Teleconferencing and facsimile communications system and method

• US 6,417,933 B1
• Filed: 12/26/1996
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Szurkowski, Edward Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US08/773,996
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 358/402, 358/407, 358/432, 358/442, 358/400, 358/403, 379/93.23, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.12, 379/100.06, 379/100.08, 379/131, 379/158, 379/164, 379/202, 379/205
• US Class Current: 358/442
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/52 Telephonic communication in combination with fax communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence

Abstract

In a communications system for conducting a teleconference, a voice bridge is employed to establish communication connections with attendees of the teleconference. In addition, a facsimile bridge is employed to distribute facsimile data associated with the teleconference. In an illustrative embodiment, the attendees provide, through the communication connections, their facsimile numbers which may be used by the facsimile bridge to distribute the facsimile data to those attendees. Alternatively, through the communication connections, the voice bridge provides the attendees with an access number for retrieving the facsimile data from the facsimile bridge.

Claims

1. Server apparatus for conducting a teleconference attended by a plurality of attendees comprising:

an interface for establishing a communication connection over a communication network with at least one attendee to conduct said teleconference;

a facsimile controller for distributing facsimile data associated with said teleconference; and

a processor element for eliciting from the at least one attendee during at least a portion of the teleconference, through said communication connection, information concerning a manner in which said facsimile data is distributed to the at least one attendee, said information being conveyed to said facsimile controller, which subsequently distributes said facsimile data to the at least one attendee based on said information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said teleconference includes an audioconference.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said communication connection includes a voice connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information includes at least one destination to which said facsimile data is distributed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information includes a time of said distribution.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information includes facsimile transmission preferences.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said preferences include whether status information regarding a distribution of said facsimile data should be provided.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said preferences include a suspension of said distribution during said teleconference based on a determination by the at least one attendee.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said preferences include resuming said distribution during said suspension.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an email processor for acquiring information regarding facsimile transmission preferences via email.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an on-line processor for acquiring information regarding facsimile transmission preferences via on-line communications.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a paging processor for acquiring information regarding facsimile transmission preferences via paging communications.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an email processor for distributing said facsimile data via email.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an on-line processor for distributing said facsimile data via on-line communications.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interface includes means for detecting a disconnection of said communication connection, and said processor element includes means for recording the time of said disconnection.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information is only valid for a selected interval during said teleconference.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said facsimile data includes data indicative of a selected security level.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said facsimile controller includes means for checking a security level associated with the attendee with the selected security level before said facsimile data is distributed.

19. Server apparatus for conducting a teleconference attended by a plurality of attendees comprising:

an interface for establishing a communication connection with at least one attendee to conduct said teleconference;

a repository for storing facsimile data associated with the teleconference;

a facsimile controller for identifying a change in the facsimile data stored in the repository; and

a processor element responsive to the change for providing to the at least one attendee information concerning an identity of said facsimile data which has been changed through said communication connection, thereby allowing the at least one attendee to change a manner in which said facsimile data from said repository is distributed to the at least one attendee based on said information.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 including a facsimile bridge, said repository includes a memory in said facsimile bridge.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said teleconference includes an audioconference.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said communication connection includes a voice connection.

23. Server apparatus for conducting a teleconference attended by a plurality of attendees comprising:

an interface for establishing a communication connection with at least one attendee to conduct said teleconference;

a repository for storing facsimile data associated with the teleconference;

a processor element for communicating to the at least one attendee through said communication connection information on submitting the facsimile data to said repository during at least a portion of the teleconference, a submission of the facsimile data including an identifier identifying a subset of the attendees; and

a controller for distributing the facsimile data to the subset of the attendees based on the identifier.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said identifier is indicative of a security level.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 including a facsimile bridge, said repository includes a memory in said facsimile bridge.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said teleconference includes an audioconference.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said communication connection includes a voice connection.

28. A system for conducting a teleconference attended by a plurality of attendees comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

an interface for establishing a communication connection over a communication network with at least one attendee using one of the communication devices to conduct said teleconference;

a facsimile controller for distributing facsimile data associated with said teleconference; and

a processor element for eliciting from the at least one attendee during at least a portion of the teleconference, through said communication connection, information concerning a manner in which said facsimile data is distributed to the at least one attendee, said information being conveyed to said facsimile controller, which subsequently distributes said facsimile data to the at least one attendee based on said information.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said teleconference includes an audioconference.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said communication connection includes a voice connection.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein each communication device includes telephone equipment.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein said facsimile controller is capable of providing status information regarding said distribution.

33. A method for conducting a teleconference attended by a plurality of attendees comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication connection through a communication network with at least one attendee to conduct said teleconference;

eliciting from the at least one attendee during at least a portion of the teleconference, through said communication connection, information concerning a manner in which facsimile data is distributed to the at least one attendee; and

distributing said facsimile data to the at least one attendee based on said information.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said teleconference includes an audioconference.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said communication connection includes a voice connection.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein said information includes at least one destination to which said facsimile data is distributed.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said information includes a time of said distribution.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the information includes facsimile transmission preferences.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said preferences include whether status information regarding a distribution of said facsimile data should be provided.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein said preferences include resuming said distribution during said suspension based on a determination by the at least one attendee.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said preferences include resuming said distribution during said suspension.

42. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of acquiring information regarding facsimile transmission preferences via email.

43. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of acquiring information regarding facsimile transmission preferences via on-line communications.

44. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of acquiring information regarding facsimile transmission preferences via paging communications.

45. The method of claim 33 wherein said facsimile data is distributed via email.

46. The method of claim 33 wherein said facsimile data is distributed via on-line communications.

47. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of detecting a disconnection of said communication connection, and recording the time of said disconnection.

48. The method of claim 33 wherein said information is only valid for a selected interval during said teleconference.

49. The method of claim 33 wherein said facsimile data includes data indicative of a selected security level.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising the step of checking a security level associated with the attendee with the selected security level before said facsimile data is distributed.

51. A method for conducting a teleconference attended by a plurality of attendees comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication connection with at least one attendee to conduct said teleconference;

storing facsimile data associated with the teleconference in a repository;

identifying a change in the facsimile data stored in the repository; and

in response to the change, providing to the at least one attendee information concerning an identity of said facsimile data which has been changed through said communication connection, thereby allowing the at least one attendee to change a manner in which said facsimile data from said repository is distributed to the at least one attendee based on said information.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said teleconference includes an audioconference.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said communication connection includes a voice connection.

54. A method for conducting a teleconference attended by a plurality of attendees comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication connection with at least one attendee to conduct said teleconference;

receiving facsimile data associated with the teleconference in a repository;

communicating to the at least one attendee through said communication connection information on submitting the facsimile data to said repository during at least a portion of the teleconference, a submission of the facsimile data including an identifier identifying a subset of the attendees; and

distributing the facsimile data to the subset of the attendees based on the identifier.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein said identifier is indicative of a security level.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein said information includes data identifying said repository.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein said teleconference includes an audioconference.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said communication connection includes a voice connection.