Methods and systems for conference call buffering

• US 7,418,090 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telesector Resources Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Reformato, John R., Reding, Craig L., Helbling, Christopher L., Roberts, Brian F., Swingle, Loren C., Majid, Ziauddin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US10/720,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20050053214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/207.01, 379/157, 379/158, 348/14.09
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• 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: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods and systems for conference call buffering are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention record a conference call between a plurality of users. A service center in conjunction with a conference bridge and conference server establishes a conference call between a plurality of users. The service center may also ascertain the identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, where the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users. An audio streaming server provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices. Memory located centrally and/or local to the destination devices stores the audio stream. A user of one of the destination devices may choose to replay a selected portion of the audio stream.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices;

storing the audio stream; and

selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a conference call comprises:

detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

contacting the plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing a conference call further comprises:

receiving at least one response from the plurality of users; and

bridging calls to devices corresponding to the plurality of users based on the at least one received response.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices comprises:

retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

connecting an audio digitizing device onto the conference call;

digitizing analog audio corresponding to the conference call;

converting the digitized audio to the audio stream; and

sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream in a central storage area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein storing the audio stream further comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

replaying, at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the audio stream.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein replaying a selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively deleting comprises:

deleting any stored audio stream data local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

saving any stored audio stream data local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

recording the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

16. A method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

identifying a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to at least one of the identified destination devices; and

storing data contained in the audio stream; and

creating a text transcription of at least a portion of the stored audio stream data,

wherein the audio stream is sent to a first destination device associated with one of the plurality of users invited to the conference call who declines to participate in the conference call.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

sending the audio stream to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the sent audio stream local to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from the corresponding user.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

recording data contained in the audio stream in a central storage area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

downloading the audio stream data to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising replaying a selected portion of the stored audio stream data, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

downloading audio stream data corresponding to the selected portion to at least one of the identified destination devices; and

playing the downloaded audio stream data.

23. A method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for a stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the stream to the plurality of destination devices;

storing the stream;

replaying, at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the stream;

determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

selectively deleting the stored stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call.

24. A method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

providing an audio stream corresponding to the conference call to a plurality of destination devices, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

storing the audio stream; and

selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein establishing a conference call comprises:

detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

contacting the plurality of users.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein providing the audio stream comprises:

converting digitized audio corresponding to the conference call to the audio stream; and

sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

recording the audio stream in a central storage area.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein storing the audio stream further comprises:

recording the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

recording the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

31. A method comprising:

receiving, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

storing the received audio stream;

determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call,

wherein the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

recording the audio stream in a local storage area.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

replaying a selected portion of the audio stream.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein selectively deleting comprises:

deleting any stored audio stream local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

saving any stored audio stream local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

locally recording data contained in the audio stream based on a request from a user.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein storing the audio stream comprises:

downloading audio stream data from a central storage area; and

locally recording the audio stream data.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein replaying the selected portion comprises:

downloading audio stream data corresponding to the selected portion; and

playing the downloaded audio stream data.

41. A system comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices;

means for storing the audio stream;

means for determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

means for selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by the system that a user has exited the conference call.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for establishing a conference call comprises:

means for detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

means for contacting the plurality of users.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the means for establishing a conference call further comprises:

means for receiving at least one response from the plurality of users; and

means for bridging calls to devices corresponding to the plurality of users based on the at least one received response.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices comprises:

means for retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

means for determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for connecting an audio digitizing device onto the conference call;

means for digitizing analog audio corresponding to the conference call;

means for converting the digitized audio to the audio stream; and

means for sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for storing the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream in a central storage area.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the means for storing the audio stream further comprises:

means for recording the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for storing contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

49. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

means for replaying, at least one of the destination devices, a selected portion of the audio stream.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

53. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for selectively deleting comprises:

means for deleting any audio stream data stored local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

means for saving any audio stream data stored local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

55. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for storing the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream upon recognizing a name associated with a user.

