Group communication system and method

• US 20080010347A1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skype S.Ã R.L. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Skype S.Ã R.L. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Varanda, Antonio, Loureiro, Tiago, Suvi, Mikael, Houghton, Dan, Bartlett, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,886,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/367 Traffic or load 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 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• 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 is described for providing voice conferencing between a plurality of users over a communications network, the plurality of users comprising a host user and a plurality of participant users. The method comprises the host user initiating a voice conference using a host user terminal connected to the communications network. The plurality of users join the voice conference. Each of the plurality of users joins the conference by using a client executed at their respective user terminals, wherein on joining the voice conference the user terminal of each of the plurality of participant users displays a participant user interface and the user terminal of the host displays a host user interface. At least one of the plurality of participant users activates a request control on the participant user interface. The client transmits via the communication network a request to the host user to speak in the voice conference in response to the activation of the request control. The host user receives an indication on the host user interface of the request from the at least one of the plurality of participant users, and activates a selection control on the host interface to select from among the at least one of the plurality of users who transmitted the request, the speech of the at least one selected user being transmitted to all of the plurality of users over the communications network.

Claims

1. A method of providing voice conferencing between a plurality of users over a communications network, the plurality of users comprising a host user and a plurality of participant users, the method comprising:

the host user initiating a voice conference using a host user terminal connected to said communications network;

the plurality of users joining the voice conference, each of the plurality of users joining the conference by using a client executed at their respective user terminals, wherein on joining the voice conference the user terminal of each of the plurality of participant users displays a participant user interface and the user terminal of the host displays a host user interface;

at least one of the plurality of participant users activating a request control on the participant user interface, said client transmitting via said communication network a request to the host user to speak in the voice conference in response to the activation of the request control; and

the host user receiving an indication on the host user interface of the request from the at least one of the plurality of participant users, and activating a selection control on the host interface to select from among the at least one of the plurality of users who transmitted the request, the speech of the at least one selected user being transmitted to all of the plurality of users over the communications network.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of blocking the speech from other users that have not been selected by the host user.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying at the participant user interface and the host interface a list of the plurality of users in the voice conference.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the list of the plurality of users in the voice conference indicates which of the plurality of users has been selected by the host user to speak in the voice conference.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the host user activating a muting control associated with a participant user displayed on the host user interface, the speech of the associated participant user being blocked in response to the activation of said muting control.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the host user activating a muting control associated with the plurality of participant users displayed on the host user interface, the speech of all the plurality of participant users being blocked in response to the activation of said muting control.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the speech from the user blocked by the host user is blocked at a server in the communications network.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the speech from the user blocked by the host user is blocked at the client of the user blocked by the host user.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the host user activating a removal control associated a participant user displayed on the host user interface, the associated participant user being removed from the voice conference in response to the activation of the removal control.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of initiating a voice conference further comprises displaying details of the voice conference to the plurality of users.

22. A computer program product comprising program code means which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to carry out the method of claim 1.

11. A system for providing voice conferencing between a plurality of user terminals over a communications network, the plurality of user terminals comprising a host user terminal and a plurality of participant user terminals, the system comprising:

a client executed at each of the plurality of user terminals for joining a user of each of the plurality of user terminals to a voice conference;

a participant user interface displayed on each of the plurality of participant user terminals comprising a request control for requesting to speak in the voice conference, the client being arranged to transmit a request message to the host user terminal in response to the activation of the request control.

a host user interface displayed on the host user terminal comprising an indication that at least one of the users of the participant user terminals is requesting to speak in the voice conference, the host user interface further comprising at least one selection control for selecting at least one of the users of the participant user terminals requesting to speak in the voice conference, the speech of the at least one selected users being transmitted to the plurality of user terminals over the communications network in response to the activation of said selection control.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the speech from other users that have not been selected by the user of the host use terminal are blocked from being transmitted to the plurality of user terminals over the communications network.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the participant user interface and the host interface is arranged to display a list of the users of the plurality of user terminals in the voice conference.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the list of the plurality of users in the voice conference indicates which of the plurality of users has been selected by the user of the host user terminal to speak in the voice conference.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the host user interface further comprises a muting control associated with a user of a participant user terminal, the speech of the associated user being blocked in response to the activation of said muting control.

16. A system according to claim 11, wherein the host user interface further comprises a muting control associated with the plurality of participant users, the speech of all the plurality of participant users being blocked in response to the activation of said muting control.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the speech from the user blocked by the host user is blocked at a server in the communications network.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the speech from the user blocked by the host user is blocked at the client of the user blocked by the host user.

19. A system according to claim 11, wherein the host user interface further comprises a removal control associated with a user of a participant user terminal, the associated user being removed from the voice conference in response to the activation of the removal control.

20. A user terminal for providing voice conferencing over a communications network, comprising:

a client executed at the user terminal for joining a user of the user terminal to a voice conference;

a user interface displayed on the user terminal comprising a request control for requesting to speak in the phone conference, the client being arranged to transmit a request message to the user terminal of a host user in response to the activation of the request control.

21. A user terminal for providing voice conferencing over a communications network, comprising:

a client executed at the user terminal for joining a user of the user terminal to a voice conference;

a user interface displayed on the user terminal comprising an indication that at least one user in the voice conference is requesting to speak in the voice conference, the user interface further comprising at least one selection control for selecting at least one of the users requesting to speak in the voice conference, the speech of the at least one selected user being transmitted to all of the users in the voice conference over the communications network in response to the activation of said selection control.

