SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INITIATING A CONFERENCE CALL
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for initiating conference calls via an instant messaging system to reduce the effort required to initiate and manage the call. The system uses an IM connection between a requesting party and a conference call server to inform the conference call server of the desire to initiate the conference call. The conference call server may initiate the conference call by having involved parties called by a conference bridge, thus reducing the effort required by the parties to join the call.
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Citations
102 Claims
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1-79. -79. (canceled)
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80. A method for initiating a conference call, comprising:
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establishing a communications connection from a network access device to a conference call server, the network access device communicating via an instant messaging service, and the instant messaging service being adapted to communicate conference call request information; presenting a conference call requester with a display showing at least one potential target with whom the conference call may be initiated; generating a conference call request, the conference call request identifying the at least one potential target for the conference call request; transmitting the conference call request from the network access device to the conference call server; and establishing a conference call connection to the conference call requester, the conference call connection initiated by the conference call server, the conference call connection further being connected to the at least one potential target. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. A method for initiating a conference call, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communications connection from a network access device to a conference call server, the network access device communicating via an instant messaging service, and the instant messaging service being adapted to communicate conference call request information; presenting a conference call requester with a display showing with whom the conference call may be initiated; generating a conference call request responsively to a single request by the conference call requester, the conference call requester identifying each of the potential targets for the conference call request; transmitting the conference call request from the network access device to the conference call server; and establishing a conference call connection to the conference call requester, the conference call connection initiated by the conference call server, the conference call connection further being connected to each of the potential targets. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93)
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94. A system for initiating conference calls, comprising:
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at least one network access device being communicably connected to an instant messaging service; a conference call server having a network connection communicable with the at least one network access device, the conference call server further comprising a database for storing prospective target information, and an instant messaging client being adapted to communicate a conference call request to the conference call server, a conference call bridge having a plurality of communications paths and hardware or software for bridging at least two of the paths for enabling a conference call. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102)
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Specification