Method of joining a conference call

• US 8,824,341 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Logan, Adrian, Jain, Rohit, Fritzley, Eric, Labrador, Christopher, McAndrews, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US12/393,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20100208625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 379/202.01, 455/416, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• 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 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 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

In a computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event an interface associated with a time management software application is displayed. The interface displays information relating to the conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of the conference call event and a start time of the conference call. While displaying the interface, a menu offering one or more options is displayed; these one or more options include an option to join the conference call. When an indication of a selection of the option to join the conference call is received, information associated with the conference call is located; this information includes a telephone number for a conference call bridge. A connection with the conference call bridge using the telephone number is initiated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event, said method comprising:

displaying, at a mobile device, an interface associated with a time management software application comprising displaying information relating to said conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of said conference call event and a start time of said conference call;

displaying, at the mobile device, while displaying said interface, a menu offering one or more options, said one or more options including an option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call regardless of whether the user is a host or some other conference participant;

receiving an indication of a selection of said option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call;

locating, at the mobile device, information associated with said conference call, said information including a telephone number for a conference call bridge; and

initiating connection with said conference call bridge using said telephone number.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said displaying said interface associated with said time management software comprises displaying at least one interface component associated with said conference call event.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein said displaying said menu offering one or more options comprises displaying said menu upon receiving an indication of a selection of said interface component.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein said displaying said interface comprises displaying an entry for said conference call event in a calendar view of said interface.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein said interface component comprises a display of a calendar event.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein said one or more options offered by said menu further include one or more of an option to create a new calendar entry, an option to open the selected conference call event, and an option to present a different calendar view of calendar events.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said displaying information relating to said conference call event includes displaying an end time of said conference call.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said receiving an indication of said selection comprises receiving an indication of a user interaction with said interface.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said conference call event is managed by a conference call system including said conference call bridge and said locating information associated with said conference call includes locating in a database said telephone number and a security code associated with said conference call event, and wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises providing said security code to said conference call system after connection to said conference call system subsequent to said initiating connection with said conference call bridge.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein commencing said displaying said menu offering one or more options occurs simultaneously with commencing said displaying said interface.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said displaying said interface comprises displaying a reminder window for said conference call event, and further comprising displaying said reminder window at a pre-configured time preceding said start time of said conference call.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein said menu further includes an option to dismiss said reminder window and cease to display said reminder window upon receipt of an indication of a selection of said option to dismiss.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein all conference participants are connected to the conference call independent from the host.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the user is not the host.

15. A mobile communications device for joining a user to a conference call event, said device comprising:

a display; and

a processor operable to;

display an interface associated with a time management software application comprising displaying information relating to said conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of said conference call event and a start time of said conference call,

display, while displaying said interface, a menu offering one or more options, said one or more options including an option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call regardless of whether the user is a host or some other conference participant,

receive an indication of a selection of said option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call,

locate information associated with said conference call, said information including a telephone number for a conference call bridge, and

initiate connection with said conference call bridge using said telephone number.

16. A computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event, said method comprising:

displaying, at a mobile device, an interface associated with a calendar application, said calendar application displaying information relating to said conference call event including a start time and an end time of a conference call which is subject of said conference call event;

upon receiving an indication of a selection of said conference call event, displaying, at the mobile device, with said interface, a menu offering one or more options, said one or more options including an option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call regardless of whether the user is a host or some other conference participant;

upon receiving an indication of a selection of said option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call, locating, at the mobile device, information associated with said conference call, said information including a telephone number for a conference call bridge; and

initiating connection with said conference call bridge using said telephone number.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein said locating information associated with said conference call comprises locating said information in a database.

18. A computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event, said method comprising:

at a pre-determined time in advance of a start time associated with a conference call event, simultaneously initiating a display, at a mobile device, of (i) a reminder window displaying information relating to said conference call event and (ii) a menu offering one or more options available, said one or more options including an option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call regardless of whether the user is a host or some other conference participant;

upon receipt of an indication of a selection of said option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call, locating, at the mobile device, information associated with said conference call, said information including a telephone number for a conference call bridge; and

initiating connection with said conference call bridge using said telephone number.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein said locating information associated with said conference call comprises locating said information in a database.

20. A computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event, said method comprising:

displaying, at a mobile device, a user interface associated with a time management software application comprising displaying information relating to said conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of said conference call event and a start time of said conference call;

displaying, at the mobile device, while displaying said user interface, a menu offering one or more options available to said user, said one or more options including an option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call regardless of whether the user is a host or some other conference participant;

upon selection by said user of said option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call, locating, at the mobile device, information associated with said conference call, said information including a dial-in telephone number; and

initiating dialing of said dial-in telephone number.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 wherein said locating information associated with said conference call comprises locating said information in a database.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a processor of a mobile communications device, cause said processor to:

display, at a mobile device, an interface associated with a time management software application comprising displaying information relating to said conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of said conference call event and a start time of said conference call;

display, at the mobile device, while displaying said interface, a menu offering one or more options, said one or more options including an option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call regardless of whether the user is a host or some other conference participant;

receive an indication of a selection of said option to automatically initiate joining to said conference call;

locate, at the mobile device, information associated with said conference call, said information including a telephone number for a conference call bridge; and

initiate connection with said conference call bridge using said telephone number.