Apparatus, method and system for providing telecommunication conferencing services in a multiple leg telecommunication session

• US 6,996,221 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Baiyor, Robert John, Strom, Thomas Dale, Smith, Harold Robert Jr., Bellomo, Giacomo, Earl, Deborah Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quynh H.
• Application Number:
  US09/455,623
• Time in Patent Office: 2,254 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/205.01, 379/206.01
• 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 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• 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: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

The system, apparatus and method of the present invention provide telecommunication conferencing services in a multiple leg telecommunication session. One of the system embodiments includes a database and a switching center. The database has stored in a memory a plurality of secondary directory numbers and a conference parameter associated with a primary directory number. The switching center has an interface for receiving an incoming call leg designating the primary directory number and for determining whether the primary directory number and its associated plurality of secondary directory numbers are configured for a conference mode. When so configured for the conference mode, the switching center includes further instructions to process and route each outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to form a plurality of outgoing call legs, to monitor answering of the plurality of outgoing call legs, and to connect an answered outgoing call leg, of the plurality of outgoing call legs, to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

Claims

1. A method for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call leg at a switching center as the result of a person placing the incoming call leg to a primary directory number, the incoming call leg designating the primary directory number;

determining a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with the primary directory number;

processing and routing an outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to form a plurality of outgoing call legs;

monitoring the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events; and

connecting outgoing call legs associated with the plurality of answering events to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session;

continuing to alert an unanswered outgoing call leg, of the plurality of outgoing call legs, until a predetermined period of time has elapsed;

when the predetermined period of time has elapsed, releasing any outgoing call leg, of the plurality of outgoing call legs, which has remained unanswered;

when a second predetermined period of time has elapsed during the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session, the switching center processing and routing a second outgoing call leg to a corresponding secondary directory number associated with a previously unanswered outgoing call leg;

monitoring answering of the second outgoing call leg; and

when the second outgoing call leg has been answered, connecting the second outgoing call leg to the incoming call leg for the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the second outgoing call leg has not been answered prior to an expiration of a third predetermined period of time, releasing the second outgoing call leg.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is determined from a no answer time parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of the incoming call leg.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of a penultimate call leg remaining from a plurality of call legs forming the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

6. A method for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call leg as the result of a person placing the incoming call leg to a primary directory number, the incoming call leg designating the primary directory number;

determining a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with the primary directory number;

differentially processing and routing each outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to provide concurrent alerting of a corresponding plurality of outgoing call legs;

monitoring the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events; and

,

connecting outgoing call legs associated with the plurality of answering events to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

terminating the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of the incoming call leg.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

terminating the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of a penultimate call leg remaining from a plurality of call legs forming the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

9. A system for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the system comprising:

a database having stored in a memory a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with a primary directory number which is designated when a person places a call; and

a switching center coupled to the database, the switching center having an interface for receiving an incoming call leg designating the primary directory number and for processing and routing each outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to form a plurality of outgoing call legs, and wherein the switching center includes instructions to monitor the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events, to connect outgoing call legs associated with the plurality of answering events, to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session, when the predetermined period of time has elapsed, to release any outgoing call leg, of the plurality of outgoing call legs, which has remained unanswered, and, when a second predetermined period of time has elapsed, to process and route a second outgoing call leg to a corresponding secondary directory number associated with a previously unanswered outgoing call leg;

to monitor answering of the second outgoing call leg; and

when the second outgoing call leg has been answered, to connect the second outgoing call leg to the incoming call leg for the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the switching center includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of the incoming call leg.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the switching center includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of a penultimate call leg remaining from a plurality of call legs forming the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the database comprises a home location register.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the switching center comprises a mobile switching center.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the switching center includes further instructions, when the second outgoing call leg has not been answered prior to an expiration of a third predetermined period of time, to release the second outgoing call leg.

15. A system for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the system comprising:

a database having stored in a memory a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with a primary directory number which is designated when a person places a call; and

a switching center coupled to the database, the switching center having an interface for receiving an incoming call leg designating the primary directory number and for differentially process and route each outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to provide concurrent alerting of a corresponding plurality of outgoing call legs, and wherein the switching center includes instructions to monitor the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events and to connect outgoing call legs associated with the plurality of answering events, to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the switching center includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of the incoming call leg.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the switching center includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of a penultimate call leg remaining from a plurality of call legs forming the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the database is a home location register.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the switching center is a mobile switching center.

