Method and system for providing subgroup conversation during a teleconference

• US 20050276405A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vallabhaneni, Vasu, Jain, Vinit, Fernandes, Lilian Sylvia
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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 and system for providing subgroup conversation during a teleconference enables side conversations during a virtual meeting. A passcode is used by parties to join the subgroup conversation, so that privacy of the subgroup is maintained. Alternatively, an administrator may set up subgroups and either join or invite members, who may toggle between the main teleconference and a subgroup teleconference using a standardized user input. The system may be implemented in any telephone network and across telephone networks such as public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), wireless networks, voice over Internet protocol networks and/or private branch exchanges (PBXs).

Claims

1. A method for providing a subgroup conversation during a teleconference, comprising:

receiving a user input from a party to the teleconference;

decoding said user input to determine whether or not to connect said party to said subgroup conversation; and

responsive to determining that said party should be connected to said subgroup conversation, connecting said party to other parties to said subgroup conversation, whereby a private conversation is maintained between said party and said other parties that is private from yet other parties to said teleconference.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising further responsive to determining that said party wishes to join said subgroup conversation, muting reception of said teleconference conversation from a telephone connection of said party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said user input is a code input for providing a passcode associated with said subgroup, and wherein said decoding determines whether or not to connect said party by matching said code to said passcode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said code input is a numeric keypad input and wherein decoding matches a key sequence of said numeric keypad input with said passcode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said user input triggers transmission of a digital certificate and wherein said decoding determines whether an identity associated with the digital certificate is authorized for access to said subgroup conversation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting up a set of members for said subgroup conversation; and

associating said set of members with particular terminal devices that connect each of said set of members, and wherein said decoding determines whether or not said user input is an input indicating that said party wishes to join said subgroup conversation and whether or not said party is one of said set of members, and wherein said connecting is performed only in response to determining that said party wishes to join said subgroup conversation and that said party is one of said set of members.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said party is connected to said teleconference via a public telephone network, and wherein said connecting is performed by sending commands to network provider equipment managing said teleconference.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said party is connected to said teleconference via a private branch exchange, and wherein said connecting is performed by sending commands to a private branch exchange controller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said party is connected to said teleconference via a voice-over-Internet connection, and wherein said connecting is performed by sending commands to a server managing said voice-over-Internet connection.

10. A teleconferencing control system for controlling teleconferences over a telephone network, said control system including a memory for storing program instructions and data for controlling said teleconferences, and a processor for executing said program instructions, and wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:

receiving a user input from a party to a teleconference;

decoding said user input to determine whether or not to connect said party to said subgroup conversation; and

responsive to determining that said party should be connected to said subgroup conversation, connecting said party to other parties to said subgroup conversation, whereby a private conversation is maintained between said party and said other parties that is private from yet other parties to said teleconference.

11. The teleconferencing control system of claim 10, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for:

further responsive to determining that said party wishes to join said subgroup conversation, muting reception of said teleconference conversation from a telephone connection of said party.

12. The teleconferencing control system of claim 10, wherein said user input is a code input for providing a passcode associated with said subgroup, and wherein said program instructions for decoding determine whether or not to connect said party by matching said code to said passcode.

13. The teleconferencing control system of claim 12, wherein said code input is a numeric keypad input, and wherein said program instructions for decoding match a key sequence of said numeric keypad input with said passcode.

14. The teleconferencing control system of claim 10, further comprising program instructions responsive to said user input for transmitting a digital certificate and wherein said program instructions for decoding determine whether an identity associated with the digital certificate is authorized for access to said subgroup conversation.

15. The teleconferencing control system of claim 10, further comprising program instructions for:

setting up a set of members for said subgroup conversation; and

associating said set of members with particular terminal devices of said network that connect each of said set of members, and wherein said decoding determines whether or not said user input is an input indicating that said party wishes to join said subgroup conversation and whether or not said party is one of said set of members, and wherein said connecting is performed only in response to determining that said party wishes to join said subgroup conversation and that said party is one of said set of members.

16. The teleconferencing control system of claim 10, wherein said party is connected to said teleconference via a public telephone network, and wherein said program instructions for connecting send commands to switching equipment managing said teleconference.

17. The teleconferencing control system of claim 10, wherein said party is connected to said teleconference via a private branch exchange, and wherein said program instructions for connecting send commands to a private branch exchange switching controller.

18. The teleconferencing control system of claim 10, wherein said party is connected to said teleconference via a voice-over-Internet connection, and wherein said program instructions for connecting send commands to a server managing said voice-over-Internet connection.

19. A telephone network, comprising:

a teleconferencing controller for managing teleconferences within the telephone network; and

means for connecting a subgroup of parties to a teleconference to a side conversation, whereby other members of said teleconference are excluded from access to said side conversation.

20. The telephone network of claim 19, further comprising means for providing access to said side conversation from any terminal device of said network by verifying the identity of a party joining said side conversation.