METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INITIATING A CONFERENCE BASED ON THE PROXIMITY OF A PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090284580A1
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: KNAZ, ERAN
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• 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 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A conferencing system for an enterprise is disclosed. The conferencing system determines the location of a portable communication device within a premises and sends a prompt to the portable communication device announcing an option to initiate a communication session using local conferencing devices. In response to a request from the portable communication device, the system determines connection information for a remote endpoint and initiates a communication session between the local conferencing device and the remote endpoint.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a communication session from a conferencing device based on the location of a portable communication device in a proximity of the conferencing device, comprising:

determining that the portable communication device is located in the proximity of the conferencing device;

sending a prompt to the portable communication device announcing an option to initiate a communication session using the conferencing device; and

in response to a request from the portable communication device to initiate a communication session using the conferencing device, determining connection information for a remote endpoint and initiating a communication session between the conferencing device and the remote endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP phone, a laptop computer, and a smart phone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the portable communication device is present in the proximity of the conferencing device comprises receiving a signal indicating that the personal communication device is in proximity with the conferencing device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal indicates that a receiver associated with the personal communication device is detecting a beacon generated by a transmitter associated with the conferencing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal includes the identity of the conferencing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the portable communication device is present in the proximity of the conferencing device comprises receiving a signal identifying a room where the personal communication device located.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the conferencing device is located in the room.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal is associated with an employee RFID card.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal indicates that a receiver associated with the conferencing device is detecting a beacon generated by a transmitter associated with the personal communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining connection information for a remote endpoint comprises receiving connection information from the personal communication device for a remote endpoint engaged in a communication session with the portable communications device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining connection information for a remote endpoint comprises identifying a remote endpoint engaged in a communication session with the portable communications device and retrieving connection information for the identified remote endpoint from a data base.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining connection information for a remote endpoint comprises identifying a remote endpoint scheduled for a conference with a user associated with the portable communications device and retrieving connection information for the identified remote endpoint from a data base.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the communication session comprises initiating a connection between the conferencing device and the remote endpoint, transferring a call from the portable communication device to conferencing device and terminating a connection between the portable communication device and the remote endpoint.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking availability of the conferencing device before announcing an option to transfer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the conferencing device is a local multimedia endpoint and is associated with a multipoint control unit.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is engaged in a communication session on one of a plurality of networks conferencing device is associated with another of the plurality of networks.

17. A portable communication device comprising:

a display screen; and

a programmable processor programmed to;

receive one or more signals indicating that the portable communication device is in a proximity of a conferencing device;

display on the display screen a prompt announcing an option to initiate a conference using at the conferencing device; and

generate a signal instructing the conferencing device to initiate a conference with a remote endpoint.

18. The portable communication device of claim 17 wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP phone, a laptop computer, and a smart phone.

19. The portable communication device of claim 17, wherein the programmable processor is further programmed to determine availability of the conferencing device before displaying the prompt.