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Method and apparatus for on-demand teleconferencing

  • US 5,995,608 A
  • Filed: 03/28/1997
  • Issued: 11/30/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An on-demand conferencing method for setting up a conference call in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with System Signaling 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

  • assigning a unique number for an on-demand conference call to an on-demand subscriber, said assigned unique number identifying a maximum conference size;

    dialing the assigned unique number into the PSTN;

    identifying in the PSTN that the dialed unique number requires handling by the SS7;

    routing the identified unique number through the PSTN to the SS7;

    linking in the SS7 the routed unique number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) connected to a plurality of bridge servers, the CACS and plurality of bridge servers located externally from said PSTN, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a plurality of ports, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a sufficient number of ports to support a plurality of on-demand conference calls;

    the CACS selecting available ports on one of said plurality of said bridge servers based on a selection criteria, said selection criteria including at least said maximum conference size for said assigned unique number; and

    setting up the on-demand conference call through the PSTN on said selected ports on one of the selected bridge servers under control of the CACS.

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