System, methods, and computer-readable media for expedited access to conference calls

• US 7,474,634 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Technology Group LLC (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Webster, Craig A., Sojka, Myron P., McIntosh, Jonathan P., DeLong, Melissa A., Mateer, Michael T., Pauba, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam; Phirin
• Application Number:
  US10/812,854
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• 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 3/561 by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for admitting conferees into a conference call. Methods to achieve the foregoing can comprise: receiving a request from the conferee for access to the conference call; obtaining data representing a unique identifier associated with the conferee; matching the data representing the unique identifier with data representing an identifier that was previously associated with the conferee; and connecting the conferee directly to the given conference call.

Claims

1. A method of admitting at least one given conference call host into a given conference call, the method comprising at least the following:

receiving at least one request from the given conference call host for access to the given conference call;

obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier associated with the given conference call host;

matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier with data representing at least one further identifier associated previously with the given conference call host; and

connecting the given conference call host directly to the given conference call which includes bypassing entry of at least one conference pass code by the given conference call host.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request includes receiving at least one communication from the given conference call host.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at lest one request includes receiving data indicating that the given conference call host is requesting access to the given conference call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request includes receiving at least one telephone call from the given conference call host.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request includes receiving at least one telephone call from the given conference call host, wherein the telephone call is dialed to at least one pre-defined number provided to the given conference call host.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request includes receiving at least one telephone call from the given conference call host, wherein the telephone call is dialed to one of a plurality of pre-defined numbers provided to the given conference call host.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request includes receiving at least one telephone call from the given conference call host, wherein the telephone call is dialed to a given pre-defined number associated with providing conferencing services.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one request includes analyzing a DNIS parameter associated with at least one telephone call from the given conference call host.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving data representing a unique identifier associated with a device from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving data representing a unique identifier associated with a wired handset from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving data representing a unique identifier associated with a wireless handset from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data include obtaining data representing unique access information assigned to the given conference call host.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data includes obtaining data representing a telephone number dialed by the given conference call host.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving data representing a telephone number associated with a handset from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving data representing a unique identifier associated with a handset from which the given conference call host originates at least one telephone call.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving at least one signal from an automatic number identification (ANI) system that indicates a telephone number associated with a device from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving at least one signal representing a mobile identification number (MIN) that is associated with a device from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving at least one signal representing an IP address associated with a network device from which the given conference call host originates a communication.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving at least one signal representing an address associated with a packet-based network device from which the given conference call host originates a communication.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving at least one signal representing an IP address from which the given conference call host originates a communication.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier with data representing one of a plurality of further identifiers previously associated with the given conference call host.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching a signal obtained from an automatic number identification system, which signal indicates a telephone number associated with a device from which the given conference call host originates a communication, with the further identifier.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching data representing at least one IP address associated with at least one network device from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching data representing at least one address associated with at least one packet-based network device from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching data representing at lest one IP address, associated with at least one network device from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication, with data representing at least one further IP address previously associated with the given conference call host.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching data representing at least one IP address, associated with at least one network device from which the given conference call host originates at least one communication, with data representing one of a plurality of further IP addresses previously associated with the given conference call host.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching data representing a unique identifier associated with at least one wired telephone previously associated with the given conference call host.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching data representing a unique identifier associated with at least one wireless telephone previously associated with the given conference call host.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the given conference call host directly to the given conference call includes connecting the given conference call host directly to an existing conference call.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the given conference call host directly to the given conference call includes creating a new conference call in response to at least one communication from the given conference host and connecting the given conference call host to the new conference call.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the given conference call host directly to the given conference call includes connecting the given conference call host to the conference call without any input from the given conference call host aside from dialing a telephone number to access conferencing services.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the given conference call host directly to the given conference call includes connecting the given conference call host to the conference call without entry of any data by the given conference call host, other than dialing a telephone number to access conferencing services.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the given conference call host directly to the given conference call includes connecting the given conference call host to the conference call without entry of any further data by the given conference call host, other than initiating a communication to access conferencing services.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes receiving data associated with a device used by the conference call host to request access to the given conference call.

35. A method of admitting at least one given conferee into a given conference call, the method comprising at least the following:

receiving at least one request from the given conferee for access to the given conference call;

obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier associated with the given conferee;

matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier with data representing at least one further identifier associated previously with the given conferee; and

connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call which includes bypassing entry of at least one conference pass code by the given conferee.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein receiving at least one request from the given conferee includes receiving a request from a host associated with the given conference call.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein receiving at least one request from the given conferee includes receiving a request from a participant associated with the given conference call.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein receiving at least one request from the given conferee includes receiving a request from a participant who is associated with a given conference call host.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call includes connecting a given participant directly to the given conference call.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call includes connecting a given participant who is associated with a given conference call host directly to the given conference call.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call includes connecting the conferee directly to a conference call conducted between at least two persons.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call includes connecting the conferee directly to a conference call conducted between at least two persons who are coupled to communicate with one another via at least a bridge.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call includes connecting the conferee directly to a conference call conducted between at least two persons who are coupled to communicate with one another via at least a mixer.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call includes connecting the conferee directly to a conference call conducted between at least two persons who are coupled to communicate with one another via at least a voice response unit.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes obtaining data representing at least one voice print of the conferee.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes obtaining data representing at least one voice print of the conferee obtained when the conferee requests admission to the conference call.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing the data representing the at least one voice print to at least one speech recognition engine for processing.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes comparing output from the speech recognition engine with data representing at least one further identifier associated previously with the given conferee.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier includes matching data representing at least one reference voice print of the conferee with the voice print of the conferee that is obtained when the conferee requests admission to the conference call.

50. The method of claim 35, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes obtaining data representing at least one of an e-mail address, a Universal Resource Locator, a browser cookie, an IP address, and an SIP address.

51. The method of claim 35, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes obtaining data representing at least one biometric parameter associated with the conferee.

52. The method of claim 35, wherein obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier includes obtaining data representing at least one biometric parameter associated with the conferee obtained when the conferee requests admission to the conference call.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier include matching data representing at least one reference biometric parameter related to the conferee with the biometric parameter of the conferee that is obtained when the conferee requests admission to the conference call.

54. A method of admitting at least one given conference call host into a given conference call, the method comprising at least the following:

receiving at least one request from the given conference call host for access to the given conference call;

obtaining data representing at least one originating telephone number and at least one destination telephone number associated with the request;

matching data representing at least one further identifier with the data representing at least one of the originating telephone number and the destination telephone number; and

connecting the given conference call host directly to the given conference call which includes bypassing entry of at least one conference pass code by the given conference call host.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein matching data includes matching data representing at least one further identifier in the form of a destination telephone number dedicated to conferencing services with the data representing the destination telephone number.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein matching data includes matching data representing at least one further identifier in the form of an originating telephone number associated with the given conference call host with the data representing the originating telephone number.

57. At least one program storage device readable by at least one processor, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform a method for admitting at least one given conferee into a given conference call, the method comprising at least the following:

receiving at least one request from the given conferee for access to the given conference call;

obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier associated with the given conferee;

matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier with data representing at least one further identifier associated previously with the given conferee; and

connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call which includes bypassing entry of at least one conference pass code by the given conferee.

58. Apparatus for admitting at least one given conferee into a given conference call, the apparatus comprising at least the following:

means for receiving at least one request from the given conferee for access to the given conference call;

means for obtaining data representing at least one unique identifier associated with the given conferee;

means for matching the data representing the at least one unique identifier with data representing at least one further identifier previously associated with the given conferee; and

means for connecting the given conferee directly to the given conference call which includes bypassing entry of at least one conference pass code by the given conferee.