Audio sequestering and opt-in sequences for a conference session

• US 20080232277A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baird, Randall B., Foo, Ian, Munson, Jacqueline
• Granted Patent: US 8,937,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes electronically prompting, in response to a triggering event, a participant connected to a conference session via a corresponding endpoint device to enter an affirmative response in order to continue attending the conference session. The participant is disconnected from the conference session in the event that the affirmative response is not received within a predetermined time period. 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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

electronically prompting, in response to a triggering event, a participant connected to a conference session via a corresponding endpoint device to enter an affirmative response in order to continue attending the conference session; and

disconnecting the participant from the conference session in the event that the affirmative response is not received within a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically repeating the prompting of the participant to enter the affirmative response.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising muting the participant to the conference session by blocking or discarding audio packets received from the corresponding endpoint device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the triggering event comprises inactivity lasting a specified duration from the corresponding endpoint device of the participant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the triggering event comprises non-speech noise from the corresponding endpoint device of the participant.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the triggering event comprises input received from an endpoint device associated with an administrator, moderator, or other participant to the conference session.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the conference session comprises a continuous conference session.

8. A method comprising:

electronically prompting, in response to a triggering event, a participant connected to a conference session via a corresponding endpoint device to enter an affirmative response in order to continue attending the conference session; and

releasing conference resources dedicated to the participant in the event that the affirmative response is not received within a predetermined time period.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising periodically repeating the prompting of the participant to enter the affirmative response.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising muting the participant to the conference session by blocking or discarding audio packets received from the corresponding endpoint device.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the conference resources comprise a subset of all conference resources dedicated to the participant.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the subset comprises video and/or web-sharing resources.

13. A method comprising:

detecting non-speech noise or inactivity of a certain duration from an endpoint device associated with a participant to a conference session;

sequestering the participant by muting audio packets received from the endpoint device;

periodically electronically prompting the participant to enter an affirmative response in order to continue attending the conference session; and

removing some or all conference resources dedicated to the participant in the event that the affirmative response is not received within a predetermined time period.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the conference resources comprise audio, video and/or web-sharing resources.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the conference session comprises a continuous conference session.

16. A method comprising:

periodically sequestering, by a conferencing system, one or more callers to a conference call by placing the callers on hold;

prompting, via an interactive voice response (IVR) system, each of the one or more callers to enter an affirmative response in order to return to the conference call; and

removing from the conference call individual ones of the callers who fail to provide an affirmative response within a predetermined time period.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising releasing a subset of, or all, conference resources dedicated to each of the individual ones of the callers who fail to provide an affirmative response within the predetermined time period.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the subset of conference resources comprises video and/or web-sharing resources.

19. Logic encoded in one or more media for execution and when executed is operable to:

prompt, via an interactive script, a participant connected to a conference session via a corresponding endpoint device to enter an affirmative response in order to continue attending the conference session;

remove the participant from the conference session in the event that the affirmative response is not received within a predetermined time period; and

release conference resources dedicated to the removed participant.

20. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to mute the participant to the conference session by blocking or discarding audio packets received from the corresponding endpoint device.

21. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to detect non-speech noise, or inactivity lasting a specified duration, from the corresponding endpoint device, thereby causing the logic to prompt the participant to enter the affirmative response.

22. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to prompt, via the interactive script, all other participants connected to the conference session to enter an affirmative response within the predetermined time period or else be removed from the conference session.

23. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to receive input from an endpoint device associated with an administrator, moderator, or other participant to the conference session, the input causing the logic to prompt the participant to enter the affirmative response.

24. A system comprising:

one or more network nodes running one or more application programs that implement an electronic conferencing call system, the one of the nodes including;

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising one or more instructions executable at the processors, the one or more processors being operable, when executing the instructions, to;

mute, responsive to triggering input, a participant to a conference call by blocking or discarding audio packets received from an endpoint device associated with the participant;

prompt the participant to enter an affirmative response in order to remain connected to the conference call;

disconnect the participant from the conference session in the event that the affirmative response is not received within a predetermined time period;

otherwise

unmute the participant in the event that the affirmative response is received within the predetermined time period.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the one of the nodes comprises a conferencing server.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the one or more network nodes is further operable to release conference resources dedicated to the disconnected participant.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the triggering input comprises detection of non-speech noise, or inactivity lasting a specified duration, from the endpoint device.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein the triggering input comprises input received from an endpoint device associated with an administrator, moderator, or other participant to the conference call.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein the triggering input comprises periodic input received from a timer.