Synchronous communication system and method

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• providing, using one or more computing devices, a synchronous communication session for a plurality of users of a social network;
• rendering a first video stream of a first user of the plurality of users within a primary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session;
• rendering a placeholder for the first user of the plurality of users within a first portion of a secondary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session, wherein the secondary viewing field includes a plurality of portions;
• rendering video streams of the remaining users of the plurality of users within the remaining portions of the secondary viewing field, wherein the first video stream of the first user within the primary viewing field, the placeholder for the first user within the first portion of the secondary viewing field, and the video stream of the remaining users within the remaining portions of the secondary viewing field are rendered simultaneously such that the rendered first video stream within the primary viewing field is larger in size than each of the rendered placeholder and the rendered video streams within the secondary viewing field;
• receiving, from a requesting user of the plurality of users, a request concerning session control options for an identified user of the plurality of users;
• and
• in response to receiving the request, rendering a control options pop-up menu concerning the identified user, wherein the control options menu defines a plurality of available control options concerning the identified user, each available control option being configured to control an aspect of the identified user's participation in the synchronous communication session.

A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:

• providing, using one or more computing devices, a synchronous communication session for a plurality of users of a social network;
• rendering a first video stream of a first user of the plurality of users within a primary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session;
• rendering a placeholder for the first user of the plurality of users within a first portion of a secondary viewing field associated with the synchronous communication session, wherein the secondary viewing field includes a plurality of portions;
• rendering video streams of the remaining users of the plurality of users within the remaining portions of the secondary viewing field, wherein the first video stream of the first user within the primary viewing field, the placeholder for the first user within the first portion of the secondary viewing field, and the video stream of the remaining users within the remaining portions of the secondary viewing field are rendered simultaneously such that the rendered first video stream within the primary viewing field is larger in size than each of the rendered placeholder and the rendered video streams within the secondary viewing field;
• receiving, from a requesting user of the plurality of users, a request concerning session control options for an identified user of the plurality of users;
• and
• in response to receiving the request, rendering a control options pop-up menu concerning the identified user, wherein the control options menu defines a plurality of available control options concerning the identified user, each available control option being configured to control an aspect of the identified user's participation in the synchronous communication session.