Method and apparatus for making sidebar calls

• US 20070091830A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coulas, Michael, Valentin, Oprescu-Surcobe, Bonness, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting a sidebar, subconference call from a multiparty conference call is provided. Once a party has joined a multiparty conference call, the party is able to initiate the subconference call by transmitting a session initiation protocol (SIP) command to a target party. Two SIP commands that may be employed to initiate the subconference call are the REFER command and the INVITE command. To allow the target party to distinguish between incoming communication requests related to the multiparty conference call from extraneous ones, the REFER or INVITE command includes at least one data field containing an identifier of the conference call referred the REFER or INVITE command. Once received and verified, the target party may respond accordingly to establish the subconference call. The target party'"'"'s handset may reference data fields in the SIP command to those locally stored and known to be associated with the multiparty conference call. Where recognized, the handset may present the communication request to the target party along with an option to accept the communication request.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a subconference call from a multiparty conference call, the method comprising the steps of:

a. joining the multiparty conference call with at least a first party and a second party, the multiparty conference call having a conference identifier;

b. initiating a direct telecommunication with one of the at least a first party and a second party by transmitting at least one session initiation protocol command, wherein the at least one session initiation protocol command is selected from the group consisting of a REFER command and an INVITE command; and

c. wherein the at least one session initiation protocol command comprises at least a data field indicating from whom the direct telecommunication was referred, wherein the at least a data field indicating from whom the telecommunication was referred comprises at least the conference identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the session initiation protocol command comprises the REFER command, further wherein the REFER command comprises at least three data fields, wherein the at least three data fields comprise:

a. a first data field indicating an identity of a target party to whom the session initiation protocol REFER command is to be transmitted;

b. a second data field indicating an originating party from whom the session initiation protocol REFER command was sent; and

c. a third data field indicating a method by which a recipient may accept the session initiation protocol REFER command.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of establishing the multiparty conference call comprises establishing a telecommunication connection with a conference bridge.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of receiving a session initiation protocol INVITE command in response to transmitting the session initiation protocol REFER command.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol INVITE command.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of receiving a session initiation protocol ACK command in response to transmitting the session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of placing the multiparty conference call on hold.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the session initiation protocol REFER command comprises a data body, wherein the data body comprises information relating to characteristics of the subconference call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one session initiation protocol command comprises the INVITE command.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the session initiation protocol INVITE command comprises at least two data fields, wherein the at least two data fields comprise:

a. a first data field indicating an identity of a target party to whom the session initiation protocol INVITE command is to be transmitted; and

b. a second data field indicating an originating party from whom the session initiation protocol INVITE command was sent.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of receiving a session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command in response to transmitting the session initiation protocol INVITE command.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol ACK command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command.

13. A method of establishing a call in parallel with a multiparty conference call, the method comprising the steps of:

a. joining the multiparty conference call with at least a first party and a second party, the multiparty conference call having a conference identifier;

b. receiving a direct telecommunication initiation request from one of the at least a first party and a second party comprising at least one session initiation protocol command, wherein the at least one session initiation protocol command is selected from the group consisting of a REFER command and an INVITE command; and

c. wherein the at least one session initiation protocol command comprises at least a data field indicating from whom the direct telecommunication was referred, wherein the at least a data field indicating from whom the direct telecommunication was referred comprises at least the conference identifier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the session initiation protocol command comprises the REFER command, further comprising the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol INVITE command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol REFER command.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of receiving a session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command in response to transmitting the session initiation protocol INVITE command, and the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol ACK command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the session initiation protocol command comprises the INVITE command, further comprising the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol INVITE command.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the conference identifier is referenced against a locally stored list of conference participants.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of referencing the conference identifier with an identification of a conference bridge hosting the multiparty teleconference.

19. An apparatus capable of establishing a subconference call in parallel with a multiparty conference call, comprising:

a. a radiotelephone having a central processor and associated memory;

b. an application module operable with the central processor, the application module being capable of establishing multiparty telephonic communications by way of a session initiation protocol command; and

c. a telecommunication module operable with the central processor capable of joining the multiparty conference call by way of a conference bridge with at least two other parties, the conference bridge having at least a conference identifier;

wherein the application module initiates the subconference call during the multiparty conference call by transmitting a command selected from the group consisting of an INVITE command comprising at least a data field indicating that the conference identifier referred the INVITE command and a REFER command comprising at least a data field indicating that the conference identifier referred the REFER command.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a reference module operable with the central processor, wherein the reference module:

a. references a locally stored list of call participants from the conference identifier;

b. presents the conference identifier to a user; and

c. provides an option of accepting the subconference call to the user.