Methods and systems for computer enhanced conference calling

• US 8,798,251 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Rajagopalan, Mahesh, Roberts, Brian F., Kunuturi, Nagendra, Mambakkam, Ramkumar K.
• Primary Examiner(s): GAY, SONIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/721,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,907 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/211.02, 379/201.01, 709/204, 709/205, 370/260, 345/751
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention establish a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user. A service center detects a computer-enhanced conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user. Conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event are thereafter contacted. After at least one response from the conference users is received, a conference call between the initiating user and the conference users is established based on the at least one received response. The service center also establishes a collaboration between the initiating user and conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

initiating contact with one or more conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;

initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;

receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information;

determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

providing a notification of the computer-enhanced conference call to the first conference user at the preferred device;

receiving at least one response from the one or more conference users to accept the computer-enhanced conference call;

establishing the computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the accepting conference users based on the at least one received response;

establishing the collaboration to share data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, the data being shared interactively during the computer-enhanced conference call; and

processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event comprises:

scanning a data structure for the computer-enhanced conference call event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data structure comprises a calendar application associated with the initiating user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer-enhanced conference call event comprises a trigger indicating a proposed computer-enhanced conference call previously scheduled by the initiating user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the proposed computer-enhanced conference call identifies the conference users; and

identifying conference users comprises;

collecting identifiers for the conference users from a first data structure corresponding to the computer-enhanced conference call event; and

collecting contact information for the conference users from a second data structure based on the conference user identifiers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first data structure comprises a calendar application, and the second data structure comprises an address book listing at least the conference users and their corresponding contact information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating contact with the conference users comprises:

collecting contact information associated with the conference users; and

attempting to establish a communication connection with the conference users using the contact information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the contact information comprises telephone numbers associated with the conference users and attempting to establish a communication connection comprises:

dialing out to conference users using telephone numbers corresponding to the conference users.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a notification of the computer-enhanced conference call to the first conference user at the preferred device comprises:

sending the notification, presenting the first conference user with an option for accepting or declining the computer enhanced conference call.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the computer-enhanced conference call comprises:

connecting calls to devices of conference users based on the at least one response received from the conference users to accept the computer-enhanced conference call.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein connecting calls comprises:

bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and conference users that accepted the computer-enhanced conference call so that the initiating user and the conference users that accepted the computer-enhanced conference call may conduct the computer-enhanced conference call; and

providing the initiating user with notification of any conference user that declined the computer-enhanced conference call.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the calls is forwarded to a preferred device of one of the conference users.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein establishing the collaboration comprises:

launching collaboration software corresponding to the initiating user and authorized conference users so that the initiating users and authorized conference users may participate in the collaboration.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a preferred device comprises:

retrieving call preference information corresponding to the first conference user based on the call information; and

selecting the preferred device for the first conference user based on the retrieved call preference information.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a designation, from at least one of the conference users, of a preferred device to participate in the collaboration.

61. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information is provided by the initiating user in advance of detecting the computer-enhanced conference call event.

62. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration comprises determining that information associated with the first conference user does not appear in the first information.

63. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred device for the first conference user is based on whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration.

16. A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

initiating contact with one or more conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;

initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;

receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information identifying a first device and a second device associated with the first conference user, the calendar information reflecting that the first device is preferred by the first conference user for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a first time period and the second device is preferred for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a second time period;

determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users to establish a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users, wherein at least one of the calls is forwarded to the first conference user at the preferred device;

establishing the collaboration to share the data interactively among the initiating user and a subset of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration, the subset being based on the first information, the data being shared interactively by the first conference user during the computer-enhanced conference call;

sending notifications of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the conference users; and

processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call request by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the request and records a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the request and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event comprises;

scanning a data structure for the computer-enhanced conference call event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data structure comprises a calendar application associated with the initiating user.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the computer-enhanced conference call event comprises a trigger indicating a proposed computer-enhanced conference call previously scheduled by the initiating user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the proposed computer-enhanced conference call identifies the conference users; and

identifying conference users includes;

collecting identifiers for the conference users from a first data structure corresponding to the computer-enhanced conference call event; and

collecting contact information for the conference users from a second data structure based on the conference user identifiers.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first data structure comprises a calendar application, and the second data structure comprises an address book listing at least the conference users and their corresponding contact information.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein initiating contact with the conference users comprises:

collecting contact information associated with the conference users; and

attempting to establish a communication connection with the conference users using the contact information.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the contact information comprises telephone numbers associated with the conference users and attempting to establish a communication connection comprises:

dialing out to conference users using telephone numbers corresponding to the conference users.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the collaboration comprises:

launching collaboration software corresponding to the initiating user and authorized conference users so that the initiating users and authorized conference users may participate in the collaboration.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the sending comprises;

retrieving data corresponding to the conference users;

selecting devices associated with the conference users to receive the notification based on the retrieved data; and

providing the notification to the selected devices for display on the selected devices.

