Systems and Methods to Direct a Mobile Communications Device to a Preferred Teleconference Bridge

• US 20070123239A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Teleconferencing Services Limited (Premiere Global Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Teleconferencing Services Limited (Premiere Global Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas, Guthrie, David, Leigh, Randolph, Tapp, J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/563 User guidance or feature selection

Abstract

A telecommunication system includes a processor, interfaces in communication with the public telephone network and a data network, respectively, and a memory. The memory comprises executable instructions that when executed by the processor direct the system to controllably permit access to a teleconference bridge in response to a communication from a mobile-communication device that includes information responsive to a previously communicated license key. Generally, the communication is in the form of a call from the user of the mobile-communication device. Upon receipt of the call, the telecommunication system confirms that the mobile-communication device communicates a pass code that was included in an encrypted form in the license key.

Claims

1. A telecommunication system, comprising:

a processor;

a first interface in communication with the processor and a public-telephone network;

a second interface in communication with the processor and a data network, the data network further coupled to a mobile-communication device; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor direct the system to controllably permit access to a teleconference bridge in response to a communication from a mobile-communication device that includes information responsive to a communicated license key.

2. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the license key is an encrypted representation of a pass code accepted on the teleconference bridge.

3. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions that when executed by the processor direct the system to provide an access number associated with the teleconference bridge.

4. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions that when executed by the processor direct the system to monitor the communication for a set of dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) encoded signals.

5. The telecommunication system of claim 4, wherein the set of dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) encoded signals identify the mobile-communication device.

6. The telecommunication system of claim 4, wherein the set of dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) encoded signals convey the information responsive to the license key.

7. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the second interface uses session initiated protocol.

8. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the second interface receives information from the mobile-communication device via a short-range radio-frequency signal associated with a local area network.

9. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the second interface receives information from the mobile-communication device via a cellular voice and data network.

10. A method for directing a mobile-communication device initiated call to a designated teleconference bridge, the method comprising:

providing a telephone number associated with a teleconference bridge and a license key to a subscriber of a mobile-communication service, wherein the license key comprises an encrypted representation of a pass code that when decrypted and communicated from a mobile-communication device instructs the teleconference bridge to grant access to the operator of the mobile-communication device;

providing executable instructions that upon initial execution on the mobile-communication device prompt an operator of the mobile-communication device to enter the license key and in response to the license key, decrypt and store the decrypted representation of the pass code; and

upon receipt of a call from the mobile-communication device, waiting for a representation of the pass code before connecting the call to the teleconference bridge.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing executable instructions further comprises:

associating the decrypted representation of the pass code with teleconference bridge controls responsive to a subscriber privilege level.

12. A mobile-communication device, comprising:

a processor;

a user interface in communication with the processor;

a wireless interface in communication with the processor and a data network, the data network further coupled to a public-telephone network and a teleconference bridge; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor direct the mobile-communication device to decrypt a license key entered via the user interface and communicate a decrypted translation of the license key to the teleconference bridge.

13. The mobile-communication device of claim 12, wherein the license key comprises a pass code.

14. The mobile-communication device of claim 12, wherein the memory comprises executable instructions responsive to a download provided by a teleconference service provider.

15. The mobile-communication device of claim 12, wherein the memory comprises a first data store that includes the decrypted translation of the license key.

16. The mobile-communication device of claim 12, wherein the memory comprises a second data store that includes the license key and executable instructions that when executed by the processor direct the processor to decrypt the license key and communicate the pass code to the teleconference bridge.

17. The mobile-communication device of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises a third data store that includes a telephone number associated with the teleconference bridge.

18. The mobile-communication device of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions that when executed by the processor direct the processor to communicate the telephone number and upon establishment of a call communicate the pass code to the teleconference bridge.

19. The mobile-communication device of claim 18, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions that when executed by the processor, retrieve identification information from a subscriber identity module and communicate the identification information to the teleconference bridge.

20. The mobile-communication device of claim 12, wherein the wireless interface communicates with the teleconference bridge via a cellular voice and data network.