A method and system for managing communications in a packet-based
real-time media conference. A conference server determines whether a
given conference session should operate in half-duplex mode or in
full-duplex mode, and the server instructs at least one participating
station accordingly. In the half-duplex mode of operation, for instance,
a station may engage in an implicit floor control process, in which the
station treats an incoming media stream as an implicit floor denial. On
the other hand, in the full-duplex mode of operation, a station would not
treat an incoming stream as an implicit floor denial.