System and method for call conferencing
First Claim
1. A system for conferencing a plurality of participants in a conference call, comprising:
- a bridge having a plurality of conference ports; and
a conference call controller coupled to said bridge, said conference call controller comprising;
means for allocating resources of said bridge to the conference call;
means for simultaneously originating a call to each of said plurality of conference participants, wherein each of said calls is originated via different conference ports; and
means for connecting each of said different conference ports to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A call conferencing system and method includes a conference call controller and a conference bridge. The conference bridge includes a plurality of conference ports, to which conference participant audio is connected. Connection of conference ports in the bridge, bridges together the audio of the participants, thus forming the conference. The call conferencing system receives the initial scheduling request for the conference call, checks resource availability for the scheduled conference date and time, and reserves the required resources for the conference if they are available. To create the conference, conference call controller causes an operator console to be tied to a conference port on the bridge. Conference call controller originates a call to a conference participant via a conference port and ties the participant to the console via the bridge. The console informs the participant of the conference and the conference call controller connects the participant to the conference.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for conferencing a plurality of participants in a conference call, comprising:
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a bridge having a plurality of conference ports; and a conference call controller coupled to said bridge, said conference call controller comprising; means for allocating resources of said bridge to the conference call; means for simultaneously originating a call to each of said plurality of conference participants, wherein each of said calls is originated via different conference ports; and means for connecting each of said different conference ports to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for allocating operator consoles during a setup phase of a conference call among a plurality of conference participants, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a request from a user to set up the conference call; (b) identifying available operator consoles; (c) allocating a plurality of available operator consoles for the conference call setup; and (d) initiating simultaneous dial-outs to a plurality of prospective conference participants by using said allocated operator consoles. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for allocating operator consoles during a setup phase of a conference call among a plurality of conference participants, comprising:
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(a) means for receiving a request from a user to set up the conference call; (b) means for identifying available operator consoles; (c) means for allocating a plurality of available operator consoles for the conference call setup; and (d) means for initiating simultaneous dial-outs to a plurality of prospective conference participants by using said allocated operator consoles. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification