System and method for initiating a conference call

• US 8,594,294 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Linqware Inc.
• Inventors: Turner, Tod C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HONG, HARRY S
• Application Number:
  US13/357,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 370260-262, 370/264, 37920201-20601, 455/416, 455/466, 709204-207
• US Class Current: 379/204.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for initiating conference calls via an instant messaging system to reduce the effort required to initiate and manage the call. The system uses an IM connection between a requesting party and a conference call server to inform the conference call server of the desire to initiate the conference call. The conference call server may initiate the conference call by having involved parties called by a conference bridge, thus reducing the effort required by the parties to join the call.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer instructions configured to operate with an electronic hardware computer server to perform the following steps:

exchange information between a first party and at least one other party, the first party and the at least one other party being current participants to a shared application session;

receive a request from the first party to establish voice communication amongst current participants of the shared application session, the request lacking a specific identification of the at least one other party; and

determine, after reception of the request, the at least one other party from information associated with the shared application,

wherein the first party and the at least one other party are current participants in a chat session using a chat application which is distinct from the shared application.

2. The instructions of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured to perform the step of:

send, to the at least one other party, a notice to disable the ability of the at least one other party'"'"'s ability to initiate conference calls through the shared session.

3. The instructions of claim 1, wherein the at least one party comprises at least two parties, and wherein the instructions are further configured to perform the step of:

substantially simultaneously send messages to the at least two parties regarding entering into voice communications.

4. The instructions of claim 1, wherein after determining the at least one party, the voice communication is established between the first party and those of the at least one other party who agreed to enter into the voice communication.

5. The instructions of claim 1, wherein neither the request nor the establishment of voice communication terminates the shared application.

6. A method to establish voice communication between a first party and at least one other party, comprising:

exchanging information between a first party and at least one other party, the first party and the at least one other party being current participants to a shared application session;

receiving a request from the first party to establish voice communication amongst current participants of the shared application session, the request lacking a specific identification of the at least one other party;

determining, after reception of the request, the at least one other party from information associated with the shared application;

wherein, as a result of the receiving of the request, the first party enters voice communications with at least some of the at least one other party, and

wherein the first party and the at least one other party are current participants in a chat session using a chat application which is distinct from the shared application.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending, to the at least one other party, a notice to disable the ability of the at least one other party'"'"'s ability to initiate conference calls through the shared session.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising, wherein said at least one party comprises at least two parties.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising substantially simultaneously sending messages to the at least two parties regarding entering into voice communications.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least two parties are substantially simultaneously joined in voice communication with said first party.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein after determining the at least one party, the voice communication is established between the first party and those of the at least one other party.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one other party agrees to enter into the voice communication.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein neither the request nor the establishment of voice communication terminates the shared application.