Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus to conduct automatically, and moderate absolutely, a networked electronic conference to provide order, maintain constant control, and ensure the best dissemination of information possible. A defined but flexible rule base governs the conference, as executed and interpreted by a conference controller. The rule base comprises a multitude of conference management options and techniques. A main feature of the preferred embodiment is the ability to govern a conference according to a sequence-ordering scheme as defined in the rule base. This conference administration system is independent of the physical implementation of the media or network interconnecting the participants to a conference. Further, it is not limited to the use of any particular means of communication (i.e., voice, textual data, graphical data, etc.). Security features are provided, and an archived record of conference proceedings is maintained for playback review of the conference, with the option to playback the archived record at a normal recorded rate of speed, at a different rate of speed for voice recordings, or keyed on selective item criteria for an enhanced review of the recorded conference communications and proceedings.

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First Claim