Teleforum participant screening

• US 8,881,027 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadnet Teleservices LLC
• Original Assignee: Broadnet Teleservices LLC
• Inventors: Brown, Brian, Jurow, Lorin
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US13/224,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751, 715/753, 715/755, 715/757, 715/758
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1086 session scope modification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5036 using conference for collection of feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5072 Multiple active speakers conducting a computer conference, e.g. Admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/566 relating to a participants right to speak arrangements for multi-party communication with floor control, e.g. for conferences, H04L65/4038, H04L65/4046, H04L65/4053

Abstract

A method and apparatus of providing a teleforum. The method includes generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls to multiple invitees and transmitting a message to each invitee, inviting him or her to become a teleforum participant. Teleforum participants who accept the invitation are connected to the teleforum in a listen-only mode. During the teleforum, a teleforum participant may request active participation in the teleforum. The method also includes allowing the participant to actively participate in the teleforum. Active participation may include but is not limited to such activities as: speaking to the teleforum, asking a question, responding to a poll, making a donation, providing information, leaving a message, being transferred to a subconference, receiving feedback from participants, leaving a voicemail, volunteering for future activities or receiving media transmitted outside of the teleforum.

Claims

1. A method of providing a teleforum comprising:

connecting a teleforum participant to the teleforum in a listen-only mode;

receiving input from the connected teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum;

placing the connected teleforum participant requesting active participation into a queue for screening;

bridging the connected teleforum participant in the queue into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference with a human screener in response to the placing operation;

receiving one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum;

presenting, on a hosting graphical user interface, a listing of connected teleforum participants requesting active participation to a host, the listing including the connected teleforum participant; and

establishing a full-duplex connection between the connected teleforum participant and the teleforum responsive to authorization of active participation received from the host via the hosting graphical user interface, the authorization of active participation based on one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disallowing a full-duplex connection between the connected teleforum participant and the teleforum if the human screener has denied active participation in the teleforum.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reconnecting the connected teleforum participant to the teleforum in the listen-only mode, responsive to the establishing operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bridging operation includes removing the connected teleforum participant from the teleforum or includes reducing the volume of the teleforum output to the connected teleforum participant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bridging operation includes reducing the volume of the teleforum output to the connected teleforum participant such that both the human screener and the connected teleforum participant can hear the teleforum while connected to the private screening sub-conference.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing multiple human screeners that contemporaneously screen multiple teleforum participants requesting active participation in the teleforum.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the bridging operation includes reducing the volume of the teleforum output to each of the multiple connected teleforum participants such that each of the multiple screeners and the multiple connected teleforum participants can hear the teleforum while connected to private screening sub-conferences.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the human screener confirms one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the appropriateness of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s question or comment for the teleforum in the full-duplex private screening sub-conference.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum is a question or comment.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the listing indicates that the connected teleforum participant has been screened responsive to the receiving of one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the queue is presented in a screening graphical user interface to the human screener.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the connected teleforum participant via the screening graphical user interface.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the screening graphical user interface is identical to the hosting graphical user interface.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the hosting graphical user interface, an active participation selection of the connected participant from the listing.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the host is the human screener.

10. One or more tangible computer-readable storage media encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on a computer system a computer process for providing a teleforum, the computer process comprising:

connecting a teleforum participant to the teleforum in a listen-only mode;

receiving input from the connected teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum;

placing the connected teleforum participant requesting active participation into a queue for screening;

bridging the connected teleforum participant in the queue into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference with a human screener in response to the placing operation;

receiving one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum;

presenting, on a hosting graphical user interface, a listing of connected teleforum participants requesting active participation to a host, the listing including the connected teleforum participant; and

establishing a full-duplex connection between the connected teleforum participant and the teleforum responsive to authorization of active participation received from the host via the hosting graphical user interface, the authorization of active participation based on one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum.

11. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the computer process further comprises:

disallowing a full-duplex connection between the connected teleforum participant and the teleforum human screener has denied active participation in the teleforum.

12. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the computer process further comprises:

reconnecting the connected teleforum participant to the teleforum in the listen-only mode, responsive to the establishing operation.

13. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the bridging operation includes removing the connected teleforum participant from the teleforum or includes reducing the volume of the teleforum output to the connected teleforum participant.

14. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the bridging operation includes reducing the volume of the teleforum output to the connected teleforum participant such that both the human screener and the connected teleforum participant can hear the teleforum while connected to the private screening sub-conference.

15. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the computer process further comprises:

providing multiple human screeners that contemporaneously screen multiple teleforum participants requesting active participation in the teleforum.

16. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the bridging operation includes reducing the volume of the teleforum output to each of the multiple connected teleforum participants such that each of the multiple screeners and the multiple connected teleforum participants can hear the teleforum while connected to private screening sub-conferences.

17. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the human screener confirms one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the appropriateness of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s question or comment for the teleforum in the full-duplex private screening sub-conference.

18. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum is a question or comment.

39. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the listing indicates that the connected teleforum participant has been screened responsive to the receiving of one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum.

40. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the queue is presented in a screening graphical user interface to a human screener.

41. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the connected teleforum participant via the screening graphical user interface.

42. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the screening graphical user interface is identical to the hosting graphical user interface.

43. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, via the hosting graphical user interface, an active participation selection of the connected participant from the listing.

44. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the host is the human screener.

19. A teleforum system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a graphical user interface communicatively coupled to the processor configured to;

connect a teleforum participant to the teleforum in a listen-only mode;

receive input from the connected teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum;

place the connected teleforum participant requesting active participation into a queue for screening;

bridge the connected teleforum participant in the queue into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference with a human screener in response to the placing operation;

receive one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum;

present a listing of connected teleforum participants requesting active participation to the human screener, the listing including the connected teleforum participant; and

establish a full-duplex connection between the connected teleforum participant and the teleforum responsive to authorization of active participation received from the human screener via the graphical user interface, the authorization of active participation based on one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum.

20. The teleforum system of claim 19, further comprising:

one or more voice response units (VRUs) in communication with multiple communication pathways to multiple teleforum participants, wherein the graphical user interface is in communication with each of the one or more VRUs.

21. The teleforum system of claim 20, further comprising:

a teleforum bridge in communication with each of the one or more VRUs, wherein the graphical user interface is in communication with the teleforum bridge.

22. The teleforum system of claim 20, wherein the one or more VRUs includes at least one screening VRU that provides voice paths for private screening sub-conferences.

23. The teleforum system of claim 19, wherein the graphical user interface includes one or both of a master control interface and a screener control interface.

45. The teleforum system of claim 19, wherein the listing indicates that the connected teleforum participant has been screened responsive to the receiving one or both of the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the connected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum operation.

46. The teleforum system of claim 19, wherein the queue is presented in the graphical user interface to the human screener.

47. The teleforum system of claim 19, wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to receive a selection of the connected teleforum participant via the screening graphical user interface.

48. The teleforum system of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, via the graphical user interface, an active participation selection of the connected participant from the listing.

24. A teleforum system comprising:

a processor; and

a graphical user interface communicatively coupled to the processor, the graphical user interface comprising;

a participant field including one or more teleforum participants connected to a teleforum;

an active participation queue including a subset of the one or more of the teleforum participants requesting active participation in the teleforum; and

a status column indicating whether each of the connected teleforum participants are actively participating in the teleforum in full-duplex, bridged to a full-duplex private screening sub-conference, or connected to the teleforum in a listen-only mode.

25. The teleforum system of claim 24, wherein connected teleforum participants bridged to the full-duplex private screening sub-conferences are disconnected from the teleforum in the listen-only mode or the volume of the listen-only mode output to the connected teleforum participants is reduced.

26. The teleforum system of claim 24, further comprising:

one or more data input fields associated with a teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum;

wherein a human screener may add information regarding the teleforum participant obtained in a private screening sub-conference with the teleforum participant.

27. The teleforum system of claim 26, wherein the information includes one or more of the teleforum participant'"'"'s identity, the teleforum participant'"'"'s question or comment for the teleforum, and any notes regarding the teleforum participant or the question or comment.

28. The teleforum system of claim 24, further comprising:

a done button associated with each teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum, wherein a human screener may select the done button when screening of a teleforum participant is complete.

29. The teleforum system of claim 24, further comprising:

a remove button associated with each teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum, wherein a human screener may select the remove button to remove a teleforum participant from the active participation queue.

30. The teleforum system of claim 24, further comprising:

a screen button associated with each teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum, wherein a human screener may select the screen button to bridge a teleforum participant into a private screening sub-conference.

31. The teleforum system of claim 24, further comprising:

a live button associated with each teleforum participant requesting active participation in the teleforum, wherein a human screener may select the live button to connect a teleforum participant to the teleforum in full-duplex mode.

32. A method comprising:

receiving a request for active participation in a teleconference from a connected teleforum participant in a listen-only mode, wherein the request is displayed in a table on a graphical user interface, the table including a queue of teleforum participants;

selecting the connected teleforum participant for bridging into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference with a human screener via the graphical user interface;

receiving one or both of the selected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the selected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum; and

authorizing a full-duplex connection between the selected teleforum participant and the teleforum via the graphical user interface based on one or both of the selected teleforum participant'"'"'s identity and the selected teleforum participant'"'"'s contribution to the teleforum.