Automated conference recording for missing conference participants

• US 7,590,230 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Surazski, Luke K.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US10/444,793
• Time in Patent Office: 2,308 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/205.01, 379/207.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 379/158, 379/203.01, 379/204.01
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/561 by multiplexing

Abstract

A conferencing system provides automated recording of conference media using a recording module. The recording module connects with conferences and records these conferences automatically. In certain circumstances, such as when all key invitees have joined a conference, the recording module stops recording and deletes recorded media for the conference.

Claims

1. A method for automated recording of conference media comprising:

determining key invitees for a scheduled conference;

connecting to the scheduled conference;

initiating recording of conference media from the scheduled conference into a conference media file;

monitoring participants in the scheduled conference;

determining whether all of the key invitees have joined as participants in the scheduled conference; and

if all of the key invitees have joined the scheduled conference, stopping the recording of the conference media and deleting the conference media file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting completion of the scheduled conference;

determining missing ones of the key invitees that did not join the scheduled conference; and

notifying the missing invitees of the availability of the conference media file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of notifying comprises communicating an electronic mail message to each of the missing invitees.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the electronic mail messages comprises a copy of the conference media file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled conference comprises a media communication session operable to interconnect media stream communications between at least three connecting participants.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether all of the key invitees have joined as participants in the scheduled conference after a predetermined period of time following a scheduled time for the schedule conference; and

if all of the key invitees have not joined the scheduled conference by the end of the predetermined period of time, saving the conference media file for later access by any missing participants.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the scheduled conference, presenting a graphical user interface that includes fields for specifying a scheduled time and addresses for the key invitees.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the scheduled conference, determining all scheduled invitees for the scheduled conference and communicating a notice to each of the scheduled invitees, with each of the notices specifying parameters for the scheduled conference.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the notices includes a contact address for the scheduled conference and a pass code, wherein the pass code from a notice distinguishes whether a scheduled invitee is one of the key invitees.

10. An automated conference media recording module comprising:

a memory operable to maintain conference information, the conference information identifying a scheduled conference and key invitees for the scheduled conference;

an interface operable to connect to the scheduled conference;

a controller operable to initiate recording of conference media from the scheduled conference into a conference media file, to monitor participants in the scheduled conference, to determine whether all of the key invitees have joined as participants in the scheduled conference, and, if all of the key invitees have joined the scheduled conference, to stop the recording of the conference media and delete the conference media file.

11. The recording module of claim 10, wherein the controller is further operable to:

detect completion of the scheduled conference;

determine missing ones of the key invitees that did not join the scheduled conference; and

notify the missing invitees of the availability of the conference media file.

12. The recording module of claim 11, wherein the controller is further operable to notify by communicating an electronic mail message to each of the missing invitees.

13. The recording module of claim 12, wherein each of the electronic mail messages comprises a copy of the conference media file.

14. The recording module of claim 10, wherein the scheduled conference comprises a media communication session operable to interconnect media stream communications between at least three connecting participants.

15. The recording module of claim 10, wherein the controller is further operable to:

determine whether all of the key invitees have joined as participants in the scheduled conference after a predetermined period of time following a scheduled time for the schedule conference; and

if all of the key invitees have not joined the scheduled conference by the end of the predetermined period of time, save the conference media file for later access by any missing participants.

16. The recording module of claim 10, wherein the controller is further operable, prior to the scheduled conference, to present a graphical user interface that includes fields for specifying a scheduled time and addresses for the key invitees.

17. The recording module of claim 10, wherein the controller is further operable, prior to the scheduled conference, to identify all scheduled invitees for the scheduled conference and to communicate a notice to each of the scheduled invitees, with each of the notices specifying parameters for the scheduled conference.

18. The recording module of claim 17, wherein each of the notices includes a contact address for the scheduled conference and a pass code, wherein the pass code from a notice distinguishes whether a scheduled invitee is one of the key invitees.

19. Logic for automated recording of conference media, the logic encoded in media and operable when executed to perform the steps of:

determining key invitees for a scheduled conference;

connecting to the scheduled conference;

initiating recording of conference media from the scheduled conference into a conference media file;

monitoring participants in the scheduled conference;

determining whether all of the key invitees have joined as participants in the scheduled conference; and

if all of the key invitees have joined the scheduled conference, stopping the recording of the conference media and deleting the conference media file.

20. The logic of claim 19, further operable to perform the steps of:

detecting completion of the scheduled conference;

determining missing ones of the key invitees that did not join the scheduled conference; and

notifying the missing invitees of the availability of the conference media file.

21. The logic of claim 20, wherein the step of notifying comprises communicating an electronic mail message to each of the missing invitees.

22. The logic of claim 21, wherein each of the electronic mail messages comprises a copy of the conference media file.

23. The logic of claim 19, wherein the scheduled conference comprises a media communication session operable to interconnect media stream communications between at least three connecting participants.

24. The logic of claim 19, further operable to perform the steps of:

determining whether all of the key invitees have joined as participants in the scheduled conference after a predetermined period of time following a scheduled time for the schedule conference; and

if all of the key invitees have not joined the scheduled conference by the end of the predetermined period of time, saving the conference media file for later access by any missing participants.

25. The logic of claim 19, further operable, prior to the scheduled conference, to present a graphical user interface that includes fields for specifying a scheduled time and addresses for the key invitees.

26. The logic of claim 19, further operable, prior to the scheduled conference, to determine all scheduled invitees for the scheduled conference and to communicate a notice to each of the scheduled invitees, with each of the notices specifying parameters for the scheduled conference.

27. The logic of claim 26, wherein each of the notices includes a contact address for the scheduled conference and a pass code, wherein the pass code from a notice distinguishes whether a scheduled invitee is one of the key invitees.

28. An automated conference media recording module comprising:

means for determining key invitees for a scheduled conference;

means for connecting to the scheduled conference;

means for initiating recording of conference media from the scheduled conference into a conference media file;

means for monitoring participants in the scheduled conference;

means for determining whether all of the key invitees have joined as participants in the scheduled conference; and

means for, if all of the key invitees have joined the scheduled conference, stopping the recording of the conference media and deleting the conference media file.

29. A method for automated recording of conference media comprising:

determining key invitees for a scheduled conference;

connecting to the scheduled conference;

initiating recording of conference media from the scheduled conference into a conference media file;

monitoring participants in the scheduled conference;

determining that all of the key invitees have not joined as participants in the scheduled conference after a predetermined period of time following a scheduled time for the schedule conference;

detecting completion of the scheduled conference;

determining missing ones of the key invitees that did not join the scheduled conference; and

communicating an electronic mail message to each of the missing invitees, wherein each of the electronic mail messages comprises a copy of the conference media file.