Rules-based teleconferencing

• US 8,494,141 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jenkins, Jana H., Allen, Lloyd W. Jr., Miller, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US12/360,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/158, 379/203.01, 379/204.01
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/10 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• 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

Rules-based teleconferencing that may include receiving criteria regarding invitees to a teleconference call, generating rules based on the criteria, and generating a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules. The criteria may include a quorum of a minimum number of invitees that must be in attendance at the teleconference call or a list of specific invitees required to be in attendance at the teleconference call. A processing device may include a network interface, one or more second interfaces configured to establish a connection between at least three telephones, and a controller configured to establish a teleconference call between the at least three telephones, receive criteria regarding invitees to the teleconference call, generate rules based on the criteria, and generate a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules.

Claims

1. A method for rules-based teleconferencing comprising:

receiving criteria regarding invitees to a teleconference call;

generating rules based on the criteria;

generating a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules;

sending an audio message in the teleconference call to a teleconference chair or initiator to make a selection to cancel the teleconference in response to the criteria not being met;

sending another audio message in the teleconference call to the teleconference chair or initiator to make a selection to reschedule the teleconference in response to the teleconference chair or initiator making the selection to cancel the teleconference; and

automatically accessing a scheduling system or a calendar system of each invitee to reschedule the teleconference in response to the teleconference chair or initiator making the selection to reschedule the teleconference.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising initiating a teleconference call and generating the notification regarding the invitees during the teleconference call to at least one invitee that has joined the teleconference call.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating the notification regarding the invitees to at least one invitee before initiating the teleconference call.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the criteria comprises a quorum of a minimum number of invitees that must be in attendance at the teleconference call.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising generating a notification when the quorum of the minimum number of invitees is in attendance at the teleconference call.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising generating a notification when the quorum of the minimum number of invitees is at least one of not in attendance at the teleconference call and will not be in attendance at the teleconference call.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising automatically canceling the teleconference call and rescheduling another teleconference call when the quorum of the minimum number of invitees is at least one of not in attendance at the teleconference call and will not be in attendance at the teleconference call.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the criteria comprises a list of specific invitees required to be in attendance at the teleconference call.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising generating a notification when all specific invitees on the list are in attendance at the teleconference call.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising generating a notification when all specific invitees on the list are at least one of not in attendance at the teleconference call and will not be in attendance at the teleconference call.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising automatically canceling the teleconference call and rescheduling another teleconference call when all invitees on the list are at least one of not in attendance at the teleconference call and will not be in attendance at the teleconference call.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accessing at least one of the scheduling system and the calendar system of each invitee to schedule the teleconference call.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising one of modifying the rules and overriding the rules responsive to a request.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rescheduling the teleconference to a date and time when the invitees are available; and

sending a notification to each invitee of the rescheduled teleconference date and time.

15. A processing device comprising:

a network interface;

at least one second interface configured to establish a connection between at least three telephones; and

a controller configured to establish a teleconference call between the at least three telephones, receive criteria regarding invitees to the teleconference call, generate rules-based on the criteria, generate a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules, send an audio message in the teleconference call to a teleconference chair or initiator to make a selection to cancel the teleconference in response to the criteria not being met, sending another audio message in the teleconference call to the teleconference chair or initiator to make a selection to reschedule the teleconference in response to the teleconference chair or initiator making the selection to cancel the teleconference, and automatically accessing a scheduling system or a calendar system of each invitee to reschedule the teleconference in response to the teleconference chair or initiator making the selection to reschedule the teleconference.

16. The processing device according to claim 15, wherein the processing device comprises a call system.

17. The processing device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one second interface comprises a private branch exchange (PBX) interface.

18. The processing device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one second interface comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN) interface.

19. The processing device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one second interface comprises a wireless telephone network interface.

20. The processing device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one second interface comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) interface.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage medium, that is not a transitory propagating signal, the computer usable storage medium having computer useable program code embodied therewith, the computer useable program code comprising:

computer useable program code configured to receive criteria regarding invitees to a teleconference call;

computer useable program code configured to generate rules-based on the criteria;

computer useable program code configured to generate a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules; and

computer useable program code configured to send an audio message in the teleconference call to a teleconference chair or initiator to make a selection to cancel the teleconference in response to the criteria not being met

computer useable program code configured to send another audio message in the teleconference call to the teleconference chair or initiator to make a selection to reschedule the teleconference in response to the teleconference chair or initiator making the selection to cancel the teleconference; and

computer useable program code configured to automatically access a scheduling system or a calendar system of each invitee to reschedule the teleconference in response to the teleconference chair or initiator making the selection to reschedule the teleconference.