Method and apparatus for on-demand teleconferencing

• US 20010002927A1
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Published: 06/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voyan Technology Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Voyan Technology Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Selig, Gregory Wayne, Detampel, Donald Francis Jr., Barnes, Kevin Dale, Yackey, Thomas Edward Jr., Phillips, Ronald D., Nylander, Eric Jay
• Granted Patent: US 6,330,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 where the conference facilities are distributed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/06 using auxiliary connections for control or supervision , e.g. where the auxiliary connection is a signalling system number 7 link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

An on-demand teleconferencing system and method for setting up an on-demand conference call in a telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with system signaling the number 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A subscriber is assigned an on-demand conference call number. When that number is dialed into the PSTN, it is identified by the PSTN that the dialed number requires handling by the SS7. The SS7 links the dialed number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) which is connected to a plurality of scalable bridge servers. The CACS selects bridge servers available to handle the conference call and based upon a selection criteria such as a peak load sets up the on-demand conference call in one of the selected bridge servers.

Claims

1. An on-demand conferencing method for setting up a conference call in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with System Signaling 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a number for an on-demand conference call to an on-demand subscriber;

dialing the assigned number into the PSTN;

identifying in the PSTN that the dialed number requires handling by the SS7;

routing the identified number through the PSTN to the SS7;

linking in the SS7 the routed number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) connected to the plurality of bridge servers;

the CACS selecting bridge servers from the plurality of bridge servers based on a selection criteria;

setting up the on-demand conference call through the PSTN on one of the selected bridge servers under control of the CACS.

2. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 1

further comprising the step of changing the status of the set up on-demand conference call when the on-demand user inputs a status change.

3. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 2

wherein the changing status step occurs when the on-demand user inputs at least one of the following:

(a) DTMF signals, (b) World Wide Web commands, and (c) E-mail to the CACS.

4. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 1

wherein the step of setting up the on-demand conference call further comprises the steps of:

obtaining a translation number for the selected bridge server in the CACS;

delivering the obtained translation number to the SS7 from the CACS.

5. An on-demand conferencing method for setting up a conference call in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with System Signaling 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a number for an on-demand conference call to an on-demand subscriber, said assigned number identifying the on-demand subscriber and the maximum conference size;

dialing into the PSTN the assigned number;

identifying in the PSTN that the dialed number requires handling by the SS7;

routing the identified number through the PTSN to the SS7;

linking in the SS7 the routed number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) connected to the plurality of bridge servers;

determining in the CACS the maximum conference size assigned to the linked number;

selecting in the CACS which bridge servers from the plurality of bridge servers have enough available ports to support the maximum size of the conference call;

reserving in the CACS one of the selected bridge servers for the conference call;

setting up the on-demand conference call through the PSTN on the one selected bridge server under control of the CACS.

6. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 5

wherein the step of selecting further selects bridge servers based on load control and routing costs.

7. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 5

wherein the step of selecting further selects bridge servers based upon failed hardware resources in a bridge.

8. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 5

further comprising the step of changing the status of the set up on-demand conference call when the on-demand user inputs a status change.

9. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 8

wherein the changing status step occurs when the on-demand user inputs at least one of the following:

(a) DTMF signals, (b) World Wide Web commands, and (c) E-mail to the CACS

10. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 5

wherein the step of setting up the on-demand conference call further comprises the steps of:

obtaining a translation number for the selected bridge server in the CACS;

delivering the obtained translation number to the SS7 from the CACS.

11. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 5

wherein the step of selecting further comprises the step of returning a “

system unavailable”

message when a bridge server cannot be selected.

12. An on-demand conferencing method for setting up a conference call between a subscriber and a plurality of participants in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with System Signaling 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a number for an on-demand conference call to a subscriber, said assigned number identifying the subscriber and the maximum conference size;

dialing by the subscriber or the plurality of participants the assigned number into the PSTN;

identifying in the PSTN that the dialed number requires handling by the SS7;

routing the identified number through the PTSN to the SS7;

linking in the SS7 the routed number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) connected to the plurality of bridge servers;

determining in the CACS the maximum conference size assigned to the linked number;

selecting in the CACS which bridge servers from the plurality of bridge servers have enough available ports to support the maximum size of the conference call;

obtaining a translation number for one of the selected bridge servers in the CACS;

delivering the obtained translation number to the SS7 from the CACS;

setting up the on-demand conference call through the PSTN on the one selected bridge server under control of the CACS when the subscriber dials the assigned number into the PSTN.

13. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 12

wherein the step of selecting further selects bridge servers based on load control and routing costs.

14. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 12

wherein the step of selecting further selects bridge servers based upon failed hardware resources in a bridge.

15. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 12

further comprising the step of changing the status of the set up on-demand conference call when the subscriber or any one of the plurality of participants input a status change.

16. The on-demand conferencing method of

claim 15

wherein the changing status step occurs when the on-demand user inputs at least one of the following:

(a) DTMF signals, (b) World Wide Web commands, and (c) E-mail to the CACS.

