Sending identification information of a plurality of communication devices that are active on a communication session to information receiving component

• US 20050083941A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Florkey, Cynthia Kae, Gayde, Ruth Schaefer, Rosenberg, John Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5027 Dropping a party from a conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• 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

An apparatus in one example comprises one or more information sender components that upon engagement of a communication device with a communication session that involves a plurality of communication devices, send to one or more information receiver components identification information of two or more communication devices of the plurality of communication devices and the communication device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more information sender components that upon engagement of a communication device with a communication session that involves a plurality of communication devices, send to one or more information receiver components identification information of two or more communication devices of;

the plurality of communication devices; and

the communication device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more information sender components send identification information of all the plurality of communication devices and the communication device that are active on the communication session to the one or more information receiver components.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprise a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the communication device comprises a third communication device;

wherein the engagement comprises an invitation from one of the first communication device and the second communication device to the third communication device to join the communication session;

wherein one or more of the one or more information sender components send the identification information of the first communication device and the second communication device to the third communication device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more of the one or more information sender components indicates to the third communication device which of the first communication device and the second communication device is the one of the first communication device and the second communication device that sent the invitation to the third communication device to join the communication session.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the identification information of the first communication device and the second communication device comprises:

name information associated with one or more users of the first communication device and the second communication device;

number information associated with the first communication device and the second communication device; and

presentation information associated with the first communication device and the second communication device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more of the one or more information sender components send the name information and the number information to the third communication device in a communication session Setup message.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more information sender components comprise one or more first telecommunication switches, wherein the one or more information receiving components comprise one or more second telecommunication switches;

wherein the one or more first telecommunication switches comprise a first telecommunication switch, wherein the first telecommunications switch supports the one of the first communication device and the second communication device that sent the invitation to the third communication device to join the communication session;

wherein the one or more second telecommunication switches comprise a second telecommunication switch that supports the third communication device;

wherein the first telecommunication switch sends the identification information of the first communication device and the second communication device to the second telecommunication switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in combination with the second telecommunication switch, wherein the second telecommunication switch delivers the identification information of the first communication device and the second communication to the third communication device;

wherein a user of the third communication device may employ the identification information of the first communication device and the second communication to make a determination whether to join the communication session.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprises a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the communication device comprises a third communication device;

wherein the first communication device invites the third communication device to join the communication session;

wherein one or more of the one or more information sender components send the identification information of the third communication device to the second communication device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprises a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the communication device comprises a third communication device, wherein the one or more information receiver components comprise an application server;

wherein the engagement comprises an invitation from one of the first communication device and the second communication device to the third communication device to join the communication session;

wherein one or more of the one or more information sender components send identification information of two or more of the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device to the application server.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in combination with the application server, wherein the application server employs the identification information of one or more of the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device to provide a service to one or more of the plurality of communication devices and the communication device that are active on the communication session.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more information sender components comprise one or more of communication devices, telecommunication switches, and communication session control components;

wherein the one or more information receiver components comprise one or more of communication devices, telecommunication switches, communication session control components, and application servers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon a departure from the communication session of one or more of the plurality of communication devices, one or more of the one or more information sender components notify one or more of the plurality of communication devices that remain active on the communication session of identification information of the one or more of the plurality of communication devices involved in the departure.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication session comprises a first communication session, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprise a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the communication device comprises a third communication device;

wherein the first communication device initiates a second communication session with the third communication device;

wherein one or more of the one or more information sender components send the identification information of the first communication device and the second communication device to the third communication device and the identification information of the third communication device to the second communication device upon connection of the first communication session with the second communication session.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more information sender components that upon a change in connection status of a communication device in a communication session that involves a plurality of communication devices, send to the plurality of communication devices identification information of the communication device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprise a first communication device supported by a first telecommunications switch and a second communication device supported by a second telecommunications switch, wherein the communication device comprises a third communication device;

wherein the change in connection status of the communication device comprises a connection of the communication device to the communication session in response to an invitation from the first communication device;

wherein the one or more information sender components send the identification information of the third communication device to the first communication device and the second communication device and indicates that the third communication device has joined the communication session.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprise a first communication device supported by a first telecommunications switch and a second communication device supported by a second telecommunications switch, wherein the communication device comprises a third communication device;

wherein the change in connection status of the communication device comprises a departure by the communication device from the communication session;

wherein the one or more information sender components send the identification information of the third communication device to the first communication device and the second communication device and indicates that the third communication device has left the communication session.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one or more of the one or more information sender components send identification information of the plurality of communication devices to the communication device upon invitation of the communication device to join the communication session.

19. A method, comprising the step of:

sending to one or more information receiving components, identification information of a plurality of communication devices that are active on a communication session upon a communication device joining or leaving the communication session.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprise a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the communication device comprises a third communication device;

wherein the step of sending to the one or more information receiving components, the identification information of the plurality of communication devices that are active on the communication session upon the communication device joining or leaving the communication session comprises the step of;

sending identification information of the first communication device and the second communication device to the third communication device upon invitation of the third communication device to join the communication session.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first communication device initiated the invitation, the method further comprising the step of:

sending identification information of the third communication device to the second communication device upon connection of the third communication device with the communication session.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more information receiving components comprises an application server, the method further comprising the step of:

sending identification information of two or more of the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device to an application server that provides a service to one or more of the plurality of communication devices and the communication device that are active on the communication session.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of sending the identification information of the first communication device and the second communication device to the third communication device upon invitation of the third communication device to join the communication session comprises the steps of:

indicating to the third communication device which one of the first communication device and the second communication device initiated the invitation of the third communication device to join the communication session; and

indicating to the third communication device any other communication devices of the plurality of communication devices that are actively involved in the communication session.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more information receiving components comprise one or more telecommunications switches that support one or more of the plurality of communication devices that are active on the communication session;

wherein the one or more telecommunications switches comprise one or more call records that store the identification information of the plurality of communication devices that are active on the communication session;

wherein the step of sending to the one or more information receiving components, the identification information of the plurality of communication devices that are active on the communication session upon the communication device joining or leaving the communication session comprises the step of;

updating the one or more call records to store current identification information of the plurality of communication devices that remain active on the communication session upon the communication device joining or leaving the communication session.

25. An article, comprising:

one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media; and

means in the one or more media for sending to one or more information receiving components, identification information of a plurality of communication devices that are active on a communication session upon a communication device joining or leaving the communication session.