METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TIMESLOT TELECONFERENCING

• US 20110141951A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Jayaraman, Mehta, Neerav
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for a timeslot teleconference. A meeting invite is created for a timeslot teleconference on a computer. Timeslots are created for the timeslot teleconference in the meeting invite on the computer. Participants are designated for the timeslots in the meeting invite on the computer, and the timeslots are different time periods during the timeslot teleconference, which can have variable start and end times, as determined by a host. Reach numbers are added for each of the participants in the meeting invite on the computer, and the reach numbers are contact numbers to call the participants for their respective timeslots. The meeting invite is transmitted to participants on the computer. To participate in the timeslot teleconference, the timeslot teleconference is configured for the reach numbers to be called for the participants to correspond to their respective timeslots and/or the participants to call in for their respective timeslots.

Claims

1. A method implemented on a computer for a timeslot teleconference, comprising:

creating on a computer a meeting invite for a timeslot teleconference;

creating on the computer timeslots for the timeslot teleconference in the meeting invite;

designating on the computer participants for the timeslots in the meeting invite, wherein the timeslots are different time periods during the timeslot teleconference that can have variable start and end times, as determined by a host;

adding on the computer reach numbers for each of the participants in the meeting invite;

wherein the reach numbers are contact numbers to call the participants for their respective timeslots; and

transmitting on the computer the meeting invite to the participants;

wherein to participate in the timeslot teleconference, the timeslot teleconference is configured for at least one of;

the reach numbers to be called for the participants to correspond to their respective timeslots; and

the participants to call in for their respective timeslots.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising not calling the participants when their respective timeslots are not in session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising when the participants call in and their respective timeslots are not in session, preventing the participants from being connected to the timeslot teleconference until their respective timeslots are in session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising disconnecting the participants when their respective timeslots have ended on the timeslot teleconference;

and

connecting the participants of a next timeslot to the timeslot teleconference.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising designating groups for the timeslots, wherein the groups comprise participants.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the timeslots of the timeslot teleconference so that only participants designated to a particular timeslot of the timeslots can participate in the teleconference when the particular timeslot is started.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the timeslots are configured to restrict particular participants from participating in the timeslot teleconference during a particular timeslot when those particular participants are not designated to the particular timeslot.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising during the timeslot teleconference for a particular timeslot, configuring the timeslot teleconference to stop any participants who are not previously designated for the particular timeslot from being able to engage in the timeslot teleconference.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the timeslot teleconference is a single teleconference comprising a plurality of timeslots;

and

wherein the reach numbers are stored in a user profile with additional preferences and rules for notification.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein when the participants are called for an upcoming timeslot, configuring the timeslot teleconference to place the participants for the upcoming timeslot in a lobby after the participants for the upcoming timeslot have answered the call;

wherein the lobby is a holding arrangement for the participants to wait for the upcoming timeslot; and

moving the participants for the upcoming timeslot to the timeslot teleconference when at least one of;

a previous timeslot has completed;

the host initiates the start of the upcoming timeslot;

a set time for the upcoming timeslot is reached; and

a predefined number participants for the upcoming timeslot are in the lobby.

11. A method implemented on a computer for a timeslot teleconference, comprising:

creating on a computer a timeslot teleconference comprising a first timeslot, a second timeslot, through an Nth timeslot, wherein the Nth timeslot is the last of all the created timeslots; and

corresponding on the computer the first timeslot to a first time period during the timeslot teleconference, the second timeslot to a second time period during the timeslot teleconference, and the Nth timeslot to an Nth time period during the timeslot teleconference;

wherein the timeslot teleconference is configured to allow participants designated to the first timeslot to participate in the timeslot teleconference during the first time period;

wherein the timeslot teleconference is configured to allow participants designated to the second timeslot to participate in the timeslot teleconference during the second time period; and

wherein the timeslot teleconference is configured to allow participants designated to the Nth timeslot to participate in the timeslot teleconference during the Nth time period.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising restricting participants from participating in any timeslot in which the participants are not designated.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising when the first time period of the timeslot teleconference occurs, calling the participants designated to the first timeslot.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising when the second time period of the timeslot teleconference occurs, calling the participants designated to the second timeslot.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising when the Nth time period of the timeslot teleconference occurs, calling the participants designated to the Nth timeslot.

16. A device, comprising:

a program coupled to memory;

a processor responsive to computer-executable instructions of the program and operative for;

creating a meeting invite for a timeslot teleconference;

creating timeslots for the timeslot teleconference in the meeting invite;

designating participants for the timeslots in the meeting invite, wherein the timeslots are different time periods during the timeslot teleconference;

adding reach numbers for each of the participants in the meeting invite;

wherein the reach numbers are contact numbers to call the participants for their respective timeslots; and

transmitting the meeting invite to the participants;

wherein to participate in the timeslot teleconference, the timeslot teleconference is configured for at least one of;

the reach numbers to be called for the participants to correspond to their respective timeslots; and

the participants to call in for their respective timeslots.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising not calling the participants when their respective timeslots are not in session.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising when the participants call in and their respective timeslots are not in session, preventing the participants from being connected to the timeslot teleconference until their respective timeslots are in session.

19. The device of claim 16, further comprising disconnecting the participants when their respective timeslots have ended on the timeslot teleconference;

and

connecting the participants of a next timeslot to the timeslot teleconference.

20. The device of claim 16, further comprising designating groups for the timeslots, wherein the groups comprise participants.