Teleconference subscription control for agenda subscription tools

• US 8,194,840 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anglin, Debbie A., Anglin, Howard H., Kline, Nyralin N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAY, SONIA L
• Application Number:
  US12/131,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 379/202.01, 705/7.14, 705/7.16, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2088 Call or conference reconnect, e.g. resulting from isdn terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5027 Dropping a party from a conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• 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 method, system, and computer program product for autonomously controlling caller access to a teleconference based on specified preferences of a moderator. Using preferences established by the moderator of a teleconference, a conference control system may grant or restrict access of participants of the teleconference. The conference control system may authorize callers of a teleconference based on the current agenda item being discussed or the amount of time a caller has been on the ongoing teleconference. When a specific caller is not authorized to be on a conversation, the conference control system may mute the conversation for a specific caller, or disconnect the caller. The conference control system may autonomously re-connect the caller when an authorized agenda item for the caller is being discussed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access by participants of a teleconference to a conference control system, the method comprising:

receiving a first time at which a teleconference is scheduled to take place;

receiving a plurality of agenda items of the teleconference;

receiving a list of participant telecommunication devices participating in the teleconference;

receiving a selection of a first agenda item of the plurality of agenda items for a participant of the teleconference indicating that first participant telecommunication device of the teleconference is authorized to listen to the teleconference and not contribute while the first agenda item is being discussed;

determining a maximum time limit for the first agenda item;

creating a conference pass code for the participant telecommunication device, wherein the conference pass code indicates that the participant is authorized to listen to the teleconference and not contribute while the first agenda item is being discussed;

transmitting the conference pass code to the participant telecommunication device;

receiving, from the participant, a connection request comprising the conference pass code;

in response to receiving the connection request from the participant telecommunication device;

determining a current agenda item being discussed;

if the current agenda item being discussed is not the first agenda item, preventing communication exchange with the teleconference for the participant telecommunication device; and

if the current agenda item being discussed is the first agenda item, connecting the participant telecommunication device to the teleconference and restrict contribution from the participating device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a third agenda item;

determining that a second agenda item is being discussed;

in response to determining that the second agenda item is being discussed, terminating the connection to the teleconference of the participant telecommunication device; and

in response to later determining that the third agenda item is being discussed, establishing the connection with the teleconference to the participant telecommunication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request of a moderator telecommunication device, wherein the request authorizes a selection of participant telecommunication devices that are permitted to exchange communication to the teleconference; and

in response to receiving the request, muting participant telecommunication device that are not of the selected participant telecommunication devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the teleconference terminating prior to each agenda item of the plurality of agenda items being discussed, selecting a next time for a follow-up teleconference;

creating a follow-up pass code for each authorized participant of the plurality of participants authorized to speak on one or more of the remaining agenda items; and

transmitting the follow-up pass code to each of the authorized participants.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the maximum time limit for the current agenda item being discussed has expired, preventing communication exchange with the teleconference for the participant telecommunication device.

6. A conference control system comprising:

a transceiver;

a processor;

processing logic that when executed by a processor causes the processor to;

receive a first time at which a teleconference is scheduled to take place;

receive a plurality of agenda items of the teleconference;

receive a list of participant telecommunication devices participating in the teleconference;

receive a selection of a first agenda item of the plurality of agenda items for a participant of the teleconference indicating that a participant telecommunication device of the teleconference is authorized to listen to the teleconference and not contribute while the first agenda item is being discussed;

determine a maximum time limit for the first agenda item;

create a conference pass code for the participant telecommunication device, wherein the conference pass code indicates that the participant is authorized to listen to the teleconference and not contribute while the first agenda item is being discussed;

transmit the conference pass code to the participant telecommunication device;

in response to receiving the connection request from the participant telecommunication device;

determine a current agenda item being discussed;

if the current agenda item being discussed is not the first agenda item, prevent communication exchange with the teleconference for the participant telecommunication device; and

if the current agenda item being discussed is the first agenda item, connect the participant telecommunication device to the teleconference and restrict contribution from the participating device.

7. The conference control system of claim 6, the processing logic further causing the processor to:

in response to determining the current agenda item being discussed is not one of the selected agenda items, terminate the connection to the teleconference of the participant telecommunication device; and

in response to determining the current agenda item being discussed is one of the selected agenda items while the participant telecommunication device is not on the teleconference, re-establish the connection with the teleconference to the participant telecommunication device.

8. The conference control system of claim 6, the processing logic further causing the processor:

receive a selection of a third agenda item;

determine that a second agenda item is being discussed;

in response to determining that the second agenda item is being discussed terminate the connection to the teleconference of the participant telecommunication device; and

in response to later determining that the third agenda item is being discussed, establish the connection with the teleconference to the participant telecommunication device.

9. The conference control system of claim 6, the processing logic further causing the processor to:

in response to the teleconference terminating prior to each agenda item of the plurality of agenda items being discussed, select a next time for a follow-up teleconference;

create a follow-up pass code for each authorized participant of the plurality of participants authorized to speak on one or more of the remaining agenda items; and

transmit the follow-up pass code to each of the authorized participants.

10. The conference control system of claim 6, the processing logic further causing the processor to:

in response to determining the maximum time limit for the current agenda item being discussed has expired, prevent communication exchange with the teleconference for the participant telecommunication device.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored therein, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processing device, allows a machine to:

receive a first time at which a teleconference is scheduled to take place;

receive a plurality of agenda items of the teleconference;

receive a list of participant telecommunication devices participating in the teleconference;

receive a selection of a first agenda item of the plurality of agenda items for a participant of the teleconference indicating that a participant telecommunication device of the teleconference is authorized to listen to the teleconference and not contribute while the first agenda item is being discussed;

determine a maximum time limit for the first agenda item;

create a conference pass code for the participant telecommunication device wherein the conference pass code indicates that the participant is authorized to listen to the teleconference and not contribute while the first agenda item is being discussed;

transmit the conference pass code to the participant telecommunication device;

in response to receiving the connection request from the participant telecommunication device;

determine a current agenda item being discussed;

if the current agenda item being discussed is not the first agenda item, prevent communication exchange with the teleconference for the participant telecommunication device; and

if the current agenda item being discussed is the first agenda item, connect the participant telecommunication device to the teleconference and restrict contribution from the participating device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises instructions which when executed allows the machine to:

receiving a selection of a third agenda item;

determining that a second agenda item is being discussed;

in response to determining that the second agenda item is being discussed, terminate the connection to the teleconference of the participant telecommunication device; and

in response to later determining that the third agenda item is being discussed, establish the connection with the teleconference to the participant telecommunication device.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises instructions which when executed allows the machine to:

receive a request of a moderator telecommunication device, wherein the request authorizes a selection of participant telecommunication devices that are permitted to exchange communication to the teleconference; and

in response to receiving the request, mute participant telecommunication device that are not of the selected participant telecommunication devices.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises instructions which when executed allows the machine to:

in response to the teleconference terminating prior to each agenda item of the plurality of agenda items being discussed, select a next time for a follow-up teleconference;

create a follow-up pass code for each authorized participant of the plurality of participants authorized to speak on one or more of the remaining agenda items; and

transmit the follow-up pass code to each of the authorized participants.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises instructions which when executed allows the machine to:

in response to determining the maximum time limit for the current agenda item being discussed has expired, prevent communication exchange with the teleconference for the participant telecommunication device.