System and method for connecting to an audio conference service using a mobile communications device

• US 8,112,071 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Joglekar, Manohar A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addy, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/964,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20110081896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455415-417, 455/466, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 455/567, 37920201-20601, 379/207.11, 709/204, 709/205, 370259-266, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/14.1
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• 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

Abstract

A mobile communications device for connecting to a conference call hosted by an audio conference service. After receiving a meeting invitation and storing information relating thereto, the mobile communications device dials a first sequence contained in a first link to connect to the audio conference service and, subsequent to dialing the first sequence, dials a second sequence contained in a second link associated with the first link to connect to the conference call.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communications device for connecting to a conference call having a telephone number and an access code, and hosted by an audio conference service, the method comprising:

displaying an application page comprising text having a telephone number link for the conference call and an access code link for the conference call;

dialing, in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the telephone number link, a first sequence comprising the telephone number for the conference call;

subsequent to dialing the first sequence, receiving input from the user to return to the displayed application page for selection of the access code link; and

in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the access code link, dialing a second sequence comprising the access code for the conference call.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the telephone number link and the access code link are included in the application page received at the communications device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, prior to dialing the first sequence, detecting selection by a user of the telephone number link.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising, prior to dialing the second sequence, detecting selection by a user of the access code link.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, subsequent to dialing the first sequence and prior to dialing the second sequence, prompting the user to initiate dialing of the second sequence.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the dialing the second sequence is performed responsive to the user responding to the prompting in an affirmative manner.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the dialing the second sequence is performed in response to expiration of a predetermined period of time without the user responding to the prompting.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the application page is selected from a calendar application page, an email message page and a text message page.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving a prompt from the audio conference service to enter an access code prior to dialing the second sequence.

10. A mobile communications device for connecting to a conference call having a telephone number and an access code, and hosted by an audio conference service, the mobile communications device comprising:

a component configured to receive a meeting invitation from an application that can comprise any of a calendar application, a text message application and a memo pad application, the meeting invitation having text containing a telephone number link and an access code link for the conference call;

a component configured to display the telephone number link;

a component configured to dial, in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the telephone number link, a first sequence comprising the telephone number for the conference call;

a component configured to display the access number link in response to dialing the first sequence; and

a component configured to dial, in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the access code link, a second sequence comprising the access code for the conference call.

11. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 10 wherein the telephone number link and the access code link are included in an application page presented on a display.

12. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a component configured to detect selection by the user of the telephone number link prior to the dialing of the first sequence.

13. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a component configured to detect selection by the user of the access number link prior to the dialing of the second sequence.

14. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a component configured to prompt the user to initiate dialing of the second sequence subsequent to the dialing of the first sequence and prior to the dialing of the second sequence.

15. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 wherein the component configured to dial the second sequence is responsive to the user responding to the prompting in an affirmative manner.

16. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 14 wherein the component configured to dial the second sequence is responsive to expiration of a predetermined period of time without the user responding to the prompting.

17. The mobile communications device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a component configured to receive a prompt from the audio conference service to enter the access code prior to dialing the second sequence.