Managing a conference session

• US 20050259803A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Khartabil, Hisham
• Application Number:
  US10/991,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259803A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.10
• 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: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference

Abstract

A method provides managing a conference session in a communication system. The method includes maintaining a main conference between at least three communicating parties over a shared floor. The method also includes creating a sidebar to the main conference. Parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least two of the at least three communicating parties. Furthermore, a managing entity for a communication system, a communication system and a communication device are configured to execute the method.

Claims

1. A method for managing a conference session in a communication system, the method comprising:

maintaining a main conference between at least three communicating parties over a shared floor; and

creating a sidebar to the main conference, wherein parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least two of the at least three communicating parties.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating comprises receiving a sidebar request carrying at least an indication of the parties of the sidebar.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of creating comprises creating a sidebar focus, the sidebar focus inviting the parties of the sidebar to join the sidebar.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of creating the sidebar comprises creating a sidebar focus, the sidebar focus referring a main conference focus to the sidebar, wherein the main conference focus invites the parties of the sidebar to join the sidebar.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of receiving comprises receiving the sidebar request carrying a sidebar policy.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of creating comprises applying the sidebar policy between the main conference and the sidebar.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of applying the sidebar policy comprises applying a lower volume for the main conference than for the sidebar.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating comprises transmitting an invitation to the parties of the sidebar to join the sidebar from one of the at least three communicating parties.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating comprises referring, by one of the at least three communicating parties, the parties of the sidebar to join the sidebar.

10. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, said computer program configured to control a computer to perform the steps of:

maintaining a main conference between at least three communicating parties over a shared floor;

creating a sidebar to the main conference, wherein parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least two of the at least three communicating parties.

11. A managing entity for a communication system, comprising:

conference means for maintaining a main conference between at least three communicating parties over a shared floor; and

sidebar creating means for creating a sidebar to the main conference, wherein parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least two of the at least three communicating parties.

12. A managing entity for a communication system, configured to:

maintain a main conference between at, least three communicating parties over a shared floor; and

create a sidebar to the main conference, wherein parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least two of the at least three communicating parties.

13. A managing entity according to claim 12, comprising one of a multiparty conferencing server, a push-to-talk over cellular server and a communicating party of the main conference.

14. A communication system comprising:

conference means for maintaining a main conference between at least three communicating parties over a shared floor; and

sidebar creating means for creating a sidebar to the main conference, wherein parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least two of the at least three communicating parties.

15. A communication system configured to:

maintain a main conference between at least three communicating parties over a shared floor; and

create a sidebar to the main conference, wherein parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least two of the at least three communicating parties.

16. A communication device configured to:

participate in a main conference between the communication device and at least two other communicating parties over a shared floor; and

initiate creation of a sidebar to the main conference, wherein parties of the sidebar include at least the main conference and at least one of the at least two other communicating parties.

17. A communication device according to claim 16, configured to invite the parties of the sidebar to join the sidebar.

18. A communication device according to claim 16, configured to refer the parties of the sidebar to join the sidebar.