participant who is currently communicating in the multimedia conference, and
• wherein the broadcast is for third-party viewers not participating in the multimedia conference.

A computer-implemented method for broadcasting a multimedia conference, the method comprising:

• receiving, using one or more computing devices, a request to broadcast a multimedia conference of a plurality of participant devices, wherein the request includes an indication that each of the plurality of participant devices should transmit a video stream at a high quality level relative to a capability of the participant device;
• establishing, using the one or more computing devices, a connection to the multimedia conference as a non-participant device;
• receiving, using the one or more computing devices, a plurality of video streams and a plurality of audio streams from the plurality of participant devices through the connection established to the multimedia conference as the non-participant device;
• generating, using the one or more computing devices, a composite multimedia stream based on the plurality of video streams and the plurality of audio streams received from the plurality of participant devices;
• and
• broadcasting, using the one or more computing devices, the composite multimedia stream to a plurality of viewer devices that are separate from the plurality of participant devices, wherein the broadcasting is based on a determination that the composite video stream is associated with a participant who is currently communicating in the multimedia conference, and wherein the broadcasting is for third-party viewers not participating in the multimedia conference.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• receive a plurality of video streams and a plurality of audio streams from a plurality of participant devices;
• transmit, to each of the plurality of participant devices, the plurality of video streams and the plurality of audio streams corresponding to the other of the plurality of devices;
• receive a request to broadcast the plurality of video streams and the plurality of audio streams from one of the plurality of participant devices, wherein the request includes an indication that each of the plurality of participant devices should transmit a video stream at a high quality level relative to a capability of the participant device;
• generate a composite multimedia stream based on the plurality of video streams and the plurality of audio streams received from the plurality of participant devices;
• and
• broadcast the composite multimedia stream to a plurality of viewer devices that are separate from the plurality of participant device, wherein the broadcast is based on a determination that the composite video stream is associated with a participant who is currently communicating in the multimedia conference, and wherein the broadcast is for third-party viewers not participating in the multimedia conference.

A non-transitory machine readable medium embodying instructions that, when executed by a machine, allow the machine to perform a method for broadcasting a multimedia conference, the method comprising:

• receiving a request to broadcast a multimedia conference including a plurality of participant devices, wherein the request includes an indication that each of the plurality of participant devices should transmit a video stream at a high quality level relative to a capability of the participant device;
• establishing a connection to the multimedia conference as a non-participant device;
• receiving a plurality of video streams and a plurality of audio streams from the plurality of participant devices through the connection established to the multimedia conference as the non-participant device;
• generating a composite multimedia stream based on the plurality of video streams and the plurality of audio streams received from the plurality of participant devices;
• and
• broadcasting the composite multimedia stream to at least one viewer device that is separate from the at least one participant device, wherein the broadcasting is based on a determination that the composite video stream is associated with a participant who is currently communicating in the multimedia conference, and wherein the broadcasting is for third-party viewers not participating in the multimedia conference.