Method and apparatus for controlling a conference
First Claim
1. For use in a communication system having a plurality of stations, a conference bridge and means for interconnecting said stations to said bridge for conferencing, a method of controlling stations connected to the bridge comprising the steps ofsummoning an operator position in response to a request from said bridge,transmitting to said operator position a data message containing the directory number of and the status of all stations originally connected to the bridge.identifying at said operator position one of said stations independently of the directory numbers transmitted thereto, andtransmitting a message to said bridge from said operator position to control the one identified station.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications network having a dial-up conference arrangement is disclosed. The conference host can summon an operator and cause the conference details to be displayed at an operator position. The detailed information presented to the operator permits the operator to identify conferees independently of the directory number that was used to dial-up the conferee. This permits the operator to redial dropped legs, transfer control of the conference and perform other functions with respect to the identified conferee.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. For use in a communication system having a plurality of stations, a conference bridge and means for interconnecting said stations to said bridge for conferencing, a method of controlling stations connected to the bridge comprising the steps of
summoning an operator position in response to a request from said bridge, transmitting to said operator position a data message containing the directory number of and the status of all stations originally connected to the bridge. identifying at said operator position one of said stations independently of the directory numbers transmitted thereto, and transmitting a message to said bridge from said operator position to control the one identified station.
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2. For use in a communication system having a plurality of stations, a conference bridge and means for interconnecting said stations to said bridge for conferencing, a method for controlling the connection of said stations to the bridge comprising the steps of
detecting the disconnection of one of said stations from the bridge, transmitting to a remote operator position in response to said detection a data message containing the directory number of and the status of all stations originally connected to the bridge, identifying at said operator position said one station independently of the directory number transmitted thereto, and transmitting a control message from the operator position to the bridge to effect thereat the reconnection of the disconnected one of said stations.
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7. For use in a communication system having a plurality customer stations, a conference bridge and means for interconnecting said stations to said bridge for conferencing, a method for controlling the connection of said stations to the bridge comprising the steps of
detecting when one of said stations has disconnected from the bridge, informing at least another of said stations still connected to said bridge that said one station has disconnected, having said other station summon an operator at a remote operator position, transmitting to said remote position a data message containing the directory number of each station originally connected to the bridge and whether each said station is currently disconnected from the bridge, displaying the contents of the data message on a video display terminal at the operator position, and generating at said position a first control signal for transmittal to said bridge by positioning the terminal cursor to the display representing said one station.
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12. For use in a communication system having a plurality customer stations, a conference bridge and means for interconnecting said stations to said bridge for conferencing, a method for controlling the connection of said stations to the bridge comprising the steps of
causing said bridge to summon an operator at a remote operator position, transmitting to said remote position a data message containing the directory number of each station originally connected to the bridge and whether each said station is currently disconnected from the bridge, displaying the contents of the data message on a video display terminal at the operator position, and generating at said position one of a plurality of control signals for transmittal to said bridge by positioning the terminal cursor to the display representing said one station.
Specification