Methods, Systems, and Products for Monitoring Conferences

• US 20120262530A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• 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: Whitfield, Lloyd, Bedingfield, James Carlton
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• 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 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for monitoring a conference. A first bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from all conference participants. A second bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from i) a subset of the conference participants, ii) an output of the first bridging function, and iii) a monitor of the conference. The second bridging function isolates the monitor'"'"'s signals from the conference such that only the subset of the conference participants may communicate with the monitor during the conference.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a conference, comprising:

bridging together signals from a first participant and a second participant to establish the conference;

receiving monitor signals from a monitor participant;

bridging together the signals and the monitor signals to produce a sub-conference; and

isolating the monitor signals from the second participant to establish the sub-conference between the first participant and the monitor participant,

wherein the monitor participant may monitor the conference and conduct the sub-conference with the first participant.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a monitoring request to establish the sub-conference.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring the conference to establish the sub-conference.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing feedback to at least one of the first participant and the monitor participant.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing an audible indication that the sub-conference is established.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a visible indicator of the sub-conference.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising periodically producing an announcement during the sub-conference.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a messaging indicating the sub-conference is established.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

code stored in the memory that when executed causes the processor at least to;

bridge together signals from a first participant and a second participant to establish the conference;

receive monitor signals from a monitor participant;

bridge together the signals and the monitor signals to produce a sub-conference; and

isolate the monitor signals from the second participant to establish the sub-conference between the first participant and the monitor participant,

wherein the monitor participant may monitor the conference and conduct the sub-conference with the first participant.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to receive a monitoring request to establish the sub-conference.

11. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to monitor the conference to establish the sub-conference.

12. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to provide feedback to at least one of the first participant and the monitor participant.

13. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to provide an audible indication that the sub-conference is established.

14. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to provide a visible indicator of the sub-conference.

15. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to periodically produce an announcement during the sub-conference.

16. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to send a messaging indicating the sub-conference is established.

17. A computer-readable storage medium on which is encoded processor executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

bridging together signals from a first participant and a second participant to establish the conference;

receiving monitor signals from a monitor participant;

bridging together the signals and the monitor signals to produce a sub-conference; and

isolating the monitor signals from the second participant to establish the sub-conference between the first participant and the monitor participant,

wherein the monitor participant may monitor the conference and conduct the sub-conference with the first participant.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for receiving a monitoring request to establish the sub-conference.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for monitoring the conference to establish the sub-conference.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for providing feedback to at least one of the first participant and the monitor participant.