Establishing a Remotely Hosted Conference Initiated with One Button Push

• US 20090240770A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guo, Yu, Kalipatnapu, Rajah K.V.R., Shah, Krutarth M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method includes registering with a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity and a request to enable conferencing with a second entity. The method also includes querying the first remote conference manager for at least one conference room hosted by the second entity and updating a directory of conference rooms comprising at least one local conference room to further comprise the at least one remote conference room. The method further includes receiving a request to schedule a conference. Upon determining at least one remote conference room is to be used for the scheduled conference, the method also includes transmitting the request to the first remote conference manager. Upon the second remote conference manager transmitting an acceptance of the conference, the method also includes receiving details from the first remote conference manager for establishing a connection for use with the conference and transmitting the details to the at least one local conference room.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering with a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity;

transmitting to the first remote conference manager a request to enable conferencing with a second entity, the second entity operating a second remote conference manager registered with the first remote conference manager;

querying the first remote conference manager for information indicative of at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity;

updating a directory of conference rooms comprising at least one local conference room to further comprise the at least one remote conference room;

receiving a request to schedule a conference; and

upon determining at least one remote conference room is to be used for the scheduled conference;

transmitting the request to the first remote conference manager; and

upon the second remote conference manager transmitting an acceptance of the scheduled conference;

receiving details from the first remote conference manager for establishing a connection for use with the scheduled conference; and

transmitting the details for establishing the connection for use with the scheduled conference to the at least one local conference room.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the availability of the at least one remote conference room.

3. The method of claim 1:

further comprising receiving a credential supplied by the first entity; and

wherein registering with a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity comprises registering with a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity using the credential supplied by the first entity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the first remote conference manager a room alias representing at least one remote conference room.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting to the first remote conference manager information indicative of the at least one local conference room.

6. A method comprising:

registering a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity;

registering a second remote conference manager operated by a second entity;

receiving a request from the first entity for a conference with the second entity;

reserving at least one resource for use in facilitating the conference;

upon receiving from the second conference manager a message rejecting the request for the conference;

releasing the reservation of the at least one resource for use in facilitating the conference; and

transmitting a message indicating the second conference manager rejected the request for the conference; and

upon receiving from the second conference manager a message accepting the request for the conference transmitting to the first remote conference manager and the second remote conference manager details for establishing a connection for use with the conference.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting to the second conference manager a request from the first conference manager requesting to enable conferencing between the first entity and the second entity.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving information indicative of at least one conference room operated by the first entity and at least one conference room operated by the second entity;

transmitting to the first remote conference manager the information indicative of the at least one conference room operated by the second entity;

transmitting to the second remote conference manager the information indicative of the at least one conference room operated by the first entity; and

transmitting to the second remote conference manager a request received from the first conference manager requesting a conference.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving from the first remote conference manager a room alias representing at least one remote conference room.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the first entity with access to the room availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a request for access to the availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity;

transmitting the request to the second conference manager;

upon receiving the availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity, transmitting the availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity.

12. A system comprising:

an interface operable to;

transmit a registration request to a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity;

transmit to the first remote conference manager a request to enable conferencing with a second entity, the second entity operating a second remote conference manager registered with the first remote conference manager; and

query the first remote conference manager for information indicative of at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to update a directory of conference rooms comprising at least one local conference room to further comprise the at least one remote conference room;

wherein the interface is further operable to;

receive a request to schedule a conference; and

upon the processor determining at least one remote conference room is to be used for the scheduled conference;

transmit the request to the first remote conference manager; and

upon the second remote conference manager transmitting an acceptance of the scheduled conference;

receive details from the first remote conference manager for establishing a connection for use with the scheduled conference; and

transmit the details for establishing the connection for use with the scheduled conference to the at least one local conference room.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to determine the availability of the at least one remote conference room.

14. The system of claim 12:

wherein the interface is further operable to receive a credential supplied by the first entity; and

wherein the interface operable to transmit a registration request to a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity comprises an interface operable to transmit a registration request to a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity using the credential supplied by the first entity.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the interface is further operable to receive from the first remote conference manager a room alias representing at least one remote conference room.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the interface is further operable to transmit to the first remote conference manager information indicative of the at least one local conference room.

17. A system comprising:

an interface operable to;

receive a registration request from a first remote conference manager operated by a first entity;

receive a registration request from a second remote conference manager operated by a second entity;

receive a request from the first entity for a conference with the second entity; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to;

reserve at least one resource for use in facilitating the conference; and

upon receiving from the second conference manager a message rejecting the request for the conference;

release the reservation of the at least one resource for use in facilitating the conference;

wherein the interface is further operable to transmit a message indicating the second conference manager rejected the request for the conference; and

upon receiving from the second conference manager a message accepting the request for the conference the interface is further operable to transmit to the first remote conference manager and the second remote conference manager details for establishing a connection for use with the conference.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the interface is further operable to transmit to the second conference manager a request from the first conference manager requesting to enable conferencing between the first entity and the second entity.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the interface is further operable to:

receive information indicative of at least one conference room operated by the first entity and at least one conference room operated by the second entity;

transmit to the first remote conference manager the information indicative of the at least one conference room operated by the second entity;

transmit to the second remote conference manager the information indicative of the at least one conference room operated by the first entity; and

transmit to the second remote conference manager a request received from the first conference manager requesting a conference.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the interface is further operable to receive from the first remote conference manager a room alias representing at least one remote conference room.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the interface is further operable to provide the first entity with access to the room availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the interface is further operable to:

receive a request for access to the availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity;

transmit the request to the second conference manager;

upon receiving the availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity, transmit the availability of the at least one remote conference room operated by the second entity.