Method and apparatus for remotely accessing three-party calling functions

• US 20040203637A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uday Dodla
• Original Assignee: Uday Dodla
• Inventors: Dodla, Uday
• Application Number:
  US10/135,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203637A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party service or three-way call
• 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

Method and apparatus for remotely accessing three-party calling functions. Remote access is provided for three-party calling functions, including conference calling. A remote user calls into the system. The remote user establishes a first connection with a second party. The system listens for a special voice command, or a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) sequence, or an individual DTMF signal from a special key on a wireless phone that works in both enterprise and cellular modes. The remote user then issues commands to invoke the three-party calling function. The communication system establishes a second connection to at least a third party. The system executes the three-party calling function upon receiving a selection from the remote user. In some embodiments, the three-party calling functions are implemented by a mobility server within the communication system.

Claims

1. A method of providing a three-party calling function to an identified remote user, the method comprising:

establishing a first connection between the identified remote user and a second party;

receiving a command from the identified remote user to invoke the three-party calling function;

receiving an identifier from the identified remote user, the identifier corresponding to a third party;

establishing a second connection between at least the identified remote user and the third party;

confirming the second connection to the identified remote user; and

executing the three-party calling function in response to a user selection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is a voice command.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) command.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the DTMF command is an individual DTMF signal from a special key on a wireless phone.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified remote user, the second party, and the third party.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified remote user, the second party, and the third party.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified user, the second party, and the third party.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified user, the second party, and the third party.

9. A computer program product including a computer program for enabling a server in a communication system to provide a three-party calling function to an identified remote user, the computer program comprising:

instructions for establishing a first connection between the identified remote user and a second party;

instructions for receiving a command from the identified remote user to invoke the three-party calling function;

instructions for receiving an identifier from the identified remote user, the identifier corresponding to a third party;

instructions for establishing a second connection between at least the identified remote user and the third party;

instructions for confirming the second connection to the identified remote user; and

instructions for executing the three-party calling function in response to a user selection.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions for receiving a command further comprise instructions for receiving a voice command.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions for receiving a command further comprise instructions for receiving a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) command.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the instructions for receiving a DTMF command further comprise instructions for receiving an individual DTMF signal from a special key on a wireless phone.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified remote user, the second party, and the third party.

14. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified remote user, the second party, and the third party.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified user, the second party, and the third party.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified user, the second party, and the third party.

17. Apparatus for providing three-party calling function to an identified remote user of a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a first connection between the identified remote user and a second party;

means for receiving, from the identified remote user, a command to invoke the three-party calling function and an identifier corresponding to a third party;

means for establishing a second connection between at least the identified remote user and the third party; and

means for executing the three-party calling function.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified remote user, the second party, and the third party.

19. A server for providing remote three-party calling function to an identified user of a communication system, the server comprising:

an first interface operable to connect to at least one private exchange for communicating with users of the communication system;

a second interface operable to provide access to at least one public network, through which the identified user communicates with the server; and

a processor system operable to control the operation of the server to establish a first connection between the identified user and a second party, to receive commands from the identified user to invoke the remote three-party calling function in relation to a third party, to establish a second connection between at least the identified remote user and the third party and to execute the remote three-party calling function.

20. The server of claim 19 wherein the at least one private exchange comprises a cellular radio exchange.

21. The server of claim 20 wherein the second interface provides access to the at least one public network through a personal assistant which is operable to identify the identified user.

22. The server of claim 19 wherein the remote three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified user, the second party, and the third party.

23. The server of claim 20 wherein the remote three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified user, the second party, and the third party.

24. The server of claim 21 wherein the remote three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the identified user, the second party, and the third party.

25. A communication system comprising:

at least one private exchange operable to relay communication signals between users of the communication system;

a personal assistant operable to identify a remote user and grant access to the remote user to place calls through the communication system from a remote location; and

a mobility server operatively connected to the at least one private exchange and the personal assistant, the mobility server further operable to provide remote three-party calling function to the remote user by establishing a first connection between the remote user and a second party, receiving commands from the remote user to invoke the three-party calling function in relation to a third party, and establishing a second connection between at least the remote user and the third party.

26. The communication system of claim 25 wherein the at least one private exchange further comprises a cellular radio exchange.

27. The communication system of claim 25 wherein the remote three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the remote user, the second party, and the third party.

28. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the remote three-party calling function is at least a conference call between at least the remote user, the second party, and the third party.