Setting up a conference call between members of a chat group

• US 20040013254A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Soininen, Jonne, Kuoppamaki, Liisa, Einola, Heikki, Hamberg, Max
• Application Number:
  US10/363,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20040013254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. conference server dials participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of setting up conference calling in a communications system. In the method, at least one subscriber group having two or more subscribers is established in a server connected to the communications system; subscribers registered in the set up group chat with each other by messages in such a manner that the server in the communications system receives a message of a subscriber participating in the message chat and transmits it on to other subscribers belonging to the group in question. In the method, it is also possible to move from message chatting to conference calling by one of the subscribers in the subscriber group sending a pre-defined message to the server, which message acts as a signal to the server to move to conference calling; the server sets up a conference call between the subscribers registered as active in the subscriber group in response to receiving said pre-defined message.

Claims

1. A method of setting up a conference call in a communications system, in which method

at least one subscriber group having two or more subscribers is set up in a server connected to the communications system;

subscribers registered in the set up group chat with each other by messages in such a manner that the server in the communications system receives a message of a subscriber participating in the message chat and transmits it on to other subscribers belonging to the group in question, characterized in that

moving from message chatting to conference calling is done by one of the subscribers in the subscriber group sending to the server a pre-defined message which acts as a signal to the server to move to conference calling,

the server sets up a conference call between the subscribers registered as active in the subscriber group in response to receiving said predefined message.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said messages comprise at least one of the following:

short message, instant message, email message, multimedia message, unified messaging message WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) message or SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) message.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

the server, in response to receiving said pre-defined message, initiates an intelligent network service which directs the communications system to connect a conference call between the subscribers advised by the server.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that

the server, in response to receiving said pre-defined message, sets up individual calls from the server to each active member of the subscriber group and connects the calls into a conference call in the server.

5. A communications system which comprises

subscribers,

a messaging server in which at least one subscriber group having two or more subscribers is established, the subscribers being capable of chatting together by messages in such a manner that the server in the communications system receives a message of a subscriber participating in the message chat and transmits it on to other subscribers belonging to the group in question, characterized in that

the messaging server is responsive to a pre-defined message sent by one of the subscribers in the subscriber group to the server for setting up a conference call between the subscribers registered as active in the subscriber group.

6. A communications system as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said messages comprise at least one of the following:

short message, instant message, email message, multimedia message, unified messaging message WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) message or SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) message.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that

the server, in response to receiving the pre-defined message, initiates an intelligent network service which directs the communications system to connect a conference call between the subscribers advised by the server.

8. A system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that

the server, in response to receiving the pre-defined message, sets up individual calls from the server to each active member of the subscriber group and connects the calls into a conference call in the server.

9. A messaging server which is connected to a communications system and to which at least one subscriber group having two or more subscribers is established, the subscribers being capable of chaffing together by messages in such a manner that the server in the communications system receives a message of a subscriber participating in the message chat and transmits it on to other subscribers belonging to the group in question, characterized in that

the messaging server is responsive to a pre-defined message sent by one of the subscribers in the subscriber group to the server for setting up a conference call between the subscribers registered as active in the subscriber group.

10. A messaging server as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said messages comprise at least one of the following:

short message, instant message, email message, multimedia message, unified messaging message WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) message or SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) message.

11. A server as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that

the server, in response to receiving said pre-defined message, initiates an intelligent network service which directs the communications system to connect a conference call between the subscribers advised by the server.

12. A server as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that

the server, in response to receiving said pre-defined message, sets up individual calls from the server to each active member of the subscriber group and connects the calls into a conference call in the server.