Apparatus and method for providing advanced communication conferencing operations

• US 20040184586A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Gentle, Christopher Reon, Goringe, Christopher Michael, Orbach, Julian James, Harrison, Rodney, Coles, Scott David
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

Producing a textual transcription of a communication conference call. A participant who is going to be absent from the conference can indicate to a conference bridge key words defining topics of interest, and the conference bridge will identify these topics based on the textual transcript that is being done in real time. When the participant returns to the conference call, they can then search the portion of an audio recording that they missed utilizing index marks defining the topics of interest that are based on the entered key words.

Claims

1. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information; and

searching the combined information with keywords to identity a portion of the stored voice information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of receiving an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

saving a first time defining when indication of absence was received;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with a second time when indication of return was received and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of reproducing comprises the step of accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of receiving keywords and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of reproducing comprises the step of accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of combining further comprises identifying a one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

the method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of reproducing comprises the step of accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprises the step of muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit;

13. The method of claim 12 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprises the step of reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

15. The method of claim 14 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of combining further comprises identifying a one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

the method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprises the step of muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit;

18. The method of claim 17 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprises the step of reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

20. The method of claim 19 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

38. The processor-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the combining further comprises identifying a one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

the processor-readable medium of claim 1 further comprises receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

39. The processor-readable medium of claim 38 wherein the reproducing comprises accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

40. The processor-readable medium of claim 39 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

46. The processor-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the combining further comprises identifying a one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

the processor-readable medium of claim 1 further comprises receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

47. The processor-readable medium of claim 46 further comprises muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit;

48. The processor-readable medium of claim 47 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

49. The processor-readable medium of claim 46 further comprises reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

50. The processor-readable medium of claim 49 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

21. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords 11 occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprises the step of muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit;

23. The method of claim 22 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprises the step of reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

25. The method of claim 24 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

26. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

identifying a one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprises the step of muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit;

28. The method of claim 27 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprises the step of reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

30. The method of claim 29 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

31. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information; and

searching the combined information with keywords to identity a portion of the stored voice information.

32. The processor-readable medium of claim 31 further comprises receiving an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

saving a first time defining when indication of absence was received;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with a second time when indication of return was received and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

33. The processor-readable medium of claim 32 wherein the reproducing comprises accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

34. The processor-readable medium of claim 33 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

35. The processor-readable medium of claim 31 further comprises receiving keywords and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

36. The processor-readable medium of claim 35 wherein the reproducing comprises accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

37. The processor-readable medium of claim 36 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

41. The processor-readable medium of claim 31 further comprises receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

42. The processor-readable medium of claim 41 further comprises muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit;

43. The processor-readable medium of claim 42 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

44. The processor-readable medium of claim 41 further comprises reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

45. The processor-readable medium of claim 44 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

51. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

52. The processor-readable medium of claim 51 further comprises muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit;

53. The processor-readable medium of claim 52 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

54. The processor-readable medium of claim 51 further comprises reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

55. The processor-readable medium of claim 54 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

56. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

identifying a one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference.

57. The processor-readable medium of claim 56 further comprises muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit;

58. The processor-readable medium of claim 57 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

59. The processor-readable medium of claim 56 further comprises reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received;

and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit;

60. The processor-readable medium of claim 59 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.