Conference endpoint instructing conference bridge to dial phone number
First Claim
1. A conference endpoint for managing participation in a conference call via a conference bridge, the conference endpoint comprising:
- an audio processing unit;
a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and
a network interface communicably coupled to the control module;
wherein the control module is operable to transmit control data combined in-band with audio data to the conference bridge; and
wherein the control data comprises an instruction that the conference bridge dial a specified phone number.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A conference endpoint for managing participation in a conference call via a conference bridge, the conference endpoint comprising:
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an audio processing unit; a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and a network interface communicably coupled to the control module; wherein the control module is operable to transmit control data combined in-band with audio data to the conference bridge; and wherein the control data comprises an instruction that the conference bridge dial a specified phone number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A conferencing system comprising:
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a conference endpoint; a multipoint conference bridge; and a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the bridge and the conference endpoint; wherein the conference endpoint comprises a control module operable to provide control data combined in-band with audio data to the bridge; wherein the control data is operable to instruct the bridge to dial a specified phone number; and wherein the bridge is operable to automatically dial the specified phone number. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for adding a conferee to a conference, the method comprising the steps of:
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combining in-band a control signal with an audio signal in a conference endpoint; sending the combined audio and control signal from the conference endpoint to a multipoint conference bridge; and instructing the multipoint conference bridge to dial a specified phone number based on the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer for adding a conferee to a conference by performing the steps comprising:
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combining in-band a control signal with an audio signal in a conference endpoint; sending the combined audio and control signal from the conference endpoint to a multipoint conference bridge; and instructing the multipoint conference bridge to dial a specified phone number based on the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification