TELEFORUM APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20080065998A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadnet Teleservices LLC
• Original Assignee: Broadnet Teleservices LLC
• Inventors: Brown, Brian, Jurrow, Lorin
• Granted Patent: US 8,266,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/755
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1086 session scope modification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5036 using conference for collection of feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5072 Multiple active speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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 3/566 relating to a participants right to speak arrangements for multi-party communication with floor control, e.g. for conferences, H04L65/4038, H04L65/4046, H04L65/4053

Abstract

A method and apparatus of providing a teleforum. The method includes generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls to multiple invitees and transmitting a message to each invitee, inviting him or her to become a teleforum participant. Teleforum participants who accept the invitation are connected to the teleforum in a listen-only mode. During the teleforum, a teleforum participant may request active participation in the teleforum. The method also includes allowing the participant to actively participate in the teleforum. Active participation may include but is not limited to such activities as: speaking to the teleforum, asking a question, responding to a poll, making a donation, providing information, leaving a message, being transferred to a subconference, receiving feedback from participants, leaving a voicemail, volunteering for future activities or receiving media transmitted outside of the teleforum.

Claims

1. A method of providing a teleforum comprising:

generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls to multiple invitees;

transmitting a message to each invitee receiving the invitation call inviting him to become a teleforum participant;

connecting the teleforum participant to the teleforum in a listen only mode.

receiving input from the participant requesting active participation; and

allowing the participant to actively participate in the teleforum.

2. The method providing a teleforum of claim 1 further comprising displaying information related to the teleforum on a multi-user computer interface.

3. The method providing a teleforum of claim 2 further comprising displaying on the interface at least one of identifying information concerning teleforum participants, the status of participants requesting active participation, poll results, donation status, feedback from participants, the identity of participants who are actively participating, the screening status of participants requesting active participation and the status of the teleforum.

4. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 1 further comprising controlling the teleforum with a multi-user computer interface.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising controlling with the interface at least one of the authorization of a participant to speak to the teleforum, the transfer of a participant into a sub-conference, the screening of a participant and the presentation of poll results.

6. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 1 wherein active participation comprises at least one of speaking to the teleforum, asking a question, responding to a poll, making a donation, providing information, leaving a message, transfer to a sub-conference, receiving feedback from participants, leaving a voicemail, volunteering for future activities, participating in a sub-conference and receiving media transmitted outside of the teleforum.

7. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 1 further comprising screening the participant prior to allowing the participant to actively participate in the teleforum.

8. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 7 further comprising providing more than one screener each of whom may contemporaneously screen selected participants who have requested active participation in the teleforum.

9. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 1 further comprising communicating with the teleforum participant in a private sub-conference, separate from the teleforum.

10. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 1 further comprising limiting the number of participants who may actively participate at a select time.

11. A method of providing a teleforum comprising:

generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls to multiple invitees;

transmitting a message to each invitee receiving the invitation call inviting him to become a teleforum participant;

accepting calls from persons who self-initiate their own inbound calls requesting to become a teleforum participant; and

connecting at least one invitee and at least one self-initiated caller to the teleforum.

12. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 11 further comprising providing call-in information to a group of persons who may self-initiate their own inbound calls requesting to become a teleforum participant.

13. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 12 wherein the call-in information comprises at least one of a call in telephone number, a teleforum date and time, a personal identification number and an access code.

14. The method of providing a teleforum of claim 12 wherein the call-in information is provided to the a group of persons who may self-initiate their own inbound calls by at least one of direct mailing, e-mail, facsimile transmission, telephone call, radio advertisement, print media advertisement, internet advertisement and television advertisement.

15. A virtual conferencing bridge for providing a teleforum, comprising:

a voice response unit (VRU) in communication with multiple communication pathways;

a teleforum bridge in communication with the VRU; and

a control interface in communication with the VRU and teleforum bridge.

16. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 15 wherein the VRU is in communication with the teleforum bridge through multiple content channels.

17. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 16 wherein the VRU is in communication with the teleforum bridge through no more than three content channels.

18. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 15 wherein the VRU is in communication with the teleforum bridge with only one content channel, and through which individual channels may be bridged on dedicated proxy channels;

19. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 15 further comprising multiple VRUs associated in one or more clusters, each VRU being in communication with the teleforum bridge.

20. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 19 wherein each cluster is associated with at least one cluster located web application server and at least one cluster located database server which application server and database server provide instructions and data to each VRU in the cluster.

21. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 19 wherein each cluster is located in a geographically separate region.

22. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 20 further comprising a master web server and a master database server in communication with each cluster located application server and each cluster database server.

23. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 22 wherein the master web server and the master database server communicate with the cluster located servers through a public, private, or virtual private network (VPN).

24. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 16 wherein the communication between the control interface and the VRU comprises:

a control communication path; and

a content communication path.

25. The virtual conferencing bridge of claim 24 wherein the control communication path comprises a master web server, a master database server, a cluster located web application server and a cluster located database server linked with a public, private, or virtual private network (VPN).