23. A method of managing a voice conference in which a plurality of users are connected to a first network entity, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to add a new user to a voice conference at a control node;

the control node analysing a conference load on the first network entity and if the conference load exceeds a threshold, selecting another network entity and transmitting the request to said another network entity;

receiving the request from the control node at the another network entity, and determining whether the another network entity is currently included in the voice conference; and

if the another network entity is not currently included in the voice conference, creating a bridging connection between the another network entity and the first network entity, connecting the new user to the another network entity, and adding the new user to the voice conference via said bridging connection.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of analysing the conference load further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the first network entity can support the new user;

if the first network entity cannot support the new user, checking whether a further network entity is currently included in the voice conference;

if a further network entity is currently included in the voice conference, determining whether the further network entity can support the new user;

if the further network entity is not currently included in the voice conference or cannot support the new user, selecting the another network entity.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of selecting the another network entity comprises selecting the least loaded available network entity.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of analysing the conference load comprises determining the CPU load.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of analysing the conference load comprises determining the number of users connected to the first network entity.

28. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of connecting the new user to the another network entity further comprises authenticating the new user prior to adding the new user to the voice conference.

29. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of the control node accessing a database and determining whether a queried network entity has contacted the database within a predetermined time period, whereby, if the queried network entity has not contacted the database within the predetermined time period, the control node ceases to transmit requests to said queried network entity.

30. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of creating a bridging connection further comprises the steps of determining whether the creation of the bridging connection has failed, and if so substituting the another network entity for the first network entity.

31. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the bridging connection between the another network entity and the first network entity;

if the step of monitoring observes that the connection has failed, determining whether the first network entity has been substituted; and

if the first network entity has not been substituted, substituting the another network entity for the first network entity.

32. A system for managing a voice conference in which a plurality of users are connected to a first network entity, the system comprising:

a control node comprising means for receiving a request to add a new user to a voice conference, means for analysing a conference load on the first network entity, means for selecting another network entity if the conference load exceeds a threshold, and means for transmitting the request to said another network entity, and

another network entity comprising means for receiving the request from the control node, means for determining whether the another network entity is currently included in the voice conference, means for creating a bridging connection between the another network entity and the first network entity, if the another network entity is not currently included in the voice conference, means for connecting the new user to the another network entity, and means for adding the new user to the voice conference via said bridging connection.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the means for analysing the conference load further comprises:

means for determining whether the first network entity can support the new user;

means for checking whether a further network entity is currently included in the voice conference if the first network entity cannot support the new user;

means for determining whether the further network entity can support the new user if a further network entity is currently included in the voice conference; and

means for selecting the another network entity if the further network entity is not currently included in the voice conference or cannot support the new user.

34. A system according to claim 32, wherein the means for selecting another network entity comprises means for selecting the least loaded available network entity.

35. A system according to claim 32, wherein the means for analysing the conference load comprises means for determining the CPU load.

36. A system according to claim 32, wherein the means for analysing the conference load comprises means for determining the number of users connected to the first network entity.

37. A system according to claim 32, wherein the means for connecting the new user to the another network entity further comprises means for authenticating the new user prior to adding the new user to the voice conference.

38. A system according to claim 32, wherein the control node further comprises means for accessing a database and means for determining whether a queried network entity has contacted the database within a predetermined time period, whereby, if the queried network entity has not contacted the database within the predetermined time period, the control node ceases to transmit requests to said queried network entity.

39. A system according to claim 32, wherein the means for creating a bridging connection further comprises means for determining whether the creation of the bridging connection has failed, and if so substituting the another network entity for the first network entity.

40. A system according to claim 32, wherein the another network entity further comprises means for monitoring the bridging connection between the another network entity and the first network entity, means for determining whether the first network entity has been substituted if the means for monitoring observes that the connection has failed and means for substituting the another network entity for the first network entity if the first network entity has not been substituted.

41. A method of providing voice conferencing between a plurality of users over a communications network, the plurality of users comprising a host user and a plurality of participant users, the method comprising:

the host user initiating a voice conference using a host user terminal connected to said communications network;

the plurality of users joining the voice conference, wherein on joining the voice conference the user terminal of each of the plurality of participant users displays a participant user interface and the user terminal of the host displays a host user interface;

at least one of the plurality of participant users activating a request control on the participant user interface, causing a request to be transmitted via said communication network to the host user to speak in the voice conference in response to the activation of the request control; and

the host user receiving an indication on the host user interface of the request from the at least one of the plurality of participant users, and activating a selection control on the host interface to select from among the at least one of the plurality of users who transmitted the request, the speech of the at least one selected user being transmitted to all of the plurality of users over the communications network.

42. A system for providing voice conferencing between a plurality of user terminals over a communications network, the plurality of user terminals comprising a host user terminal and a plurality of participant user terminals, the system comprising:

means at each of the plurality of user terminals for joining a user of each of the plurality of user terminals to a voice conference;

a participant user interface displayed on each of the plurality of participant user terminals comprising a request control for requesting to speak in the voice conference;

means responsive to the request control to transmit a request message to the host user terminal in response to the activation of the request control; and

a host user interface displayed on the host user terminal comprising an indication that at least one of the users of the participant user terminals is requesting to speak in the voice conference, the host user interface further comprising at least one selection control for selecting at least one of the users of the participant user terminals requesting to speak in the voice conference, the speech of the at least one selected users being transmitted to the plurality of user terminals over the communications network in response to the activation of said selection control.