Method of setting up a conference call

• US 6,236,644 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Sims, William A., Shuman, Steven S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Seema S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/968,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 370/263, 370/264, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/205, 379/206, 379/207, 379/201, 379/220, 379/225, 379/229, 455/414, 455/416
• US Class Current: 370/261
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method of setting up a conference has the following steps: 1) selecting a conference bridge (68) and a conference number; 2) dialing a conference number; 3) when a private branch exchange (52) seizes an off-network trunk (55), receiving the conference number at a interexchange carrier service switching point; 4) routing the conference call to a local exchange carrier service switching point (74); 5) routing the conference call over a dedicated access line (78) to an on-network service switching point (76); 6) triggering on the conference call at the on-network service switching point (76); 7) sending a query to a service control point (58); 8) receiving a routing instructions from the service control point (58); and 9) routing the conference call to the conference bridge (68).

Claims

1. A method of setting up a conference call, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a conference bridge and a conference telephone number;

(b) dialing the conference telephone number;

(c) when a private branch exchange seizes an off-network trunk, receiving the conference telephone number at an interexchange carrier service switching point;

(d) routing the conference call to a local exchange carrier service switching point;

(e) routing the conference call over a dedicated access line to an on-network service switching point;

(f) triggering on the conference call at the on-network service switching point;

(g) sending a query to a service control point;

(h) receiving a routing instructions from the service control point; and

(i) routing the conference call to the conference bridge.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further includes the steps of:

(c1) when the private branch exchange seizes an on-network trunk, routing the conference call to the on-network service switching point;

(c2) proceeding to step (g).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (i) further includes the step of:

(i1) routing the conference call over a virtual private network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (h) further includes the step of:

(h1) receiving a conference ID and a conference call code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) further includes the step of:

(f1) triggering on the conference telephone number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) further includes the step of:

(f1) triggering based on receiving the conference call over the dedicated access line.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further includes the steps of:

(c1) when the conference telephone number is dialed from a telephone not connected to a private branch exchange, receiving the conference call at a first local exchange carrier service switching point;

(c2) routing the conference call to an interexchange carrier;

(c3) proceeding to step (d).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further includes the steps of:

(c1) when the conference telephone number is dialed from a telephone not connected to a private branch exchange, proceeding to step (e).

9. A method of setting up a conference call, comprising the steps of:

(a) dialing an on-network telephone number to initiate the conference call at a subscriber location having a private branch exchange connected to at least two interexchange carriers;

(b) determining at a service switching point if the on-network telephone number belongs to a predetermined set of numbers, by;

(b1) when the private branch exchange seizes an off-network trunk, routing the conference call to a local switch based on a standard routing procedure,

(b2) triggering on the on-network telephone number at the local switch,

(b3) sending a query to a service control point, and

(b4) receiving routing instructions from the service control point if the on-network telephone number belongs to the predetermined set of numbers;

(c) when the on-network telephone number belongs to the predetermined set of numbers, routing the conference call to a virtual private network switch; and

(d) routing the conference call to a conference bridge.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of receiving the routing instructions further includes receiving a conference call code.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of receiving the routing instructions further includes receiving a conference ID.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) further includes the step of:

(a1) dialing a pseudo-telephone number belonging to a group of on-network numbers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (b) further includes the steps of:

(b1) when the private branch exchange seizes an off-network trunk, failing to make a connection;

(b2) returning to step (a).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein step (b) further includes the steps of:

(b1) when the private branch exchange seizes an on-network trunk, determining if the pseudo-telephone number belongs to the predetermined set of numbers at the virtual private network switch;

(b2) going to step (d).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein step (b) further includes the steps of:

(b1) determining at the private branch exchange if the pseudo-telephone number belongs to the predetermined set of numbers;

(b2) when the pseudo-telephone number belongs to the predetermined set of numbers, seizing an on-network trunk.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) further includes the steps of:

(a1) requesting the conference bridge;

(a2) receiving the on-network telephone number.

17. A method of setting up a conference call over a virtual private network, comprising the steps of:

(a) entering a conference address at a subscriber location having a customer switch connected to the virtual private network and a public network to initiate the conference call;

(b) when the customer switch seizes a connection over the public network, routing the conference call to a conference switch associated with the conference address;

(c) determining a routing instructions to a designated conference bridge at the conference switch;

(d) routing the conference call to the designated conference bridge;

(e) when the customer switch seizes a connection over the virtual private network, determining routing instructions to a designated conference bridge, and

(f) routing the conference call to the designated conference bridge.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) further includes the steps of:

(a1) determining if the conference address belongs to a predetermined set of addresses at a customer switch;

(a2) when the conference address belongs to a predetermined set of addresses, seizing a connection over the virtual private network;

(a3) determining a routing instructions to a designated conference bridge;

(a4) proceeding to step (d).