17. A method for connecting a subscriber and a participant in an on-demand conference call in a telecommunications system, said telecommunications system having a conference allocation and control system (CACS) controlling a conferencing bridge, said method comprising:

assigning an on-demand conference number to the subscriber,

storing the assigned number,

the subscriber selecting a PIN for the conference call and delivering the assigned number and the PIN to the plurality of participants,

the CACS setting up the conference call on the conferencing bridge when the subscriber dials the assigned number in the telecommunications system and enters the PIN to the CACS,

the CACS adding a participant to the set-up conference call in the conferencing bridge when one of the plurality of participants dials the assigned number in the telecommunications system and enters the PIN to the CACS.

18. The method of

claim 17

wherein the step of assigning further includes assigning a passcode to the subscriber and wherein the step of setting up further comprises the steps:

prompting the subscriber for a passcode;

entering the passcode by the subscriber, verifying that the entered passcode corresponds to the assigned passcode, receiving a PIN from the subscriber in response to the step of verification beginning the conference call in response to the step of receiving the PIN.

19. The method of

claim 18

wherein the step of adding a participant further comprises:

prompting the one participant to enter a PIN;

entering the PIN by the one participant;

verifying that the entered PIN corresponds to the PIN received from the subscriber;

placing the one participant into the conference call.

20. The method of

claim 19

further comprising the step of:

placing the one participant on hold until the conference call begins.

21. The method of

claim 18

further comprising the step of:

changing the assigned passcode by the subscriber in response to the step of verifying the passcode.

22. The method of

claim 18

further comprising the steps of:

recording a greeting from the subscriber in response to the step of verifying the passcode;

playing the recorded greeting to the added participant.

23. A method for connecting a subscriber and a participant in an on-demand conference call in a telecommunications system, said telecommunications system having a conference allocation and control system (CACS) controlling a plurality of conferencing bridges, said method comprising:

assigning an on-demand conference number and a maximum conference size to the subscriber,

storing the assigned number and maximum conference size,

the subscriber selecting a PIN for the conference call and delivering the assigned number and the PIN to the plurality of participants,

the CACS selecting a conferencing bridge from said plurality of conferencing bridges with enough capacity to handle the maximum conference size,

the CACS setting up the conference call on the selected conferencing bridge when the subscriber dials the assigned number in the telecommunications system and enters the PIN to the CACS,

the CACS adding a participant to the set-up conference call in the conferencing bridge when one of the plurality of participants dials the assigned number in the telecommunications system and enters the PIN to the CACS.

24. An on-demand conferencing system for making a conference call between a subscriber and a plurality of participants, said on-demand conferencing system comprising:

a database;

a number, a passcode, and a maximum conference size assigned to said subscriber, said number and maximum conference size stored in said database;

a PSTN, said PSTN having service points for said subscriber, said service points receiving said number from said subscriber or from said plurality of participants for routing said number;

a CACS;

an SS7 receiving the routed number from said service points for delivering the routed number to said CACS;

a plurality of bridge servers connected to said CACS, said CACS accessing said database based upon said delivered number for obtaining said maximum conference size, for selecting one bridge server from said plurality of bridge servers for handling said maximum size conference, said CACS returning to said SS7 routing information identifying the selected at least one bridge server;

said SS7 delivering said routing information to said PSTN, said PSTN linking said subscriber to said selected bridge server, said CACS setting up said conference call in said at least one bridge server when said subscriber delivers said passcode to said CACS over said link, said CACS adding said plurality of participants to said conference call.

25. The on-demand conferencing system of

claim 24

wherein said CACS has a bridge status memory file for said plurality of bridges, said bridge status memory file containing the identity of each bridge and the number of ports available for each said bridge.

26. The on-demand conferencing system of

claim 24

wherein the number of ports available for each bridge in the bridge status memory file is updated when said CACS sets up said conference call in said one bridge server.

27. The on-demand conferencing system of

claim 25

wherein said bridge status memory file is updated when an additional bridge server is added to said plurality of bridge servers.

28. The on-demand conferencing system of

claim 25

wherein said bridge status memory file is updated when additional ports are added to any one of said plurality of bridge servers.

29. The on-demand conferencing system of

claim 25

wherein said bridge status memory file is updated whenever any ports in any of said plurality of bridge servers fails.

30. An on-demand conferencing system comprising:

a CACS,

a plurality of bridge servers, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a plurality of ports,

a network,

said CACS connected to said plurality of bridge servers over said network,

said CACS having a bridge status memory file for said plurality of bridges,

said bridge status memory file containing the identity of each bridge in said plurality of bridges and the number of ports available for each said bridge,

said CACS updating said bridge status memory file whenever any one of the following occurs;

(a) when a conference call is set up in said bridge,

(b) when ports are added or removed from any one of said plurality of bridges,

(c) when bridge servers are added to or removed from said plurality of bridge servers,

(d) when any ports in any of the bridge servers fail.