Method and system for transferring a conference between a mobile communication device and a conferencing terminal

• US 8,885,811 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Knaz, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US13/846,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20130210401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 379/212.01, 379/211.01, 379/207.02, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A conferencing system for an enterprise is disclosed. The conferencing system includes a management apparatus for managing conferencing resources in a premises. The management apparatus includes a communications link for communicating with a proximity announcing system, which indicates whether a portable communications device is near a conferencing device within the premises. The management apparatus can transmit a message to a proximate portable communication device indicating that a conferencing device is nearby. The proximity announcing system can include wireless transmitters and receivers associated with the premises and with portable communication devices used within the premises for tracking the location of the portable communication devices throughout the premises.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a communication session from a portable communication device to a local conferencing device during a communication session between the portable communication device and a remote communication device, comprising:

sending a prompt to the portable communication device prompting for a request to transfer the communication session from the portable communication device to the local conferencing device;

receiving from the portable communication device a request to transfer the communication session from the portable communication device to the local conferencing device;

determining contact information for a remote multimedia endpoint associated with the remote communication device; and

in response to the request from the portable communication device, initiating a connection between the local conferencing device and the remote multimedia endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP phone, a portable computer, and a smart phone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the local conferencing device is a local multimedia endpoint.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the connection between the local multimedia endpoint is an audio connection, the method further comprising instructing the local multimedia endpoint to escalate the audio connection to a video communications session.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the local multimedia endpoint is communicatively connected to at least one multipoint control unit.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising obtaining contact information of the remote multimedia endpoint at the local multimedia endpoint.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing contact information of the remote multimedia endpoint to the multipoint control unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein initiating a connection comprises setting up a connection between the multipoint control unit, the local multimedia endpoint, and the remote multimedia endpoint.

9. A method of transferring a communication session from a local conferencing device to a portable communication device during a conference between the local conferencing device and a remote endpoint, comprising:

receiving from the portable communication device a request to transfer the communication session from the local conferencing device to the portable communication device;

determining contact information for the remote endpoint;

providing the contact information to the portable communication device; and

in response to the request from the portable communication device, initiating a connection between the portable communication device and the remote endpoint.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising terminating the in progress communication session between the local conferencing device and the remote endpoint.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP phone, a portable computer, and a smart phone.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting a prompt to the portable communication device, prompting for a request to transfer the communication session from the conferencing device to the portable communication device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the conferencing device is a local multimedia endpoint.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein local multimedia endpoint is communicatively coupled to a multipoint control unit.

15. A conferencing device comprising:

a programmable processor programmed to;

receive a signal indicating that a portable communication device is engaged in a communication session with a remote endpoint;

in response to the signal, send a prompt to the portable communication device prompting for a request to transfer the communication session to the conferencing device; and

in response to the request to transfer, transferring the communication session from the portable communication device to the conferencing device.

16. The conferencing device of claim 15, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of an IP phone, a portable computer, and a smart phone.

17. The conferencing device of claim 15, wherein the conferencing device is a local multimedia endpoint.

18. The conferencing device of claim 17, wherein the programmable processor is further programmed to initiate a video communications session with a remote multimedia endpoint in response to the request to transfer.

19. The conferencing device of claim 15, wherein the programmable processor is further programmed to:

initiate a connection between a multipoint control unit, a local multimedia endpoint, and one or more remote multimedia endpoints.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions stored thereon to cause a programmable processor to transfer a communication session from a portable communication device to a local conferencing device during a communication session between the portable communication device and a remote communication device, by causing the programmable processor to:

send a prompt to the portable communication device prompting for a request to transfer the communication session from the portable communication device to the local conferencing device;

receive from the portable communication device a request to transfer the communication session from the portable communication device to the local conferencing device;

determine contact information for a remote multimedia endpoint associated with the remote communication device; and

in response to the request from the portable communication device, initiate a connection between the local conferencing device and the remote multimedia endpoint.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions stored thereon to cause a programmable processor to transfer a communication session from a local conferencing device to a portable communication device during a conference between the local conferencing device and a remote endpoint, the computer executable instructions to causing the programmable processor to:

identify a received request from the portable communication device to transfer the communication session from the local conferencing device to the portable communication device;

determine contact information for the remote endpoint;

provide the contact information to the portable communication device; and

in response to the request from the portable communication device, initiate a connection between the portable communication device and the remote endpoint.