26. The method of claim 16, comprising receiving a designation, from at least one of the conference users, of a preferred device to participate in the collaboration.

27. A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call, comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of conference users, including an initiating user, that was setup by the initiating user, comprising first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

initiating a process of connecting a call with the plurality of conference users at a device associated with each of the plurality of conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;

receiving call information for each of the plurality of conference users in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for each of the plurality of conference users based on the call information;

determining whether each of the plurality of conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the plurality of conference users;

receiving a response to the notification;

establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users based on the response;

establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call; and

processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

28. An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user, comprising:

means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by the initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call associated with information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

means for initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;

means for initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;

means for receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;

means for determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information;

means for determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

means for providing a notification of the computer-enhanced conference call to the first conference user at the preferred device;

means for receiving at least one response from the conference users to accept the computer-enhanced conference call;

means for establishing the computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users based on the at least one received response;

means for establishing the collaboration to share data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, the data being shared interactively during the computer-enhanced conference call;

wherein the means for connecting calls comprises means for providing the initiating user with notification of any conference user that declined the computer-enhanced conference call; and

wherein the means for connecting calls allows users to decline the call, by performing at least one of;

setting an alternate contact telephone number;

or

setting a period of time in which the conference user declining the call is to be contacted again.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event comprises:

means for scanning a data structure for the computer-enhanced conference call event.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the data structure comprises a calendar application associated with the initiating user.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the computer-enhanced conference call event comprises a trigger indicating a proposed computer-enhanced conference call previously scheduled by the initiating user.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the proposed computer-enhanced conference call identifies the conference users and the means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event comprises:

means for collecting identifiers for the conference users from a first data structure corresponding to the computer-enhanced conference call event; and

means for collecting contact information for the conference users from a second data structure based on the conference user identifiers.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first data structure comprises a calendar application and the second data structure comprises an address book listing at least the conference users and their corresponding contact information.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for initiating contact with the conference users comprises:

means for collecting contact information associated with the conference users; and

means for attempting to establish a communication connection with the conference users using the contact information.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the contact information comprises telephone numbers associated with the conference users and the means for initiating a process of connecting the call comprises:

means for dialing out to conference users using telephone numbers corresponding to the conference users.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for providing a notification of the computer-enhanced conference call to the first conference user at the preferred device comprises:

means for sending the notification, wherein the notification presents the first conference user with an option for accepting or declining the computer enhanced conference call.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for establishing the computer-enhanced conference call comprises:

means for connecting calls to devices of conference users based on the at least one response received from the conference users to accept the computer-enhanced conference call.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for connecting calls comprises:

means for bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and conference users that accepted the computer-enhanced conference call so that the initiating user and the conference users that accepted the computer-enhanced conference call may conduct the computer-enhanced conference call.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of the calls is forwarded to a preferred device of one of the conference users.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means for establishing the collaboration comprises:

means for launching collaboration software corresponding to the initiating user and authorized conference users so that the initiating users and authorized conference users may participate in the collaboration.

41. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for determining a preferred device comprises:

means for retrieving call preference information corresponding to the first conference user based on the call information; and

means for selecting a preferred device for the first conference user based on the retrieved call preference information.

42. The apparatus of claim 28, comprising means for receiving a designation, from at least one of the conference users, of a preferred device to participate in the collaboration.

43. An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

means for initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;

means for initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;

means for receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;

means for determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information identifying a first device and a second device associated with the first conference user, the calendar information reflecting that the first device is preferred by the first conference user for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a first time period and the second device is preferred for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a second time period;

means for determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

means for bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users to establish a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users, wherein at least one of he calls is forwarded to the first conference user at the preferred device;

means for establishing the collaboration to share the data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, the data being shared interactively by the first user during the computer-enhanced conference call; and

means for sending notifications of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the conference users, the conference users able to decline the call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the request, and recording a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the request, and setting a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event comprises:

means for scanning a data structure for the computer-enhanced conference call event.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the data structure comprises a calendar application associated with the initiating user.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the computer-enhanced conference call event comprises a trigger indicating a proposed computer-enhanced conference call previously scheduled by the initiating user.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the proposed computer-enhanced conference call identifies the conference users and means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event includes:

means for collecting identifiers for the conference users from a first data structure corresponding to the computer-enhanced conference call event; and

means for collecting contact information for the conference users from a second data structure based on the conference user identifiers.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first data structure comprises a calendar application and the second data structure comprises an address book listing at least the conference users and their corresponding contact information.

49. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for initiating contact with the conference users comprises:

means for collecting contact information associated with the conference users; and

means for attempting to establish a communication connection with the conference users using the contact information.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the contact information comprises telephone numbers associated with the conference users and the means for attempting to establish a communication connection comprises:

means for dialing out to conference users using telephone numbers corresponding to the conference users.

51. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for establishing the collaboration comprises:

means for launching collaboration software corresponding to the initiating user and authorized conference users so that the initiating users and authorized conference users may participate in the collaboration.

52. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for sending comprises:

means for retrieving data corresponding to the conference users;

means for selecting devices associated with the conference users to receive the notification based on the retrieved data; and

means for providing the notification to the selected devices for display on the selected devices.

53. The apparatus of claim 43, comprising means for receiving a designation, from at least one of the conference users, of a preferred device to participate in the collaboration.

54. An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call, comprising:

means for receiving information pertaining to a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of conference users, including an initiating user, that was setup by the initiating user, comprising first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

means for initiating a process of connecting a call with the plurality of conference users at a device associated with each of the plurality of conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;

means for receiving call information for each of the plurality of conference users in response to the interception of the call;

means for determining a preferred device for each of the plurality of conference users based on the call information;

means for determining whether each of the plurality of conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

means for sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the plurality of conference users;

means for receiving a response to the notification;

means for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and conference users based on the response;

means for establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call; and

means for sending notifications of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the conference users, the conference users able to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call, and setting an alternate contact telephone number, or

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call, and setting a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

55. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with the first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;

initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;

receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information;

determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

providing a notification of the computer-enhanced conference call to the first conference user at the preferred device;

receiving at least one response from the conference users to accept the computer-enhanced conference call;

establishing the computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the accepting conference users based on the at least one received response;

establishing the collaboration to share second data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, and the second data being shared interactively during the computer-enhanced conference call; and

processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

56. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;

initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;

receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information identifying a first device and a second device associated with a first conference user, the calendar information reflecting that the first device is preferred by the first conference user for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a first time period and the second device is preferred for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a second time period;

determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users to establish a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users, wherein at least one of the calls is forwarded to the first conference user at the preferred device based on the determination that the computer-enhanced conference call falls within the first time period;

establishing the collaboration to share the data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, the data being shared interactively by the first conference user during the computer-enhanced conference call; and

processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users declining the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and records a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

57. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call, the method comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of conference users, including an initiating user, that was setup by the initiating user, comprising first information about one or more conference users authorized to participate in a collaboration;

initiating a process of connecting a call with the plurality of conference users at a device associated with each of the plurality of conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;

receiving call information for each of the plurality of conference users in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for each of the plurality of conference users based on the call information;

determining whether each of the plurality of conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the plurality of conference users;

receiving a response to the notification;

establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the plurality of conference users based on the response;

establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the response based on the first information concerning authorization, the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call; and

processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

58. An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

a first server operable to detect a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

a second server operable to initiate contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;

a third server operable to initiate a process of connect the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;

a fourth server operable to receive call information in response to the interception of the call; and

a conference bridge operable to bridge calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users based on responses from the conference users,

wherein;

a collaboration is established to share data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, and;

one of the calls is bridged to the first conference user at a preferred device for the first conference user;

the preferred device for the first conference user is determined based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information reflecting that the computer-enhanced conference call occurs during a time period when the first conference user prefers to use the preferred device to share the data interactively during the computer-enhanced conference call;

a determination of whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration is made based on the first information; and

processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call is done by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the on conference user which declines the call and records a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or

receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

59. A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event set up by an initiating user, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

initiating a process of connecting a call with conference users at a device associated with each of the conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the conference users;

receiving call information for each of the conference users in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for each of the conference users based on the call information;

determining whether each of the conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the conference users;

receiving at least one response from the conference users;

establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users based on the at least one received response;

establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, and the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call; and

processing a conference user declining the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

60. A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event set up by an initiating user, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;

initiating a process of connecting a call with conference users at a device associated with each of the conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;

receiving call information for each of the conference users in response to the interception of the call;

determining a preferred device for each of the conference users based on the call information;

determining whether each of the conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;

sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the conference users;

receiving at least one response from the conference users;

bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users;

establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, the collaboration excluding at least one unauthorized conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call; and

processing a conference user declining the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of;

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or

receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.