Methods and systems for conference call buffering

• US 20050053214A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telesector Resources Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Reformato, John R., Roberts, Brian F., Reding, Craig L., Helbling, Christopher L., Swingle, Loren C., Majid, Ziauddin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods and systems for conference call buffering are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention record a conference call between a plurality of users. A service center in conjunction with a conference bridge and conference server establishes a conference call between a plurality of users. The service center may also ascertain the identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, where the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users. An audio streaming server provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices. Memory located centrally and/or local to the destination devices stores the audio stream. A user of one of the destination devices may choose to replay a selected portion of the audio stream.

Claims

1. A method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices;

storing data contained in the audio stream; and

replaying, at at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the audio stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a conference call comprises:

detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

contacting the plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing a conference call further comprises:

receiving at least one response from the plurality of users; and

bridging calls to devices corresponding to the plurality of users based on the at least one received response.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices comprises:

retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

connecting an audio digitizing device onto the conference call;

digitizing analog audio corresponding to the conference call;

converting the digitized audio to the audio stream; and

sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream in a central storage area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream further comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein replaying a selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a user has exited the conference call;

selectively deleting the stored audio stream data based on a determination that a user has exited the conference call.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein selectively deleting comprises:

deleting any stored audio stream data local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

saving any stored audio stream data local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

16. A method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to at least one of the plurality of destination devices;

storing data contained in the audio stream; and

replaying a selected portion of the audio stream.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

sending the audio stream to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the sent audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from the corresponding user.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream in a central storage area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

downloading the audio stream data to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

downloading audio stream data corresponding to the selected portion to at least one of the plurality of destination devices; and

playing the downloaded audio stream data.

23. A method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for a stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the stream to the plurality of destination devices;

storing data contained in the stream; and

replaying, at at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the stream.

24. A method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

storing data contained in the audio stream.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein establishing a conference call comprises:

detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

contacting the plurality of users.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices comprises:

retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

converting digitized audio corresponding to the conference call to the audio stream; and

sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein storing the audio stream data comprises:

recording the audio stream data in a central storage area.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein storing the audio stream data further comprises:

recording the audio stream data local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein storing the audio stream data comprises:

recording the audio stream data local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

31. A method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

receiving, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

storing data contained in the received audio stream data; and

replaying a selected portion of the audio stream data, wherein

the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream data to the plurality of destination devices.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein storing the audio stream data comprises:

recording the audio stream data in a local storage area.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining whether a user has exited the conference call;

selectively deleting the stored audio stream data based on a determination that a user has exited the conference call.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein selectively deleting comprises:

deleting any stored audio stream data local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

saving any stored audio stream data local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

locally recording data contained in the audio stream based on a request from a user.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

downloading audio stream data from a central storage area; and

locally recording the audio stream data.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

downloading audio stream data corresponding to the selected portion; and

playing the downloaded audio stream data.

41. A system for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices;

means for storing data contained in the audio stream; and

means for replaying, at at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the audio stream data.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for establishing a conference call comprises:

means for detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

means for contacting the plurality of users.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the means for establishing a conference call further comprises:

means for receiving at least one response from the plurality of users; and

means for bridging calls to devices corresponding to the plurality of users based on the at least one received response.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices comprises:

means for retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

means for determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for connecting an audio digitizing device onto the conference call;

means for digitizing analog audio corresponding to the conference call;

means for converting the digitized audio to the audio stream; and

means for sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream data in a central storage area.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream further comprises:

means for recording the audio stream data local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream data local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time.

50. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

52. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

means for determining whether a user has exited the conference call;

means for selectively deleting the stored audio stream data based on a determination that a user has exited the conference call.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the means for selectively deleting comprises:

means for deleting any audio stream data stored local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

means for saving any audio stream data stored local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

54. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

55. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording data contained in the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

56. A system for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for providing the audio stream to at least one of the plurality of destination devices;

means for storing data contained in the audio stream; and

means for replaying a selected portion of the audio stream.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for sending the audio stream to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording data contained in the sent audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from the corresponding user.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording data contained in the audio stream in a central storage area.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for downloading the audio stream data to at least one of the plurality of destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for downloading audio stream data corresponding to the selected portion to at least one of the plurality of destination devices; and

means for playing the downloaded audio stream data.

63. A system for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for a stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for providing the stream to the plurality of destination devices;

means for storing data contained in the stream; and

means for replaying, at at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the stream.

64. An apparatus for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

means for storing data contained in the audio stream.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for establishing a conference call comprises:

means for detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

means for contacting the plurality of users.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices comprises:

means for retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

means for determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for converting digitized audio corresponding to the conference call to the audio stream; and

means for sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for storing the audio stream data comprises:

means for recording the audio stream data in a central storage area.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the means for storing the audio stream data further comprises:

means for recording the audio stream data local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for storing the audio stream data comprises:

means for recording the audio stream data local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

71. An apparatus for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

means for receiving, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

means for storing data contained in the received audio stream; and

means for replaying a selected portion of the audio stream data, wherein

the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for storing the audio stream data comprises:

means for recording the audio stream data in a local storage area.

73. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time.

74. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

75. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream data for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

76. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

means for determining whether a user has exited the conference call;

means for selectively deleting the stored audio stream data based on a determination that a user has exited the conference call.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the means for selectively deleting comprises:

means for deleting any audio stream data stored local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

means for saving any audio stream data stored local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

78. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for locally recording data contained in the audio stream based on a request from a user.

79. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for downloading audio stream data from a central storage area; and

means for locally recording the audio stream data.

80. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for downloading audio stream data corresponding to the selected portion; and

means for playing the downloaded audio stream data.

81. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices;

storing data contained in the audio stream; and

replaying, at at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the audio stream data.

82. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

storing data contained in the audio stream.

83. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

receiving, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

storing data contained in the received audio stream data; and

replaying a selected portion of the audio stream data, wherein

the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

84. A system for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

a service center operable to establish a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user, and to ascertain identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

an audio streaming server operable to provide the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

a memory that stores data contained in the audio stream, wherein

at least one of the destination devices is operable to replay a selected portion of the audio stream data.

85. An apparatus for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

a first server operable to establish a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user, and to ascertain identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

a second server operable to provide the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

a memory that stores data contained in the audio stream.

86. An apparatus for recording a conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

a memory having a program that;

receives, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

stores data contained in the received audio stream; and

replays a selected portion of the audio stream data, wherein the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

a processor that runs the program.