System and method for muting alarms during a conference

• US 6,914,519 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/456,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 340/488, 340/508, 340/691.1, 340/691.3, 340/691.6, 340/3.1, 340/825.36, 340/7.51, 340/7.58, 340/7.6, 340/286.02
• US Class Current: 340/286.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for muting or disabling audible alarms or alerts during a conference or collaboration event are provided. During the conference or collaboration event, users may participate in the conference via user or client devices (e.g., computers) that are connected to or in communication with a server or collaboration system. A server, collaboration system or other device or application detects the setting of a mute alarm preference regarding one or more users. This may occur prior to a conference or during the conference. The server, collaboration system or other device then may cause the appropriate muting to occur at the appropriate or desired client devices and/or disable or mute audible alarms at one or more of the client devices (120a, 120n, 122a, 122n).

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a conference call, comprising:

initiating a conference call, said conference call having at least one associated user;

detecting a setting of a mute alarm preference for said at least one associated user; and

disabling an audible alarm setting for a device associated with said at least one user based on said mute alarm preference during the conference call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating a conference call includes facilitating communication between at least two participants in said conference call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a setting of a mute alarm preference for said at least one associated user includes detecting said setting of said mute alarm preference prior to said conference call beginning.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a setting of a mute alarm preference for said at least one associated user includes detecting said setting of said mute alarm preference after said conference call has started.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said disabling an audible alarm setting for a device associated with said at least one user based on said mute alarm preference includes sending data to said device instructing said device to disable said audible alarm.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a visual alarm setting for said device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling original settings for said device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said mute alarm preference is indicative of at least one of the following:

a desire to mute an audible alarm for all participants in said conference call;

a desire to mute a specific type of alarm for said at least one user; and

a desire to mute a specific type of alarm for all participants in said conference call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said mute alarm preference is indicative of at least one of the following:

a desire to mute an instant message alarm associated with said at least one user;

a desire to mute an email message alarm associated with said at least one user;

a desire to mute a calendar alarm associated with said at least one user; and

a desire to mute a task reminder alarm associated with said at least one user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a permission setting associated with said audible alarm and said associated user.

11. A method for facilitating a conference call, comprising:

detecting a setting of a mute alarm preference for at least one user associated with a conference call; and

disabling an audible alarm setting for a device associated with said at least one user based on said mute alarm preference during the conference call.

12. A system for facilitating a conference, comprising:

a network;

at least one client device operably connected to said network;

a server operably coupled to said network, said server adapted to manage a conference call and to provide data to said at least one client device instructing said client device to mute an audible alarm during the conference call.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said server is adapted to display a window indicating participants in said conference call.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said server is adapted to receive input via said window, said input being indicative of a type of audible alarm that is to be muted.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said server is adapted to receive input via said window, said input indicating that an audible alarm associated with at least one participant in said conference call to be muted.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said server is adapted to receive input via said window, said input indicating that a visual alarm is to be provided to at least one participant in said conference call.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said server includes a conference system.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said server is adapted to receive data indicative of a type of alarm to be muted.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said server is adapted to receive data indicative of at least one user for whom an alarm is to be muted.

20. A system for facilitating a conference call, comprising:

a memory;

a communication port; and

a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;

detect setting of a mute alarm preference for at least one user associated with a conference call; and

disable an audible alarm setting for a device associated with said at least one user based on said mute alarm preference during the conference call.

21. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for facilitating a conference call, comprising:

first instructions for determining the setting of a mute alarm preference for at least one user associated with a conference call; and

second instructions for muting an audible alarm for a device associated with said at least one user based on said mute alarm preference during the conference call.