Graphical computer interface for an audio conferencing system
First Claim
1. In an audio conferencing system having a central control system connected to a telephone system for coordinating an audio conference using the telephone system, an improvement comprising:
- a plurality of user computers remote from said central control system said user computers connected to said central control system through a computer network, said plurality of user computers operated by a plurality of corresponding users, each user computer comprising a processing unit, a display controlled by the processing unit and a user input device, each user computer running a computer program for receiving an indication by a corresponding user, through the user input device, of a selected audio conference that the corresponding user wishes to join as a participant and transmitting said indication of the selected audio conference to said central control system;
said central control system receiving said indication of the selected audio conference and controlling the telephone system to call a determined number associated with a telephone of the corresponding user to connect the telephone of the corresponding user to the selected audio conference.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A audio conferencing system is provided whereby an audio conference participant interfaces with the system through a graphical user interface (GUI) computer program running on a remote computer or workstation. To join an audio conference currently in progress, a participant controls the GUI computer program to transmit a signal over a local area network to a central server. The central server, by examining database information, determines whether the participant is authorized to join the audio conference. If so, the central server controls a telephone system connected thereto and causes the telephone system to call the participant at a pre-listed telephone number. The participant then joins the actual audio conference merely by answering the telephone. Numerous other functions are available to the audio participant both during an audio conference and other times. By providing a GUI-based software interface to the audio conferencing system, significantly greater functionality is conveniently provided to an audio conference participant than previously available. For example, before an audio conference has begun, an invitee to the conference may obtain and display a list of all other conference invitees. Method and apparatus embodiment to the invention are disclosed.
493 Citations
60 Claims
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1. In an audio conferencing system having a central control system connected to a telephone system for coordinating an audio conference using the telephone system, an improvement comprising:
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a plurality of user computers remote from said central control system said user computers connected to said central control system through a computer network, said plurality of user computers operated by a plurality of corresponding users, each user computer comprising a processing unit, a display controlled by the processing unit and a user input device, each user computer running a computer program for receiving an indication by a corresponding user, through the user input device, of a selected audio conference that the corresponding user wishes to join as a participant and transmitting said indication of the selected audio conference to said central control system; said central control system receiving said indication of the selected audio conference and controlling the telephone system to call a determined number associated with a telephone of the corresponding user to connect the telephone of the corresponding user to the selected audio conference.
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2. An audio conferencing system comprising:
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a telephony conference subsystem that performs conferencing of a plurality of participants coupled via telephones; a server coupled to the telephony conference subsystem to control operations performed on the telephony conference subsystem; a user computer system coupled to the server through a data communication network, said computer system comprising a processor, a display and an input device; and a graphical user interface (GUI) program executed by the user computer system to generate displays of information on the display and receive input by the user using the input device, said user computer system executing the GUI program prompting the user to enter a user identification and forwarding the user identification to the server; said server further verifying that the user is registered and supplying to the user computer system executing the GUI program information regarding scheduled audio conferences that the user scheduled or for which the user is a designated participant; and said user computer system executing the GUI program displaying the information regarding the audio conferences on the display and enabling the user to select a conference to attend using the input device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In an audio conferencing system having a central server connected to a telephone system and a user computer connected to the server through a network, wherein the user computer includes a processing unit, a display controlled by the processing unit and a user input device, a method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a list of available audio conferences that the user is authorized to join on the display of the user computer; said user selecting an audio conference to join of the displayed list of available audio conferences; receiving an indication of a selected audio conference through the input device that a user operating the user computer wishes to join; transmitting said indication of a selected audio conference to said central server from said user computer through said network; and controlling the telephone system to call a predetermined telephone number associated with a telephone of the user to connect the telephone of the user to the selected audio conference. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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- 42. A user computer executing a graphical user interface (GUI) computer program for use by end users of an audio conferencing system for controlling operations of the audio conferencing system without the assistance of an operator, said user computer communicating with the audio conferencing system by local area network (LAN) communication, said user computer further enabling a registered end user of the audio conferencing system to log in through the user computer with an ID uniquely identifying that user, and to select a particular audio conference to initiate or a particular established audio conference to join, the selection of the particular audio conference causing the initiation of a telephone call connecting said end user to the audio conference, the call being initiated under user control through said user computer executing said GUI computer program.
Specification