System with user interface for sending / receiving messages during a conference session
First Claim
1. A system for conferencing a plurality of conference participants in a conference session comprising:
- a conferencing module operable to record a message from a sending conference participant intended for delivery to one or more recipient conference participants that includes at least one conference participant connected to the conference session via a telephone device that lacks instant messaging (IM) capability, and to notify the one or more recipient conference participants of the message, the conferencing module also being operable to allow the one or more recipient conference participants to receive the message as either speech or text; and
an interactive voice response (IVR) unit coupled with the conferencing module that allows the sending conference participant to select the one or more recipient conference participants, to record the message, and to send the message, wherein notification and receipt of the message by the one or more recipient conference participants occurs without disturbance to a remaining group of the conference participants to the conference session.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A conferencing system includes a conferencing module that includes a digital signal processor to mix audio signals received from conference participants, and a messaging manager module coupled with the conferencing module. the messaging manager module allocating a memory space for each conference participant, the memory space for storing a message, the conferencing module delivering the message as either speech or text, notification and receipt of the message occurring without disturbance to a remaining group of the conference participants. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for conferencing a plurality of conference participants in a conference session comprising:
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a conferencing module operable to record a message from a sending conference participant intended for delivery to one or more recipient conference participants that includes at least one conference participant connected to the conference session via a telephone device that lacks instant messaging (IM) capability, and to notify the one or more recipient conference participants of the message, the conferencing module also being operable to allow the one or more recipient conference participants to receive the message as either speech or text; and
an interactive voice response (IVR) unit coupled with the conferencing module that allows the sending conference participant to select the one or more recipient conference participants, to record the message, and to send the message, wherein notification and receipt of the message by the one or more recipient conference participants occurs without disturbance to a remaining group of the conference participants to the conference session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for conferencing a plurality of conference participants in a conference session comprising:
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a conferencing module operable to store a text message from a sending conference participant intended for delivery to a recipient conference participant connected to the conference session via a voice-only connection; and
a text-to-speech (TTS) converter to translate the text message into an audible speech message prior to delivery to the recipient conference participant, wherein the conferencing module is further operable to deliver the audible speech message to the recipient conference participant without disturbing a remaining group of the conference participants to the conference session.
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9. A conferencing system for conducting a conference session comprising:
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a conferencing module that includes a digital signal processor to mix audio signals received from a plurality of conference participants, each of the conference participants dialing into the conference session via a communication device, at least one conference participant dialing into the conference session via a telephone device that lacks instant messaging (IM) capability;
a messaging manager module coupled with the conferencing module, the messaging manager being operable to allocate a memory space for each conference participant, the memory space for storing a message from a sending conference participant intended for a receiving conference-participant, the conference module being operable to send a notification to the receiving conference participant and for delivering the message as either speech or text in response to an acceptance command received from the receiving conference participant, wherein the notification and delivery of the message occurs without disturbance to a remaining group of the conference participants. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A conferencing system for conducting a conference session comprising:
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means for creating a message queue associated with each participant to the conference session; and
means for configuring a user interface of a first telephone device used by a sending participant to facilitate creation a message intended for a receiving participant, the message being either speech or text that is stored in the message queue associated with the receiving participant, and for configuring a user interface of a second telephone device of the receiving participant to facilitate listening or reading the message without disturbance to a remaining group of the participants to the conference session.
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16. A processor-implemented method for messaging between participants to a conference session, comprising:
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recording a message by a sending participant;
selecting, by the sending participant, a receiving participant for whom the message is intended;
storing the message in a memory space associated with the receiving participant;
notifying the receiving participant of the message;
accepting the message by the receiving participant;
reading or listening to the message to the receiving participant via a communication channel appropriate to a telephone device used by the receiving participant to dial into the conference session, the telephone device lacking instant messaging (IM) or web browser capabilities; and
wherein recording, notifying, accepting and reading or listening occurs without audible disturbance to a remaining group of the participants to the conference session. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification