Method and apparatus for wireless auto-conferencing

• US 7,039,395 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kundaje, Vinay, Leone, David Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Ming
• Application Number:
  US09/734,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20030224816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/402, 455/414, 455/519, 455/515, 379/177
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• 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: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

A method of managing telephone calls to members of a user group. A call initiation request is received. The request is directed to a telephone number that is associated with a user group. The members of the user group are notified that a call initiation request has been directed to the user group. A signal is received from a first member of the user group indicating acceptance of the call initiation request, and a call is connected between the first initiating party and the member. The other members of the user group are notified that the first member has accepted the call initiation request.

Claims

1. A method of managing telephone calls to members of a user group, the method comprising:

receiving from a first initiating party a first call initiation request directed to a first telephone number that is associated with a user group, the user group having as members a plurality of wireless telephones;

signaling to the members of the user group that the first call initiation request has been directed to the first telephone number;

receiving a signal from a first member of the user group indicating acceptance of the first call initiation request;

connecting a first call between the first initiating party and the first member; and

signaling to the other members of the user group that the first member has accepted the first call initiation request without first requiring that a signal be received from another member of the user group either that requests a call initiation or that indicates acceptance of the first call initiation request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request from a second member of the user group to join the first call; and

joining the second member to the first call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from the first member a request to block other members from joining the first call; and

blocking other members from joining the first call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from a second initiating party a second call initiation request directed to a second telephone number that is only associated with a second member of the user group;

alerting the second member of the user group that a call initiation request has been directed at the second member;

receiving an indication that the second member of the user group desires to accept the second call initiation request; and

connecting a second call between the second initiating party and the second member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method farther comprises:

receiving a second call initiation request from a second member of the user group while the first call is in progress; and

connecting a second call between the second member of the user group and another party while the first call is in progress.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein signaling the members of the user group that a call initiation request has been directed to the user group includes sending the members information identifying the initiating party, and wherein signaling the other members of the user group that the first party has accepted the first call initiation request includes sending the other members information identifying the first member.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first initiating party is not a member of the user group.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the other members of the user group are not sent a signal indicating that the first member has accepted the first call initiation request if the first member has supervisory authority.

9. A system for managing telephone calls to members of a user group, the system comprising:

a processor,

a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by the processor, the instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive from a first initiating party a first call initiation request directed to a first telephone number that is associated with a user group, the user group having as members a plurality of wireless telephones;

determine the members of the user group using a user group database;

signal to the members of the user group that a call initiation request has been directed to the first telephone number;

receive a signal from a first member of the user group indicating a desire to accept the first call initiation request;

connect a first call between the first initiating party and the first member; and

signal the other members of the user group that the first member has accepted the first call initiation request without first requiring that a signal be received from another member of the user group either that requests a call initiation or that indicates a desire to accept the first call initiation request.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive a request from a second member of the user group to join the first call; and

join the second member to the first call as a conference call.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive from the first member a request to block other members from joining the first call; and

block other members from joining the first call.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive from a second initiating party a second call initiation request directed to a second telephone number that is only associated with a second member of the user group;

alert the second member of the user group that a call initiation request has been directed at the second member;

receive an indication that the second member of the user group desires to accept the second call initiation request; and

connect a second call between the second initiating party and the second member.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive a second call initiation request from a second member of the user group while the first call is in progress; and

connect a second call between the second member of the user group and another party while the first call is in progress.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions to signal the members of the user group that a call initiation request has been directed to the user group includes instructions to send the members information identifying the initiating party, and wherein the instructions to signal the other members of the user group that the first party has accepted the first call initiation request includes instructions to send the other members information identifying the first member.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first initiating party is not a member of the user group.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive a request over a network to establish a new user group; and

update the user group database to add the new user group.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive a request over a network from a member of the user group to modify attributes of the user group; and

update the user group database to modify the attributes of the user group.

18. A method of managing a telephone call directed to a user group, the method comprising:

receiving at a first wireless telephone a first signal indicating that a call initiation request has been directed by an initiating party to a first telephone number that is associated with a user group, the user group having as members a plurality of wireless telephones, the first wireless telephone being a member of the user group;

receiving a second signal at the first wireless telephone indicating that a second member of the user group has accepted the call initiation request;

receiving a third signal at the first wireless telephone indicating that a call has been connected between the initiating party and the second member; and

sending a signal from the first wireless telephone requesting to join the call.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving the first signal, second signal, and third signal each further include outputting an indication that the respective signal was received on an output device on the first wireless telephone.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a signal indicating that the first wireless telephone is to block other members from joining the call.

21. A wireless telephone, the wireless telephone comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by the processor, the instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive a first input indicating that a call initiation request has been directed by an initiating party to a first telephone number that is associated with a user group, the user group having as members a plurality of wireless telephones, the wireless telephone being a member of the user group;

receive a second input indicating that a second member of the user group has accepted the call initiation request;

receive a third input indicating that a call has been connected between the initiating party and the second member; and

send a signal from the wireless telephone requesting to join the call.

22. The wireless telephone of claim 21, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

cause an output on an output device on the wireless telephone indicating that the first input, second input, and third input were received by the wireless telephone.

23. The wireless telephone of claim 21, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive an input indicating that the wireless telephone is to block other members from joining the call.