Automated call launching
First Claim
1. A method for automated call launching from a first Multipoint Conference Unit (MCU) having a first middleware program, among networked MCUs, each MCU having a middleware program, the method comprising:
- the first middleware program receiving a place call request from a user, the place call request including a number of designated participants;
the first middleware program contacting middleware programs on networked MCUs and locating an available MCU having an available virtual conference room with a number of ports at least as great as the number of designated participants;
the first middleware program receiving an availability response from the available MCU;
initiating a call launch by the available MCU, wherein the available MCU calls each of the number of designated participants with an invitation to join a call; and
wherein initiating a call launch comprises remotely logging into the available MCU and operating the available MCU as a slave.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for automated call launching in a call conferencing network. The system includes computer executable code for sharing information among a plurality of multipoint conference units, so that a remote user may, from a web site for example, initiate a conference call from one of the multipoint conference units. Using distributed code, a user'"'"'s call request initiates a search of the network for a multipoint conference unit with adequate capacity and suitable capabilities for a requested call. Once a multipoint conference unit is selected, the multipoint conference unit calls out to selected participants who may accept or decline the call. This call setup is transparent to the user, who receives an acknowledgment once the conference call has been initiated.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for automated call launching from a first Multipoint Conference Unit (MCU) having a first middleware program, among networked MCUs, each MCU having a middleware program, the method comprising:
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the first middleware program receiving a place call request from a user, the place call request including a number of designated participants; the first middleware program contacting middleware programs on networked MCUs and locating an available MCU having an available virtual conference room with a number of ports at least as great as the number of designated participants; the first middleware program receiving an availability response from the available MCU; initiating a call launch by the available MCU, wherein the available MCU calls each of the number of designated participants with an invitation to join a call; and wherein initiating a call launch comprises remotely logging into the available MCU and operating the available MCU as a slave. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product stored on computer readable media for automated conference call launching from a Multipoint Conference Unit (MCU) among networked MCUs, wherein the computer program product is running on each of the MCUs, the computer program product comprising:
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code executing on the MCU;
the code receiving a place call request from a user, the place call request including a number of designated participants;code executing on the MCU, the code contacting computer program products on MCUs and locating among a plurality of MCUs an available MCU having an available virtual conference room with a number of ports at least as great as the number of designated participants; code executing on the MCU, the code receiving an availability response from the available MCU; and code executing on the MCU, the code initiating a call launch by the available MCU, wherein the available MCU calls each of the number of designated participants with an invitation to join a call, wherein the code initiating a call launch comprises computer executable code remotely logging into the available MCU and operating the available MCU as a slave. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A distributed call management system comprising:
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a plurality of Multipoint Conference Units (MCUs) connected by a network, each one of the plurality of MCUs having capability characteristics and availability characteristics; wherein each MCU having a middleware program executing on each of the MCUs exposing capability characteristics and availability characteristics to each other one of the plurality of MCUs; wherein the MCU having a user interface, receiving a call request from a user and submitting the call request to the middleware program, the call request including a request for user-defined capability characteristics and user-defined availability characteristics, the middleware program responding to the call request by locating an available MCU having capabilities and availabilities consistent with the call request; wherein the available MCU initiates a call launch for remotely logging into the available MCU and operating the available MCU and operating the available MCU as a slave. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification