Apparatus and method for providing advanced communication conferencing operations

• US 7,130,404 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Gentle, Christopher Reon, Goringe, Christopher Michael, Orbach, Julian James, Harrison, Rodney, Coles, Scott David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US10/393,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20040184586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 379202-206
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

Producing a textual transcription of a communication conference call. A participant who is going to be absent from the conference can indicate to a conference bridge key words defining topics of interest, and the conference bridge will identify these topics based on the textual transcript that is being done in real time. When the participant returns to the conference call, they can then search the portion of an audio recording that they missed utilizing index marks defining the topics of interest that are based on the entered key words.

Claims

1. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to identity a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reproducing comprises the step of accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

4. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information and identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of reproducing comprises the step of accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

7. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants;

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

9. A method of providing participation in a conference comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants;

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

11. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information and identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

13. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information and identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

storming the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the key words is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

15. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants;

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

17. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants;

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

19. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of unmuting the telecommunication unit.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

21. A method of providing participation in a conference, comprising the steps of:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the step of alerting comprises the step of transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprises the step of giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

23. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to identity a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

24. The processor-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the reproducing comprises accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

25. The processor-readable medium of claim 24 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

26. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information and identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication of absence from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

receiving an indication of return to conference from the telecommunication unit;

determining a second time when the indication of return to conference was received from the telecommunication unit;

accessing the stored voice information with the first time and determining the portion of the stored voice information between the first and second times; and

reproducing the determined portion to the one of the participants via the telecommunication unit.

27. The processor-readable medium of claim 26 wherein the reproducing comprises accelerating the reproduction of the determined portion.

28. The processor-readable medium of claim 27 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between the first and second times.

29. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit.

30. The processor-readable medium of claim 29 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

31. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

32. The processor-readable medium of claim 31 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

33. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information and identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit.

34. The processor-readable medium of claim 33 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

35. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of a conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information and identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

storing the voice information with periodic time information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

36. The processor-readable medium of claim 35 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

37. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit.

38. The processor-readable medium of claim 37 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

39. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

receiving keywords and an indication for alerting from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords to determine a first time when one or more of the keywords occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

40. The processor-readable medium of claim 39 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

41. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

muting the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises unmuting the telecommunication unit.

42. The processor-readable medium of claim 41 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.

43. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

converting voice information from all participants of the conference into textual information;

combining the textual information with periodic time information to form combined information;

identifying one of the participants who is speaking in the combined information;

receiving keywords, speaker identification, and an indication for alerting from the conference from a telecommunication unit used by one of the participants;

searching the combined information with the keywords and speaker identification to determine when one or more of the keywords is spoken by the identified speaker occur in the combined information;

alerting the one of the participants; and

activating the telecommunication unit in the conference;

reducing volume of the conference on telecommunication unit when the indication of alerting is received; and

the alerting comprises transmitting a tone to the telecommunication unit.

44. The processor-readable medium of claim 43 further comprises giving the one of the participants access to the textual information between a conference start time and a time of the alerting.