Conference screening

• US 9,081,485 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• 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:
  US13/224,706
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751, 715/753, 715/755, 715/757, 715/758
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• 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 multi-mode conference comprising:

connecting a participant to the multi-mode conference in a listen-only mode;

placing the participant into a queue for screening;

bridging the queued participant into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference in response to the placing operation;

receiving, via the full-duplex private screening sub-conference, one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference; and

establishing a full-duplex connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference if the participant is authorized for active participation in the multi-mode conference based on one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input from the participant requesting active participation in the multi-mode conference; and

placing the participant requesting active participation into the queue for screening, wherein the bridging operation is performed in response to the placing operation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disallowing a full-duplex connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference if the participant is denied active participation in the multi-mode conference.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reconnecting the participant to the multi-mode conference in the listen-only mode, responsive to the establishing operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bridging operation includes one of removing the participant from the multi-mode conference and reducing the volume of the multi-mode conference output to the participant.

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

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing multiple screeners that contemporaneously screen multiple participants requesting active participation in the multi-mode conference.

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

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a screener confirms one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the appropriateness of the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference in the full-duplex private screening sub-conference.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference is one or both of a question and a comment.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein bridging the participant into the full-duplex private screening sub-conference and establishing the full-duplex connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference are performed using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing operation further comprises establishing the full-duplex connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference if a screener has authorized active participation in the multi-mode conference based on both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one of the participant'"'"'s identity and the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference in a screened queue on a user interface.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the full-duplex private screening sub-conference is with a human screener.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the host authorizes active participation in the multi-mode conference.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein a screener authorizes active participation in the multi-mode conference.

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

connecting a participant to the multi-mode conference in a listen-only mode;

placing the participant into a queue for screening;

bridging the queued participant into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference in response to the placing operation;

receiving, via the full-duplex private screening sub-conference, one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference; and

establishing a full-duplex connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference if the participant is authorized for active participation in the multi-mode conference based on one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the received participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference.

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

receiving input from the participant requesting active participation in the multi-mode conference; and

placing the participant requesting active participation into the queue for screening.

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

disallowing a full-duplex connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference if the participant is denied active participation in the multi-mode conference.

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

reconnecting the participant to the multi-mode conference in the listen-only mode, responsive to the establishing operation.

15. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the bridging operation includes one or both of removing the participant from the multi-mode conference and reducing the volume of the multi-mode conference output to the participant.

16. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the bridging operation includes reducing the volume of the multi-mode conference output to the participant such that both a screener and the participant can hear the multi-mode conference while connected to the private screening sub-conference.

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

providing multiple screeners that contemporaneously screen multiple participants requesting active participation in the multi-mode conference.

18. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the bridging operation includes reducing the volume of the multi-mode conference output to each of the multiple participants such that each of the multiple screeners and the multiple participants can hear the multi-mode conference while connected to private screening sub-conferences.

19. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein a screener confirms one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the appropriateness of the participant'"'"'s question or comment for the multi-mode conference in the full-duplex private screening sub-conference.

20. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference is a question or comment.

21. A multi-mode conference system comprising:

one or more control interfaces configured to;

connect a participant to a multi-mode conference in a listen-only mode;

place the participant into a queue for screening;

bridge the queued participant into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference in response to the placing operation;

receive, via the full-duplex private screening sub-conference, one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference; and

establish a full-duplex connection between the participant and the multi-mode conference if the participant is authorized for active participation in the multi-mode conference based on one or both of the participant'"'"'s identity and the received participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference.

22. The multi-mode conference system of claim 21, wherein the control interfaces are further configured to:

receive input from the participant requesting active participation in the multi-mode conference; and

place the participant requesting active participation into a queue for screening.

23. The multi-mode conference system of claim 21, further comprising:

one or more voice response units (VRUs) in communication with multiple communication pathways to multiple participants, wherein the control interfaces are in communication with each of the one or more VRUs.

24. The multi-mode conference system of claim 23, further comprising:

a conference bridge in communication with each of the one or more VRUs, wherein the control interfaces are in communication with the conference bridge.

25. The multi-mode conference system of claim 23, wherein the one or more VRUs includes at least one screening VRU that provides voice paths for private screening sub-conferences.

26. The multi-mode conference system of claim 21, wherein the control interfaces include one or both of a master control interface and a screener control interface.

30. A method of providing a multi-mode conference comprising:

establishing the multi-mode conference including a host speaker and a plurality of conference participants, the conference participants connected in a listen-only mode to the multi-mode conference;

placing one of the conference participants into a queue for screening;

bridging the queued conference participant into a full-duplex private screening sub-conference in response to the placing operation, whereby the conference participant is verbally screened

receiving, via the full-duplex private screening sub-conference, the screened participant'"'"'s identity and contribution to the multi-mode conference;

inserting the screened participant into a screened queue;

receiving a selection of the screened participant from the screened queue via a user interface; and

establishing a full-duplex connection between the selected participant and the multi-mode conference if the participant is authorized for active participation in the multi-mode conference based on the selected participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

displaying at least one of the screened participant'"'"'s identity and the screened participant'"'"'s contribution to the multi-mode conference in the screened queue on the user interface.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the screened queue is displayed in a user interface.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving input from the conference participant in the queue requesting active participation in the multi-mode conference; and

placing the conference participant requesting active participation into the queue for screening; and

receiving, from a screener, the selection of the participant from the screening queue via a user interface.