System and method for automated conference call setup

• US 6,801,610 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGDEPPA, HECTOR A
• Application Number:
  US09/544,933
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201-1-2
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. conference server dials participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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 method and system are disclosed for establishing a conference call in an advanced intelligent network comprising a service switching point connected to a plurality telephone stations, a service node having an interactive data system, a conference circuit that includes a plurality of ports to selectively couple telephone stations, and a service control point containing a database. The method including receiving, at the storage node, conference call setup information used to initiate conference calls; forwarding the conference call setup information to the service control point for storage in the database, and contacting each participant to the conference call in accordance with the conference call setup information to couple the participants to the conference call. Participants may be contacted at a plurality of telephone numbers until reached, and one or more of the participants may be prompted for help in locating a missing participant. Voice information may be collected from participants in the call, such as prompting the participant for a password.

Claims

1. A system for establishing conference calls within a telephone network, comprising:

a service switching point connected to a plurality telephone stations;

a service node communicating with the service switching point, the service node comprising an interactive data system;

a conference circuit that includes a plurality of ports to selectively couple telephone stations during a conference call; and

a service control point communicating with the service node and the service switching point, the service control point containing a database,

wherein the service node is adapted to receive conference call setup information used to initiate conference calls, the service node forwarding the conference call setup information to the service control point for storage in the database,

wherein the service control point contacts each participant to the conference call in accordance with the conference call setup information to couple each of the participants to the conference circuit, and

wherein if a participant is missing and cannot be coupled to the conference circuit, the service node prompts one or more of the participants to provide a telephone number of the missing participant to the service node the missing participant telephone number being transferred to the service control point to contact the missing participant for coupling.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a conference call coordinator sets up a conference call by contacting the service node and entering the conference call setup information, and wherein the conference call setup information comprises at least one of a time of the conference call, a date of the conference call, a number of participants, one or more telephone numbers for each participant, a password, and billing information.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the service node communicates the conference call setup information to the conference circuit to reserve ports and numbers for the conference call.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a distinct ringing pattern is provided at a destination telephone associated with each of the participants to signal the conference call.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein if a participant is not available at a first telephone number, an alternate telephone number is contacted to couple the participant to the conference circuit.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the service node provides at least one of interactive help, collection of voice information from participants in the call, tracking of calls within the conference circuit, and providing notification functions.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the participant is prompted for a password by the service node, and wherein the password is set in advance of the conference call.

8. In an advanced intelligent network comprising a service switching point connected to a plurality telephone stations, a service node having an interactive data system, a conference circuit that includes a plurality of ports to selectively couple telephone stations, and a service control point containing a database, a method of establishing a conference call, comprising:

receiving, at the service node, conference call setup information used to initiate conference calls;

forwarding the conference call setup information to the service control point for storage in the database;

contacting each participant to the conference call in accordance with the conference call setup information to couple the participants to the conference circuit; and

prompting one or more of the participants to provide a telephone number to the service node for a missing participant that cannot be coupled to the conference circuit, wherein the service node forwards the telephone number to the database,

wherein the step of contacting each participant is performed by the service control point.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

contacting the service node; and

entering the conference call setup information,

wherein the conference call setup information comprises at least one of a time of the conference call, a date of the conference call, a number of participants, one or more telephone numbers for each participant, a password, and billing information.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising communicating the conference call setup information to the conference circuit to reserve ports and numbers for the conference call.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of contacting each participant comprises providing a distinct ringing pattern at a destination telephone associated with each of the participants.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of contacting each participant comprises:

contacting the participant at a first telephone number; and

,

if a participant is not available at the first telephone number, contacting the participant at an alternate telephone number.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising

collecting voice information from participants in the call;

tracking of calls within the conference circuit; and

providing notifications to the participants.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of collecting voice information comprises prompting the participant for a password, and wherein the password is set in advance of the conference call.

15. A method of establishing a conference call in a telephone network without operator intervention, comprising:

receiving information regarding a time and date of the conference call, a number of participants, and one or more telephone numbers for each participant;

forwarding the received information to a service control point for storage in a database;

reserving ports within a conference circuit to couple the participants to the conference call at the time and date of the conference call;

contacting each participant and coupling the participants to the conference circuit; and

prompting one or more of the participants for a telephone number to be stored in the database for a missing participant that cannot be coupled to the conference circuit and subsequently calling the telephone number to couple the missing participant to the conference circuit,

wherein the step of contacting each participant is performed by a service control point.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of contacting each participant comprises providing a distinct ringing pattern at a destination telephone associated with each of the participants.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of contacting each participant comprises:

contacting the participant at a first telephone number; and

,

if a participant is not available at the first telephone number, contacting the participant at an alternate telephone number.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising

collecting voice information from participants in the call;

tracking calls within the conference circuit; and

providing notifications to the participants.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of collecting voice information comprises prompting the participant for a password, and wherein the password is set in advance of the conference call.