20. An apparatus for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface for reception of an incoming call leg as the result of a person placing the incoming call leg to a primary directory number, the incoming call leg designating the primary directory number and for transmission of an outgoing call leg;

a memory, the memory storing a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with the primary directory number; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory, the processor including instructions to process and route each outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to form a plurality of outgoing call legs;

the processor including further instructions to monitor the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events, to connect outgoing call legs associated with the plurality of answering events, to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session, and when a second predetermined period of time has elapsed, to process and route a second outgoing call leg to a corresponding secondary directory number associated with a previously unanswered outgoing call leg;

to monitor answering of the second outgoing call leg; and

when the second outgoing call leg has been answered, to connect the second outgoing call leg to the incoming call leg for the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of the incoming call leg.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of a penultimate call leg remaining from a plurality of call legs forming the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor includes further instructions, when the second outgoing call leg has not been answered prior to an expiration of a third predetermined period of time, to release the second outgoing call leg.

24. An apparatus for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface for reception of an incoming call leg as the result of a person placing the incoming call leg to a primary directory number, the incoming call leg designating the primary directory number and for transmission of an outgoing call leg;

a memory, the memory storing a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with the primary directory number; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory, the processor including instructions to differentially process and route each outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to provide concurrent alerting of a corresponding plurality of outgoing call legs;

the processor including further instructions to monitor the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events, and to connect outgoing call legs associated with the plurality of answering events, to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of the incoming call leg.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor includes further instructions to terminate the multiple leg telecommunication conference session upon termination of a penultimate call leg remaining from a plurality of call legs forming the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

27. A system for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the apparatus comprising:

a home location register having stored in a memory a plurality of secondary directory numbers and a conference parameter associated with a pilot directory number;

a mobile switching center coupled to the home location register, the mobile switching center further having an interface for receiving an incoming call leg as the result of a person placing the incoming call leg to a primary directory number, the incoming call leg designating the pilot directory number, for determining whether the pilot directory number and its associated plurality of secondary directory numbers are configured for a conference mode, and when configured for the conference mode, for processing and routing an outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number to form a plurality of outgoing call legs, the mobile switching center including instructions to monitor the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events; and

a conference bridge coupled to the mobile switching center, the conference bridge including instructions to connect a plurality of outgoing call legs associated with the plurality of answering events to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session, wherein the mobile switching center includes further instructions, when a second predetermined period of time has elapsed, to process and route a second outgoing call leg to a corresponding secondary directory number associated with a previously unanswered outgoing call leg;

to monitor answering of the second outgoing call leg; and

when the second outgoing call leg has been answered, to direct the conference bridge to connect the second outgoing call leg to the incoming call leg for the multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session, and wherein the mobile switching center includes further instructions, when the second outgoing call leg has not been answered prior to an expiration of a third predetermined period of time, to release the second outgoing call leg.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein upon reception of a LocationRequest containing the pilot directory number, the home location register transmits an ANSI-41 compatible LocationRequest RETURN RESULT to the mobile switching center, the ANSI-41 compatible LocationRequest RETURN RESULT containing a listing of each secondary directory number, the conference parameter, and corresponding routing, answering and terminating parameters for each secondary directory number.

29. A system for telecommunication conferencing in a multiple leg telecommunication session, the apparatus comprising:

a home location register having stored in a memory a plurality of secondary directory numbers and a conference parameter associated with a pilot directory number;

a mobile switching center coupled to the home location register, the mobile switching center further having an interface for receiving an incoming call leg as the result of a person placing the incoming call leg to a primary directory number, the incoming call leg designating the pilot directory number, for determining whether the pilot directory number and its associated plurality of secondary directory numbers are configured for a conference mode, and when configured for the conference mode, for processing and routing an outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number to form a plurality of outgoing call legs, the mobile switching center including instructions to monitor the plurality of outgoing call legs for a plurality of answering events, and instructions to differentially process and route each outgoing call leg associated with each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers to provide concurrent alerting of the plurality of outgoing call legs; and

the plurality of answering events to the incoming call leg for a multiple leg telecommunication conferencing session.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein upon reception of a LocationRequest containing the pilot directory number, the home location register transmits an ANSI-41 compatible LocationRequest RETURN RESULT to the mobile switching center, the ANSI-41 compatible LocationRequest RETURN RESULT containing a listing of each secondary directory number, the conference parameter, and corresponding routing, answering and terminating parameters for each secondary directory number.