Network conferencing using method for distributed computing and/or distributed objects for presentation to a mobile communications device

• US 20050265534A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Wesley
• Granted Patent: US 7,587,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 where the conference facilities are distributed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

Prior to a conference with a remote, mobile participant, a library of digital objects and a Mobile Conferencing Module is communicated to a memory device of a communications network. During the conference, the network-resident Mobile Conferencing Module receives a synchronization command from a host communications device, selects a synchronized object from the network-resident library, and communicates the synchronized object with presentation instructions to a mobile participant communications device. Furthermore, the mobile participant communications devices may communicate a synchronization confirmation back to the network-resident Mobile Conferencing Module. The synchronization confirmation acknowledges a successful presentation of the synchronized object to the mobile participant communications devices and may prevent the host (and/or network-resident Mobile Conferencing Module) from advancing to a subsequent synchronized object until the synchronization confirmation is received.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a conference, comprising the steps of:

initializing the conference amongst a host communications device and a remote, mobile participant communications device;

prior to the conference,

communicating a library of digital objects and a Mobile Conferencing Module from the host communications device to a memory device of a communications network, the communications network connecting the host communications device with the remote participant communications device,

during the conference,

communicating a synchronization command from the host communications device to the Mobile Conferencing Module, wherein in response to the synchronization command, the Mobile Conferencing Module selects an object from the library of digital objects stored to the memory device and communicates the object with presentation instructions to the mobile participant communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the Mobile Conferencing Module further communicates a conferencing management command to the mobile participant communications device, the conferencing management command comprising at least one of (i) a command to exit the conference, (ii) a command to delay presentment of the conference, (iii) a synchronization override command to access to any object from the library of digital objects stored to the memory device, (iv) authority to distribute the object to a non-participant, (v) authority to modify the object, (vi) a command to terminate further communication of a synchronization confirmation, and (vii) a command to modify a communications connection of the conference.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving a synchronization confirmation identifying the mobile participant communications device, the synchronization confirmation further confirming a successful presentation of the object to the mobile participant communications device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of delaying communication of a subsequent synchronization command until the synchronization confirmation is communicated to the host communications device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the synchronization confirmation further provides at least one of (i) a request to exit the conference, (ii) a request to delay presentment of the conference, (iii) a request to access to a non-synchronized digital object, (iv) a request for authority to distribute the object to a non-participant of the conference, (v) a request for authority to modify the object, and (vi) a request to terminate further communication of the synchronization confirmation.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

ignoring receipt of the synchronization confirmation from the mobile participant communications device, thus allowing the mobile participant communications device to request any object from the library of digital objects via the Mobile Conferencing Module.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

receiving a request to access a non-synchronized object from the mobile communications device, and

in response to the request, the Mobile Conferencing Module selecting the requested object from the library of digital objects stored to the memory device and communicating the requested object with presentation instructions to the mobile participant communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initializing the conference comprises:

accessing a list of at least one mobile participant communications device, the list identifying at least one communications path between the host communications device and the mobile participant communications device, the list further identifying a mobile communications profile of the mobile communications device, the mobile communications profile comprising at least one of presentation capabilities of the mobile communications device, communication preferences for communicating with the mobile communications device, a default memory device of the communications network, and a history of conference communications with the mobile communications device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initializing the conference further comprises:

analyzing the communications path between the host communications device and the mobile communications device to identify at least one available memory device, determining transmission rates between the host communications device, the available memory device, and the mobile communications device and, using the transmission rates to select the memory device from the at least one available memory device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initializing further comprises at least one of:

analyzing the communications path between the host communications device and the mobile communications device to identify at least one available memory device, determining a cost factor between the host communications device, the available memory device, and the mobile communications device and, using the cost factor to select the memory device from the at least one available memory device,

analyzing the communications path between the host communications device and the mobile communications device to identify at least one available memory device, determining a security factor between the host communications device, the available memory device, and the mobile communications device and, using the security factor to select the memory device from the at least one available memory device, and

analyzing the communications path between the host communications device and the mobile communications device to identify at least one available memory device, determining a reliability factor between the host communications device, the available memory device, and the mobile communications device and, using the reliability factor to select the memory device from the at least one available memory device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

prior to the conference,

verifying the memory device has local access to the library of digital objects, and

verifying an available communications connection between the host communications device, the memory device, and the mobile participant communications device.

12. A system, comprising:

a Mobile Conferencing Module and a library of digital objects stored in a memory device, and a processor communicating with the memory device;

the Mobile Conferencing Module receiving a synchronization command from a host communications device, and in response to the synchronization command, the Mobile Conferencing Module selecting an object from the library of digital objects stored to the memory device and communicating the object with presentation instructions to a mobile participant communications device.

13. The system of claim 12, the Mobile Conferencing Module further communicating a conference management command to the mobile participant communications device, the conference management command comprising at least one of (i) a command to exit the conference, (ii) a command to delay presentment of the conference, (iii) a synchronization override command to access to any object from the library of digital objects, (iv) authority to distribute the object to a non-participant, (v) authority to modify the object, (vi) a command to terminate further communication of a synchronization confirmation, and (vii) a command to modify a communication connection of the conference.

14. The system of claim 12, the Mobile Conferencing Module further receiving a synchronization confirmation from the mobile participant communications device, the synchronization confirmation acknowledging a successful presentation of the object to the mobile participant communications device.

15. The system of claim 13, the Mobile Conferencing Module further communicating the synchronization confirmation to the host communications device.

16. The system of claim 12, the Mobile Conferencing Module stored in a memory device of a communications network, the communications network connecting a communications signal between the host communications device and the mobile participant communications device.

17. The system of claim 16, the communications network comprising at least one of a public switched telecommunications network, a mobile switching telecommunication office, a data communications network, and a satellite communications network.

18. The system of claim 16, the memory device residing in at least one of a computer, a communications switch, a communications gateway, and a communications server.

19. The system of claim 12, the mobile participant communications device comprising at least one of a cellular phone, a voice-over internet protocol phone, a digital music device, a digital recording device, a personal digital assistant, an interactive television, a global positioning system, a digital signal processor, and a computer,.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

a Mobile Conferencing Module stored on the computer-readable medium, the Mobile Conferencing Module receiving a synchronization command from a host communications device, and in response to the synchronization command, the Mobile Conferencing Module accessing and selecting an object from a library of digital objects and communicating the object with presentation instructions to a mobile participant communications device.