Method and apparatus for inviting non-rich media endpoints to join a conference sidebar session

• US 8,326,927 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Asthana, Aseem, Bangalore, Manjunath S., Ha, Binh Don, Goel, Vineet, Tang, Connie
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PETER C
• Application Number:
  US11/439,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,387 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/226, 370/260, 455/519
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

A conferencing system and method includes, during the conference session, invoking an interactive voice response (IVR) routine that provides names of one or more conference participants to a user of an audio-only endpoint device responsive to a request from the user to create a sidebar session. An invitation to join the sidebar session is then communicated to each of one or more participants selected by the user, the invitation being communicated via a private media channel separate from a media stream associated with the conference session. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method of operation involving a plurality of conference participants using a corresponding plurality of endpoint devices, comprising:

during a conference session implemented with a media stream comprising conference content, receiving a request to allocate a sidebar session from a first conference participant communicating via a Plain-Old Telephone Service (POTS) device without display capabilities;

obtaining presence information from each of the corresponding endpoint devices of the conference participants, the presence information including information indicating how the corresponding endpoint device is communicating with the conference session;

providing an interactive voice response (IVR) system to the first conference participant, the IVR system being operable to elicit names of one or more sidebar invitee conference participants from the first conference participant;

determining, based on the presence information, an appropriate notification modality for presenting a sidebar invitation to each sidebar invitee conference participant;

communicating the sidebar invitation via the appropriate notification modality to each of the one or more sidebar invitee conference participants, the sidebar invitation being communicated via a private media channel separate from the media stream of the conference session;

wherein the appropriate notification modality for a second conference participant communicating via a Plain-Old Telephone (POTS) device without display capabilities comprises an IVR prompt, and the appropriate notification modality for a third conference participant communicating via a rich media endpoint device comprises a visual display that elicits a response via a non-audio user interface.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the IVR system is operable to provide the first conference participant with an audible roll call listing of all of the conference participants other than the first conference participant.

3. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the non-audio user interface comprises a graphical user interface.

4. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an acceptance from a first sidebar invitee conference participant; and

moving the sidebar invitee conference participant out of the conference session and into the sidebar session.

5. The processor-implemented method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving an invitation declination from a second sidebar invitee conference participant; and

announcing in the sidebar session that the second sidebar invitee conference participant has declined to join the sidebar session.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for conducting a conference session operable to:

obtain presence information from each of the corresponding endpoint devices of the conference participants, the presence information including information indicating how the corresponding endpoint device is communicating with the conference session;

during a conference session implemented with a media stream comprising conference content, invoke an interactive voice response (IVR) routine that provides names of one or more conference participants to a first conference participant communicating via a Plain-Old Telephone Service (POTS) device without display capabilities responsive to a request from the first conference participant to create a sidebar session;

determine, based on the presence information, an appropriate notification modality for presenting an invitation to each invitee of the sidebar session selected by the first conference participant via the IVR routine;

communicate the invitation to join the sidebar session to each invitee selected by the first conference participant, the invitation being communicated via the appropriate notification modality, the invitation being communicated via a private media channel separate from the media stream of the conference session;

wherein the appropriate notification modality for a second conference participant communicating via an audio-only endpoint device without display capabilities comprises an IVR prompt.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the IVR routine comprises a sequence of queries such that the first conference participant of the audio-only endpoint device without display capabilities need only make an affirmative response or a negative response to each query.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the appropriate notification modality for a third conference participant communicating via a rich media endpoint device comprises a visual display that elicits a response via a non-audio user interface.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 further operable to:

perform a directory search based on a partial spelling or a first or last name of a conference participant.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the non-audio user interface comprises a graphical user interface.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 further operable to:

receive an invitation acceptance from a first conference participant; and

move the first participant out of the conference session and into the sidebar session.