System and method for click-to-join audio conferencing

• US 8,085,692 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Voice Solutions LLC, Terry Vaught
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Voice Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Vaught, Terry, Dugal, Wayne, Rowe, Mark, Johnson, Brian, Angle, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): CHO, HONG SOL
• Application Number:
  US11/762,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 370260-271
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• 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 3/56 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service

Abstract

Systems and methods for audio conferencing are described. At least one embodiment includes an audio-conferencing system comprising a web server configured to allow a host to select one or more individuals to receive invitations to participate in a conference call, the web server further configured to receive parameters associated with the conference call; an e-mail module configured to send e-mails to the one or more selected individuals, the e-mails configured to present an invitation to the one or more selected individuals to participate in the conference call, and wherein the e-mails include a link allowing the one or more individuals to click the link to accept the invitations to become participants; and a conference call server configured to receive a host identification from the host, the conference call server configured to receive a command from the web server to place calls to the one or more participants to initiate a conference call between the host and the participants.

Claims

1. An audio conferencing system comprising:

a web server configured to allow a host to select one or more individuals to receive invitations to participate in a conference call, the web server further configured to receive parameters associated with the conference call;

an e-mail module configured to send e-mails to the one or more selected individuals, the e-mails configured to present an invitation to the one or more selected individuals to participate in the conference call, and wherein the e-mails include a link allowing the one or more individuals to click the link to accept the invitations to become participants; and

a conference call server configured to receive a host identification from the host, the conference call server configured to receive a command from the web server to place calls to the one or more participants to initiate a conference call between the host and the participants based on the host identification.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameters associated with the conference call comprises at least one of:

a conference call topic, start time of the conference call, duration of the conference call, and a security code to be used by the participants to join the conference call.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the web server receives encoded information corresponding to each of the individuals that click on the link, the web server further configured to validate the encoded information.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the conference call server places a call to an individual only if the data corresponding to the individual is validated.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conference call server is further configured to prompt the participants for a security code after calling the participants, wherein the participants are allowed to join in the conference call only if the security code matches a predetermined code.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the security code is included in the invitation presented to the selected individuals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the link is active during the conference call such that after the conference call ends the link is no longer available for individuals to click on the link to accept the invitations.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the link is active only if the host is available such that if the host ceases to participate in the conference call, the link is no longer available for individuals to click on the link to accept the invitations.

9. The system of claim 1, the conference call server further configured to initiate the conference call only after receiving a call from the host.

10. An audio conferencing system comprising:

means for selecting one or more individuals to receive invitations from a host to participate in a conference call;

means for entering parameters associated with the conference call;

means for sending e-mails to the one or more selected individuals, the e-mails configured to present invitations to the selected individuals to participate in the conference call, the e-mails including a link presented to the individuals;

means for accepting the invitations such that the one or more individuals become participants, the one or more individuals accepting the invitations by clicking on the link; and

means for placing calls to the participants to initiate the conference call between the host and the participants based on a host identification.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the parameters associated with the conference call comprises at least one of:

a conference call topic, start time of the conference call, duration of the conference call, and a security code to be used by the participants to join the conference call.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the link is active during the conference call such that after the conference call ends the link is no longer available for individuals to click on the link to accept the invitations.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the link is active only if the host is available such that if the host ceases to participate in the conference call, the link is no longer available for individuals to click on the link to accept the invitations.

14. A method for audio-conferencing comprising:

selecting one or more individuals to receive invitations from a host to participate in a conference call;

sending e-mails to the one or more selected individuals, the e-mails configured to present invitations to the selected individuals to participate in the conference call, the e-mails including a link presented to the individuals;

receiving responses from the one or more individuals, the one or more individuals accepting the invitations by clicking on the link; and

placing calls to the participants to conduct the conference call between the host and the participants based on a host identification.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

entering parameters associated with the conference call.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the parameters associated with the conference call comprises at least one of:

a conference call topic, start time of the conference call, duration of the conference call, and a security code to be used by the participants to join the conference call.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving encoded information corresponding to each of the individuals that click on the link; and

validating the encoded information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of placing calls to the participants further comprises:

calling an individual only if the data corresponding to the individual is validated.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the conference call between the host and the participants further comprises:

prompting each of the participants for a security code after calling the participants, wherein the participants are allowed to join in the conference call only if the security code matches a predetermined code.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the security code is included in the invitation presented to the selected individuals.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the link is active during the conference call such that after the conference call ends the link is no longer available for individuals to click on the link to accept the invitations.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the link is active only if the host is available such that if the host ceases to participate in the conference call, the link is no longer available for individuals to click on the link to accept the invitations.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein placing calls to the participants to initiate the conference call occurs only after receiving a call from the host.

24. A method for audio-conferencing comprising:

receiving one or more e-mails, the e-mails configured to present invitations to one or more individuals to participate in a conference call, the e-mails including a link presented to the one or more individuals;

clicking on the links to accept the invitations such that the one or more individuals become participants; and

receiving calls by the one or more participants to participate in the conference call with a host, wherein the calls to the one or more participants are initiated by the conference call server based on identification of a host.