Systems and methods for providing conference communication

• US 7,330,540 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Darby, Matthew T., Hepworth, Isaac J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr.; William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/444,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20040234058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/203.01, 379/204.01, 379/205.01, 379/206.01, 379/207.01, 379/93.21, 379/158
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5027 Dropping a party from a conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• 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: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

Systems and method for providing conference communications. Various of the methods include receiving a communication request that includes an access identification. The access identification is used to identify two or more connections. Communication is initiated between communication devices associated with the two or more connections and the communication device that initiated the communication request. Various systems are also disclosed that implement the aforementioned method, as well as other methods.

Claims

1. A system for providing a shared voice communication link between three or more users, the system comprising:

an application server communicably coupled to a packet based network, and accessible via a public switch telephone network; and

a computer readable medium accessible to the application server, wherein the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the application server to cause the application server to;

receive an access request including a single access, reusable identification;

identify a first connection associated with the single access, reusable identification;

identify a second connection associated with the single access, reusable identification;

initiate a ring indicator on a first telephone associated with the first connection;

initiate a ring indicator on a second telephone associated with the second connection;

receive a first audio signal via the first telephone;

receive a second audio signal via the second telephone;

receive a third audio signal via a telephone initiating the access reuest;

mix the first, second, and third audio signals to create a mixed audio signal;

provide the mixed audio signal to the first telephone;

provide the mixed audio signal to the second telephone; and

provide the mixed audio signal to the telephone initiating the access request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the single access identification is a conference telephone number.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the single access identification is derived from a conference telephone number and an incoming identification.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the incoming identification is a telephone number associated with a telephone initiating the access request.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the incoming identification is a unique identification code associated with a telephone initiating the access request.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the application server to:

receive an identification of the first connection associated with the first telephone;

receive an identification of the second connection associated with the second telephone;

group the first and second connections in a semi-static group; and

associate the semi-static group with the telephone number.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions further cause the application server to:

provide a graphical user interface for implementing the semi-static group.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface is accessible via the first telephone.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface is accessible to a computer communicably coupled to the Internet.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions further cause the application server to:

receive an identification of a third connection associated with a third telephone; and

group the third connection with the semi-static group.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the semi-static group is selected from a group consisting of:

family members, workgroup members, and friends.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first connection and the second connection are fixed fee connections.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the fixed fee connections are selected from a group consisting of:

a voice over IP connection, and a local telephone service connection.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first connection is selected from a group consisting of a per time connection, and a per access connection.