System and method for connecting to an audio conference service using a mobile communications device

• US 20070049261A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Joglekar, Manohar
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• 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

A mobile communications device (116) for connecting to a conference call hosted by an audio conference service (120). After receiving a meeting invitation and storing information relating thereto, the mobile communications device (116) dials a first sequence contained in a first link (604) to connect to the audio conference service (120) and, subsequent to dialing the first sequence, dials a second sequence contained in a second link (606) associated with the first link (604) to connect to the conference call.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communications device for connecting to a conference call hosted by an audio conference service, the method comprising:

dialing a first sequence contained in a first link; and

subsequent to dialing the first sequence, dialing a second sequence contained in a second link associated with the first link.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second links are included in an application page presented on a display of the communications device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, prior to dialing the first sequence, detecting selection by a user of the first link.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising, prior to dialing the second sequence, detecting selection by a user of the second link.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, subsequent to dialing the first sequence and prior to dialing the second sequence, prompting the user to initiate dialing of the second sequence.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the dialing a second sequence is performed responsive to the user responding to the prompting in an affirmative manner.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the dialing a second sequence is performed in response to expiration of a predetermined period of time without the user responding to the prompting.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the dialing a first sequence is performed responsive to selection by the user of the first link.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the dialing a second sequence is performed responsive to selection by the user of the second link.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first sequence comprises a telephone number of the audio conference service.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second sequence comprises an access code associated with the conference call.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the application page is selected from a calendar application page, an email message page and a text message page.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving a prompt from the audio conference service to enter an access code prior to dialing the second sequence.

14. A mobile communications device for connection to a conference call hosted by an audio conference service, the mobile communications device comprising:

means for dialing a first sequence contained in a first link; and

means for dialing a second sequence contained in a second link associated with the first link subsequent to the dialing of the first sequence.

15. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 wherein the first and second links are included in an application page presented on a display.

16. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 further comprising means for detecting selection by a user of the first link prior to the dialing of first sequence.

17. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 further comprising means for detecting selection by a user of the second link prior to the dialing of the second sequence.

18. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 further comprising means for prompting the user to initiate dialing of the second sequence subsequent to the dialing of the first sequence and prior to the dialing of the second sequence.

19. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 18 wherein the means for dialing a second sequence is responsive to the user responding to the prompting in an affirmative manner.

20. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 18 wherein the means for dialing a second sequence is responsive to expiration of a predetermined period of time without the user responding to the prompting.

21. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 wherein the means for dialing a first sequence is responsive to selection by the user of the first link.

22. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 wherein the means for dialing a second sequence is responsive to selection by the user of the second link.

23. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 wherein the first sequence comprises a telephone number of the audio conference service and wherein the second sequence comprises an access code associated with the conference call.

24. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 further comprising means for receiving a prompt from the audio conference service to enter an access code prior to dialing the second sequence.

25. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 wherein the application page is selected from a calendar application page, an email message page and a text message page.

26. A method of operating a mobile communications device comprising:

receiving a message containing information relating to a conference call hosted by an audio conference service, the information including a telephone number, an access code and a time of the conference call;

storing the information;

providing a notification of the conference call prior to the time of the conference call;

automatically dialing the telephone number;

connecting to the audio conference service;

automatically dialing the access code; and

connecting to the conference call hosted by the audio conference service.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 further comprising the user selecting a link including the telephone number prior to the automatically dialing the telephone number.

28. The method as recited in claim 26 further comprising the user selecting a link including the access code prior to the automatically dialing the access code.

29. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein the providing a reminder of the conference call further comprises displaying the telephone number, the access code, and the time of the conference call.

30. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein providing a reminder of the conference call further comprises providing a link to user for establishing the connection to the conference call hosted by the audio conference service.