Targeted and intelligent multimedia conference establishment services

• US 20030053612A1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sand, Donna Michaels, Mathai, Stinson Samuel, Lee, Chinmei Chen, Henrikson, Eric Harold
• Granted Patent: US 6,870,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

In a multimedia communications system (100), a conference establishment server coordinates the scheduling of a conference call. The server receives request for conference calls (202). The request includes a list of participants and may include an indication of the resources necessary and any rules for the conference call. The request may indicate critical resources or participants that are required for the call. Based on the request, the server determines a conference time and notifies participants of the time (204, 206, 210). Prior to conference time, participants are reminded of the time and automatically connected to the call. The server may check the status of users on the telecommunications network to determine availability. If a critical participant or resource is unavailable at conference time, the conference may be cancelled with notification to the participants.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling a conference call comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a conference call, including an indication of participants for the conference call;

determining an availability of participants for the conference call;

notifying participants of a conference time for the conference call;

requesting confirmation from participants of availability for the conference call; and

reserving resources for the conference call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting the conference time based on a response to a request for confirmation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for a conference call includes at least one of an indication of resources necessary for the conference call and rules governing the conference call.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the availability of participants includes at least one of checking a calendar associated with a participant and determining whether a mobile user terminal is available.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reserving resources includes reserving at least one of a conference bridge and a conference number.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining that the conference time is approaching;

determining an availability of participants and resources for the conference time; and

sending a notification to participants that the conference time is approaching.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

establishing the conference call with available participants and resources.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein prior to establishing the conference call, the method comprising the step of:

sending materials associated with the conference call to participants.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of receiving a request to update a confirmation for the conference call.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of canceling the conference call if a critical participant or resource is unavailable.

11. In a telecommunications system that couples users for voice and multimedia communications, an apparatus for scheduling conference calls comprising:

a server that;

receives a request for a conference call, including an indication of participants for the conference call;

determines an availability of participants for the conference call;

sends to participants a notification of a conference time for the conference call;

requests confirmation from participants of availability for the conference time; and

reserves resources for the conference call.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the server adjusts the conference time based on a response to a request for confirmation.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the request for a conference call includes at least one of an indication of resources necessary for the conference call and rules governing the conference call.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the server determines an availability of participants by one of a check of a calendar associated with a participant and a determination of an availability of a mobile user terminal.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the resources include at least one of a conference bridge and a conference number.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the server:

determines that the conference time is approaching;

determines an availability of participants and resources for the conference time; and

sends a notification to participants that the conference time is approaching.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the server receives a request to update a confirmation for the conference call.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the server cancels the conference call if a critical participant or resource is unavailable.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the server sends materials associated with the conference call to participants.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the server automatically enters confirmations for participants who fail to respond to the request for confirmation within a predetermined time.