56. A system comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for identifying a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for providing the audio stream to at least one of the identified destination devices; and

means for storing data contained in the audio stream; and

means for creating a text transcription of at least a portion of the stored audio stream data,

wherein the audio stream is sent to a first destination device associated with one of the plurality of users invited to the conference call who declines to participate in the conference call.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for sending the audio stream to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording data contained in the audio stream local to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording data contained in the sent audio stream local to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from the corresponding user.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the means for storing data contained in the audio stream comprises:

means for recording data contained in the audio stream in a central storage area.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for downloading the audio stream data to at least one of the identified destination devices based on a request from a corresponding user.

62. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for replaying a selected portion of the stored audio stream data, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for downloading audio stream data corresponding to the selected portion to at least one of the identified destination devices; and

means for playing the downloaded audio stream data.

63. A system comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for a stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for providing the stream to the plurality of destination devices;

means for storing the stream;

means for determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

means for selectively deleting the stored stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by the system that a user has exited the conference call.

64. An apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

means for providing an audio stream corresponding to the conference call to a plurality of destination devices, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

means for storing the audio stream;

means for determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

means for selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by the apparatus that a user has exited the conference call.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for establishing a conference call comprises:

means for detecting a conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user; and

means for contacting the plurality of users.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising:

means for retrieving information pertaining to the plurality of users; and

means for determining the plurality of destination devices based on the retrieved information.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for providing the audio stream comprises:

means for converting digitized audio corresponding to the conference call to the audio stream; and

means for sending the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for storing the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream in a central storage area.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the means for storing the audio stream further comprises:

means for recording the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for storing the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream local to at least one of the plurality of destination devices.

71. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

means for storing the received audio stream;

means for determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

means for selectively deleting the stored audio stream based on a determination by the apparatus that a user has exited the conference call, while the conference call is ongoing,

wherein the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for storing the audio stream comprises:

means for recording the audio stream in a local storage area.

73. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

means for replaying a selected portion of the audio stream.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time.

75. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing the selected portion at a user-selected speed.

76. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for playing a section of the stored audio stream for a user-selected period of time at a user-selected speed.

77. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for selectively deleting comprises:

means for deleting any audio stream data stored local to a user exiting the conference call based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a delete option; and

means for saving any audio stream data stored local to the exiting user based on a determination that the exiting user chooses a save option.

78. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for storing the audio stream comprises:

means for locally recording data contained in the audio stream based on a request from a user.

79. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for storing the audio stream comprises:

means for downloading audio stream from a central storage area; and

means for locally recording the audio stream.

80. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for replaying the selected portion comprises:

means for downloading audio stream corresponding to the selected portion; and

means for playing the downloaded audio stream.

81. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

ascertaining identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

providing the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices;

storing the audio stream;

determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call.

82. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method comprising:

establishing a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user;

providing an audio stream corresponding to the conference call to a plurality of destination devices, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

storing the audio stream;

determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call.

83. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method comprising:

receiving, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

storing the received audio stream;

determining whether a user has exited the conference call; and

selectively deleting the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call,

wherein the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices.

84. A system comprising:

a service center operable to establish a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user, and to ascertain identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

an audio streaming server operable to provide the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

a memory that stores the audio stream,

wherein the stored audio stream is selectively deleted, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by a system that a user has exited the conference call, and at least one of the destination devices is operable to replay a selected portion of the audio stream data, while the conference call is ongoing.

85. An apparatus comprising:

a first server operable to establish a conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user, and to ascertain identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users;

a second server operable to provide the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

a memory that stores the audio stream,

wherein the stored audio stream is selectively deleted, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by the apparatus that a user has exited the conference call.

86. An apparatus comprising:

a memory having a program that;

receives, from a service center, an audio stream corresponding to a conference call between a plurality of users including an initiating user;

stores the received audio stream;

replays a selected portion of the audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing; and

selectively deletes the stored audio stream, while the conference call is ongoing, based on a determination by the apparatus that a user has exited the conference call, wherein the service center establishes the conference call between the plurality of users, ascertains identities of a plurality of destination devices for the audio stream corresponding to the conference call, and provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices; and

a processor that runs the program.