Telephone conferencing systems

• US 6,463,038 B1
• Filed: 01/15/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellprop Limited
• Original Assignee: Intellprop Limited
• Inventors: Wilson, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US09/214,952
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259-265, 379/158, 379/202.01, 379/203.01, 379/204.01, 379/205.01, 455/459
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• 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

Abstract

A telephone conferencing system includes a voice services equipment (VSE) allowing a number of telephone calls to be connected together to form a conferencing function. Parties wishing to set up a conference agree on one of their telephone numbers being designated as a “link number”. The conference participants dial into the system and then each enters the link number. The system stores the link number in a link number store when the first caller calls in. The system also checks the caller'"'"'s calling line identity (CLI) with the entered link number, and the conference will not be enabled unless there is a match; thus, the conference cannot be initiated until the link number participant has called in. Any other participant calling earlier can be put on “hold”. A number of different conferences may be taking place simultaneously, and participants will be grouped together correctly in their conference in accordance with the entered link number.

Claims

1. A telephone conferencing system comprising means for connecting a number of telephone calls together to provide a conferencing function, connection of a telephone call to the conference being allowed only upon receipt of an acceptable identification function, wherein the identification function is the telephone number of one of the participants designated as a link number, and means for enabling the conference only when the system is operable to recognize a match between the link number entered by the participant and a calling line identity signal of that call.

2. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 1, the system being capable of handling a plurality of conferences, wherein participants to the conferences are grouped by means of the entered link numbers.

3. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 1, further comprising a link number store in which the link number is stored, a prospective participant being allowed access to an enabled conference only if the link number entered by the participant matches a store link number associated with an enabled conference.

4. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprising a voice services equipment including telephone switching means capable of connecting a number of telephone calls together.

5. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means responds to an entered link number and the caller'"'"'s calling line identity signal and, in the event of these differing, checks whether the conference associated with that link number has been enabled, and if so, subject to system capacity, allows the caller access to the conference.

6. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 5, wherein, if the conference has not already been enabled, the system puts the caller, subject to system capacity, on “

hold”

.

7. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 1, including a telephone exchange operable to record that a call from a specific telephone number is being made to a telephone conferencing unit, and to divert calls intended for that specific telephone number designated as the link number to the telephone conferencing unit thereby allowing access to the respective telephone conference.

8. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 1, wherein a PIN code must also be entered by the participants in order to gain access to the conference.

9. A telephone conferencing system according to claim 1, wherein participants to a conference other than the link number participant must be positively accepted into the conference by the link number participant.