Conference endpoint requesting and receiving billing information from a conference bridge
First Claim
1. A conference endpoint for allowing participation in a conference call via a conference bridge, the conference endpoint comprising:
- an audio processing unit;
a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and
a network interface communicably coupled to the control module;
wherein the control module is operable to send control data in combination with audio data to the conference bridge; and
wherein the control data comprises an instruction from the conference endpoint that the conference bridge send conference billing information to the conference endpoint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge.
217 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A conference endpoint for allowing participation in a conference call via a conference bridge, the conference endpoint comprising:
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an audio processing unit; a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and a network interface communicably coupled to the control module; wherein the control module is operable to send control data in combination with audio data to the conference bridge; and wherein the control data comprises an instruction from the conference endpoint that the conference bridge send conference billing information to the conference endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A multipoint conferencing system comprising:
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a plurality of conference endpoints; a multipoint conference bridge; and a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the plurality of conference endpoints; wherein the multipoint conference bridge connects the plurality of conference endpoints during a conference; wherein each of the plurality of conference endpoints comprises a control module operable to send control data in combination with audio data to the bridge; wherein the control data comprises an instruction from one of the plurality of conference endpoints that the conference bridge send conference billing information to said endpoint; and wherein the conference bridge sends conference billing information to said endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for obtaining conference billing information during a conference, the method comprising the steps of:
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combining an audio signal and a control signal; sending a request for conference billing information in the combined audio and control signal from a conference endpoint to a multipoint conference bridge; and receiving conference billing information from the multipoint conference bridge in the conference endpoint based on a control signal provided in a combined audio and control signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for obtaining conference billing information during a conference by performing the steps of:
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combining an audio signal and a control signal; sending a request for conference billing information in the combined audio and control signal from a conference endpoint to a multipoint conference bridge; and receiving conference billing information from the multipoint conference bridge in the conference endpoint based on a control signal provided in a combined audio and control signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A multipoint conference bridge comprising:
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an audio processing unit; a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and a network interface communicably coupled to the control module; wherein the control module is operable to receive control data in combination with audio data from a conference endpoint; wherein the control data comprises an instruction from the conference endpoint that the conference bridge send conference billing information to the conference endpoint; and
,wherein the conference bridge sends conference billing information to the conference endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification