Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) location based conferencing
First Claim
1. A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conference bridge, comprising:
- a conference bridge application active in a location addressed using Internet Protocol;
a module to determine a geographic boundary of a given conference; and
a plurality of Internet interfaces to said conference bridge application, to accept a respective plurality of VoIP telephone users;
wherein a conference is established between said plurality of VoIP telephone users, each of said plurality of VoIP telephone users being within said geographic boundary.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device uses its location to narrow down known and unknown potential VoIP third parties meeting the user'"'"'s criteria, based on their physical proximity to the initial caller and other pre-determined characteristics, to join in a phone conference. A VoIP soft switch includes conference bridges that eliminate the conventional requirement that they dial digits for a direct link with another specific VoIP communications device. Instead, location information relating to the initial VoIP user is passed to the VoIP conference bridge, either from the user'"'"'s VoIP communication device or from their respective location server. The location information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch against other VoIP devices to find potential VoIP users within a defined geographic region surrounding the initial VoIP user. Those VoIP users matching the criteria are sent an Invite message to join the conference, which they may or may not accept.
80 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conference bridge, comprising:
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a conference bridge application active in a location addressed using Internet Protocol;
a module to determine a geographic boundary of a given conference; and
a plurality of Internet interfaces to said conference bridge application, to accept a respective plurality of VoIP telephone users;
wherein a conference is established between said plurality of VoIP telephone users, each of said plurality of VoIP telephone users being within said geographic boundary.
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2. A method of conferencing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) voice communications devices, comprising:
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establishing at least one conference bridge;
defining at least one criteria for participation in said given conference bridge;
receiving a VoIP call to said conference bridge from an initial VoIP user;
comparing a location of said initial VoIP to a location of at least one other VoIP user; and
issuing an invite message to another VoIP user based on a match of said location of said at least one other VoIP user being within a desired proximity to said location of said initial VoIP user. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for conferencing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) voice communications devices, comprising:
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means for establishing at least one conference bridge;
means for defining at least one criteria for participation in said given conference bridge;
means for receiving a VoIP call to said conference bridge from an initial VoIP user;
means for comparing a location of said initial VoIP to a location of at least one other VoIP user; and
means for issuing an invite message to another VoIP user based on a match of said location of said at least one other VoIP user being within a desired proximity to said location of said initial VoIP user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification