Premise-based voice bridge extension
First Claim
1. A method for completing a conference call in a telephony system, wherein said telephony system includes a premise-based network having a local controller coupled to local endpoints, a local proxy, and a local conference bridge, and wherein said telephony system includes a public telephone network coupled to said premise-based network, said conference call including a plurality of participants from said premise-based network and at least one participant from said public telephone network, said method comprising the steps of:
- initiating a request call that is completed within said premise-based network to said proxy for setting up said conference call;
routing said request call to said conference bridge;
providing a plurality of said local endpoints for participation in said conference call to said proxy via said request call;
said local controller contacting said plurality of local endpoints and routing successful connections to said conference bridge; and
bridging said request call and said successful connections at said conference bridge, wherein said bridging includes a connection to said at least one participant from said public telephone network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telephony system for completing conference calls includes a premise-based network having a local controller coupled to local endpoints, a proxy, and a conference bridge. The telephony system includes a public telephone network coupled to the premise-based network. A request call is initiated to the proxy for setting up the conference call. The request call is routed to the conference bridge. A plurality of local endpoints for participation in the conference call is provided to the proxy via the request call. The local controller contacts the plurality of local endpoints and routes successful connections to the conference bridge. The request call and the successful connections are then bridged at the conference bridge.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for completing a conference call in a telephony system, wherein said telephony system includes a premise-based network having a local controller coupled to local endpoints, a local proxy, and a local conference bridge, and wherein said telephony system includes a public telephone network coupled to said premise-based network, said conference call including a plurality of participants from said premise-based network and at least one participant from said public telephone network, said method comprising the steps of:
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initiating a request call that is completed within said premise-based network to said proxy for setting up said conference call; routing said request call to said conference bridge; providing a plurality of said local endpoints for participation in said conference call to said proxy via said request call; said local controller contacting said plurality of local endpoints and routing successful connections to said conference bridge; and bridging said request call and said successful connections at said conference bridge, wherein said bridging includes a connection to said at least one participant from said public telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Telephony apparatus comprising:
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a premise-based network including a local endpoints having associated local connection addresses and a local controller for interfacing said local endpoints with a public telephone network, wherein said premise-based network is coupled via a gateway to a public telephone network; an analog conference bridge having a plurality of ports; and an intelligent voice response (IVR) unit coupled to said analog conference bridge; wherein said local controller responds to a request call for setting up a conference call by coupling said request call to said analog conference bridge, wherein said IVR unit identifies selected ones of said local endpoints for inclusion in said conference call, wherein said local controller couples a plurality of said selected ones of said local endpoints to respective ports of said analog conference bridge and wherein at least one participant to said conference call is connected from said public telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification