Subconference calling in a telephony-over-LAN environment

• US 6,404,873 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1998
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel, Beyda, William Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGDEPPA, HECTOR A
• Application Number:
  US09/204,206
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202-206, 379/265, 379/266, 370/260-265
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method and system for establishing and managing subconference calls within a main conference call includes a subconference call subsystem which responds to a subconference call request from a first terminal during the main conference call by transmitting the subconference call request to a second terminal. The subconference call subsystem monitors a connection to the second terminal to detect a signal indicating acceptance of the request. Upon detecting an acceptance, the subconference call subsystem establishes a first subconference call and a data mixer mixes first voice data from the main conference call with simultaneously transmitted second voice data generated from the first and second terminals. A data router transmits the mixed first and second voice data to the first and second terminals without transmitting the second voice data to any of the other terminals participating in the main conference call. Furthermore, the process of establishing subconference calls is transparent to the other main conference terminals. The subconference call terminal subsystem can establish a second subconference call and can switch a terminal for bi-directional voice transmissions within the main conference call, the first subconference call, or the second subconference call.

Claims

1. A method for establishing and managing private conference consultations during a main conference call comprising the steps of:

establishing connectivity for said main conference call, including linking a plurality of terminals for two-way transmissions of voice information among at least three terminals;

during said main conference call, establishing connectivity for a first private subconference call between a subset of said plurality of terminals which includes a first terminal and a second terminal of said main conference call, said connectivity, including a first request for establishing said connectivity, being established in a manner transparent to terminals in said main conference call other than said subset of terminals;

transmitting first voice information generated by said subset of terminals over said first private subconference call in the absence of transmitting said first voice information over said main conference call; and

mixing second voice information transmitted over said main conference call with said first voice information for presentation at said subset of terminals, said second voice information thereby being general to said main conference call, while said first voice information is specific to said first subconference call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said first request to establish said first private subconference call from said first terminal to said second terminal, said first request being a call signal that triggers an option to reject said first request.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of establishing said first private subconference call occurs at least partially in response to said second terminal generating a response signal indicative of an acceptance of said first request.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from one of said first and said second terminals to rejoin said main conference call with respect to two-way transmissions of voice information; and

automatically transferring said one of said first and said second terminals from said private subconference call to said main conference call in a manner that is transparent to said plurality of terminals participating in said main conference call other than said subset of terminals.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a second request for a second private subconference all from said first terminal to a third terminal participating in said main conference call;

if said third terminal accepts said second request, establishing connectivity for said second private subconference call;

simultaneously transmitting over said second private subconference call third voice information generated by said third terminal and said first terminal in the absence of transmitting said third voice information over said main conference call and said first subconference call; and

mixing said second voice information with said third voice information for presentation at said first and third terminals.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from said first terminal to rejoin said first private subconference call with respect to two-way transmissions; and

transferring said first terminal to said first private subconference call in response to said request to rejoin said first private subconference call.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from one of said first, said second, and said third terminals to rejoin said main conference call with respect to two-way transmissions of voice information; and

transferring said one of said first, said second, and said third terminals to said main conference in a manner that is transparent to said plurality of terminals participating in said main conference call other than said terminals participating in one of said first and second subconference calls from which said transfer occurs.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of establishing connectivity for said first private subconference call includes transmitting a first request to establish said private subconference call from said first terminal to said second terminal, said first request including a text message indicative of proposed subject matter for said first private subconference call.

9. A system for establishing subconference calls during a main conference call comprising:

means for establishing a primary conference call between at least-three conferees;

means, responsive to a first user-generated subconference call request, for establishing a first subconference call between a subset of at least two and less than all of said conferees in a manner that is transparent to a first remainder of said conferees, said means for establishing said first subconference call being configured to transmit a text message together with said subconference call request from a requesting conferee of said subset to each invited conferee of said subset, said establishing means for said first subconference call including a call request procedure that is transparent to said first remainder of said conferees, said text message being representative of proposed subject matter for said first subconference call;

means for isolating transmissions of first subconference voice information to said subset of conferees such that said transmissions are transparent to said first remainder, said first subconference voice information being generated at one of said conferees of said subset; and

means for mixing transmissions of primary conference voice information from said first remainder of conferees with said transmissions of said first subconference voice information for presentation at said subset of conferees.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said mixing means is further configured to mix whiteboard data generated at said first remainder of said conferees with whiteboard data generated at a conferee of said subset in a manner that is transparent to said first remainder of conferees such that said whiteboard data generated at said subset is distinguished from said whiteboard data generated at said first remainder.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for establishing said first subconference call is configured to establish a second subconference call between a first conferee of said subset and a third conferee of said remainder in a manner that is transparent to conferees other than said first and said third conferees.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for establishing said first subconference call is configured to transfer said first conferee between said second subconference call, said first subconference call, and said primary conference call in response to subconference transfer requests received from said first conferee.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for establishing said first subconference call is responsive to said user-generated subconference call request to transmit said subconference call request to a second conferee of said subset and is responsive to receiving a response signal from said second conferee indicative of an acceptance of said subconference request by said second conferee.

14. A method for initiating subconference calls between terminals participating in a main conference call comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first subconference call request from a first terminal to a second terminal, including sending a text message to said second terminal indicative of proposed subject matter for said first subconference call, said first and said second terminals being two of said terminals participating in said main conference call, said first subconference call request being undetected by said terminals participating in said main conference call other than said terminals participating in said first subconference call;

monitoring a connection to said second terminal for an acceptance of said subconference call request;

upon detecting said acceptance, establishing a first subconference call between said first terminal and said second terminal such that terminals participating in said main conference call, other than said first and said second terminals, do not detect said establishment of said first subconference call;

transmitting first voice data generated by said first and said second terminals over said first subconference call while preventing transmission of said first voice data over said main conference call; and

universally transmitting second voice data generated by said terminals other than said first and second terminals such that all of said terminals receive said second voice data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said establishing step is a step of establishing a voice-over-data-network call.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a second subconference call between said second terminal and a third terminal participating in said main conference call, including transferring said second terminal from said first subconference call to said second subconference call in a manner transparent to said terminals in said main conferencing call other than said second and said third terminals;

if a transfer to main conference call request is generated from said second terminal, returning said second terminal to said main conference call; and

if a transfer to subconference call request is generated from said second terminal, returning said second terminal to said first subconference call.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting first text messages over said first subconference call between said first terminal and said second terminal in a manner that is transparent to said terminals in said main conference call other than said first and said second terminals; and

combining said first text messages with second text messages transmitted by said terminals in said main conference call in a manner that distinguishes sources of said first text messages and said second text messages.