Method and apparatus for providing extended call setup and control features using a short message service

• US 20050078612A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexander C. Lang
• Original Assignee: Alexander C. Lang
• Inventors: Lang, Alexander C
• Application Number:
  US10/496,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed 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 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A system for enabling setup and control of conference calls using short message service (SMS) messages (SMs). The SMS messages may be used to set up, or control a scheduled or real-time conference call. The SMS messages can also be used to exercise real-time control over a conference call. Invitations can be sent in real time to add participants to a call in progress, or to transfer the call from any participant'"'"'s telephone to another telephone connected to the PSTN.

Claims

1. A system for enabling setup and control features for a conference call using wireless short message service (SMS) messages, the system comprising a conference scheduler gateway (32) for receiving a SMS message in a predetermined format requesting a conference call setup operation;

a service center (4) that receives instructions from conference scheduler database application (29) and includes switching equipment (6) connected with a public switched telephone network (24) for generating and issuing call control messages in order to effect the conference call setup operation, CHARACTERIZED By;

a conference scheduler database application (29) adapted to determine whether the SMS message requests a conference call setup, or a control operation for controlling an in-progress conference call, and the conference scheduler database application is adapted to present information as service requests to a call controller (8) of the service center (4) to effect conference call connection setup or control conference call connections.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conference scheduler gateway (32) comprises a wireless receiver adapted to receive the SMS message and convert the SMS message to a text message that is forwarded through the Internet (26) to the conference scheduler database application (29).

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conference scheduler gateway (32) comprises a wireless receiver connected to the service center and is adapted to pass a content of the SMS message directly to the conference scheduler database application (29).

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the conference scheduler gateway (32) comprises a communications processor adapted to communicate with a mobile switching center (20a, 20b) using a wireless link to receive the SMS messages.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a SMS gateway (23) adapted to formulate and send SMS messages to invite participants to participate in the conference call.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the SMS gateway (23) is adapted to send identifier information with the invitation SMS messages, and the conference scheduler gateway (32) is adapted to accept SMS replies containing the identifier information that enables the recipients of the invitation SMS messages to initiate a connection with the conference call.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conference scheduler database application (29) comprises an application element adapted to gather information required for the call setup or control operation, and to present the information to the service center.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the conference scheduler database application (29) is adapted to retrieve some of the information from a subscriber profile (27a) associated with a subscriber who issued the SMS message.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conference scheduler database application (29) further comprises a database (27d) adapted to store a queue of service requests that is accessed by the call controller.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the service center (4) comprises telephone switching equipment (6) with a conference bridge, the telephone switching equipment being connected to the public switched telephone network (24).

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the switching equipment (6) further comprises interactive voice response (10) functionality.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein call controller (8) is further adapted to access the database (27d) and to interface with the switching equipment (8), which serves as a point of presence in the PSTN (24) to effect the conference call setup or control operation in accordance with the service request.

13. A method of enabling setup and control of a conference call using wireless short message service (SMS) messages, the method comprising receiving at a conference scheduler gateway (32) a SMS message in a predetermined format for requesting a conference call setup operation;

forwarding at least a content of the SMS message to a conference scheduler database application (29); and

generating and issuing call control messages into the PSTN (24) in order to effect the conference call setup operation, CHARACTERIZED By;

determining whether the SMS message requests a setup or control operation, and forwarding a service request to switching equipment (8) connected with a public switched telephone network (24) to effect the conference call setup or control operation, and presenting information as service requests to a call controller (8) of a service center (4) to effect the conference call connection setup or control conference call connections.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein if the SMS message requests a conference call setup operation, the method further comprises a step of formulating and sending messages to invite participants identified in the SMS message to join the conference call.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a step communicating the invitations using SMS messages.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a step of assigning a call identifier to the setup or control operation and communicating a call identifier to prospective participants, so that the participants may initiate a connection to the conference call.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of determining the type of operation requested comprises extracting information from the SMS message.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of determining the type of operation requested further comprises extracting information from a subscriber profile (27a) associated with a subscriber who sent the SMS message.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of forwarding a service request comprises steps of:

adding a service request to a queue (27d); and

accessing the service request in the queue to effect the conference call connection setup or control conference call connections.

20. A computer-readable medium for storing computer-executable instructions for performing the methods claimed in any one of claims 13-19.