Establishing a conference call from a call-log

• US 7,363,030 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommWorks Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Phase Systems LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chang, E-Lee, Nguyen, Hong Thi, Roberts, Linda Ann, Carter, Sharon E., Moore, Darryl Cynthia
• Primary Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US10/852,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 455/416, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• 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 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects

Abstract

A method for automatically establishing a conference call. The method includes viewing numbers associated with a call log feature of a communication device, selecting desired invitees from the call log using a select key, and conferencing desired invitees together by activating a key. Conference call set-up and connect information may be provisioned in a variety of ways, including via a menu-based dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) mechanism and via a form or formatted file sent from a subscriber. The present method queries a profile database and will connect invitees to a conference based on the directory number associated with the call-log. A method for aiding a subscriber in establishing an automatic conference call that is easy to use and does not require invitee action to connect to a conference bridge.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system for automatically establishing a conference call, comprising:

a service node operative to

receive an indication of at least one conference call participant selected from a call-log associated with a communication device;

capture a directory number associated with the at least one conference call participant and create a conference record;

maintain conference containers indicative of how the conference record will be processed, wherein there are at least two said conference containers to contain, respectively, conference records for conferences to be established immediately and conference records for conferences to be established at a later time;

a data store operative to

receive conference logistics;

a profile database operative to

receive participant profile data; and

the service node further operative to

allocate a conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant in accordance with the received conference logistics; and

connect a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant to establish the conference call.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conference logistics comprise a start date, a connect time, and a conference participant address.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the connect time comprises an immediate connect time.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the service node allocates a bridge port in accordance with the conference participant address.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the participant profile comprises a participant identifier and a current address.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the current address comprises at least one of a telephone number, a text name, and an internet protocol address.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the service node is further operative to update the conference participant address with the current address.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the conference participant address and the current address each comprise at least one of a telephone number and an internet protocol address.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device receives caller identification information which is stored in the call-log.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the participant profile data comprises at least two of:

a current address, a home address, an office address, and a wireless address.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the service node connects a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port in accordance with a start date and a connect time reflected in the conference logistics.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the data store receives conference logistics by receiving subscriber input to a dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) menu.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the data store receives conference logistics by receiving a formatted file comprising labeled conference provsioning information.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the data store receives conference logistics by receiving subscriber input to a form displayed on the communication device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the directory numbers displayed on the call-log are input into the profile database using a caller identification (ID) feature.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the directory numbers from the call-log comprise incoming calls received by the communication device and outgoing calls placed by the communication device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the conference containers indicate whether the conference record should be allocated the conference bridge port and connected immediately, whether the conference record should be allocated the conference bridge port only, or whether the conference record should be connected only.

18. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method for automatically establishing a conference call, wherein the method comprises:

receiving an indication of at least one conference call participant selected from a call-log associated with a communication device;

contacting a provisioning module;

capturing a directory number associated with the at least one conference call participant and creating a conference record;

receiving conference logistics;

receiving participant profile data;

maintaining conference containers indicative of how the conference record will be processed, wherein there are at least two said conference containers to contain, respectively, conference records for conferences to be established immediately and conference records for conferences to be established at a later time;

allocating a conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant in accordance with the received conference logistics; and

connecting a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant to establish the conference call.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the conference logistics comprise a start date, a connect time, and a conference participant address.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the connect time comprises an immediate connect time.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein allocating a bridge port is performed in accordance with the conference participant address.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the participant profile comprises a participant identifier and a current address.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the current address comprises at least one of a telephone number, a text name, and an internet protocol address.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises updating the conference participant address with the current address.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the conference participant address and the current address each comprise at least one of a telephone number and an internet protocol address.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the communication device receives caller identification information which is stored in the call-log.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the participant profile data comprises at least two of:

a current address, a home address, an office address, and a wireless address.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein connecting a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port takes place in accordance with a start date and a connect time reflected in the conference logistics.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein receiving conference logistics comprises receiving subscriber input to a dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) menu.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein receiving conference logistics comprises receiving a formatted file comprising labeled conference provisioning information.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein receiving conference logistics comprises receiving subscriber input to a form displayed on the communication device.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the directory numbers display on the call-log are input into the profile database using a caller identification (ID) feature.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the directory numbers from the call-log comprise incoming calls received by the communication device and outgoing calls placed by the communication device.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the conference containers indicate whether the conference record should be allocated the conference bridge port and connected immediately, whether the conference record should be allocated the conference bridge port only, or whether the conference record should be connected only.