System and method for initiating a conference call
First Claim
Patent Images
23. A method for initiating a conference call, comprising the steps of:
- providing a conference call server;
providing a call requester with a network accessible device, the network accessible device being communicably connected to an instant messaging service, said instant messaging service being adapted to communicate conference call request information with said conference call server;
presenting said conference call requester with a display showing at least one potential target with whom a conference call may be initiated, said display further indicating whether said potential target is communicably connected to said instant messaging service;
generating a conference call request by said conference call requester, said conference call request identifying at least one potential target for joining in a conference call;
transmitting said generated call request from said conference call requester to said conference call server;
receiving said generated call request at said conference call server;
parsing said conference call request to determine parameters associated with a requested conference call; and
initiating a conference call in accordance with parameters associated with the requested conference call.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for initiating conference calls via an instant messaging system to reduce the effort required to initiate and manage the call. The system uses an IM connection between a requesting party and a conference call server to inform the conference call server of the desire to initiate the conference call. The conference call server may initiate the conference call by having involved parties called by a conference bridge, thus reducing the effort required by the parties to join the call.
163 Citations
79 Claims
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23. A method for initiating a conference call, comprising the steps of:
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providing a conference call server;
providing a call requester with a network accessible device, the network accessible device being communicably connected to an instant messaging service, said instant messaging service being adapted to communicate conference call request information with said conference call server;
presenting said conference call requester with a display showing at least one potential target with whom a conference call may be initiated, said display further indicating whether said potential target is communicably connected to said instant messaging service;
generating a conference call request by said conference call requester, said conference call request identifying at least one potential target for joining in a conference call;
transmitting said generated call request from said conference call requester to said conference call server;
receiving said generated call request at said conference call server;
parsing said conference call request to determine parameters associated with a requested conference call; and
initiating a conference call in accordance with parameters associated with the requested conference call. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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38-1. A method for initiating a conference call according to claim 23, wherein said network access device comprises a personal computer.
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51. A method for initiating a conference call, comprising the steps of:
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providing a conference call server;
providing a call requester with a network accessible device, the network accessible device having instant messaging software thereon, said instant messaging software being adapted to communicate conference call request information with said conference call server;
presenting to said conference call requester a display showing at least one potential target with whom a conference call may be initiated, said display further indicating whether said potential target is communicably connected to said instant messaging service;
generating a conference call request by the call requester;
transmitting said generated call request from said call requester to said conference call server;
receiving said generated call request at said conference call server;
parsing said conference call request to determine parameters associated with a requested conference call; and
initiating a conference call across a conference call connection in accordance with parameters associated with the requested conference call. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A system for initiating conference calls, comprising:
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a conference call server, said conference call server having a network connection communicable with network access devices, said conference call server further comprising a database for storing prospective target information;
at least one network access device, said at least one network access device being communicably connected to an instant messaging service, said instant messaging client being adapted to communicate a conference call request to said conference call server;
a conference call bridge, said conference call bridge having a plurality of communications paths and hardware or software for bridging at least two of said paths for enabling a conference call. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeUniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
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Original AssigneeLinqware Inc.
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InventorsTurner, Tod
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Granted Patent
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Time in Patent OfficeDays
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Field of Search
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US Class Current379/202.10
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CPC Class CodesH04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arr...H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time...H04L 51/043 using or handling presence ...H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated confere...H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered b...H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting...H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systemsH04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain en...H04M 7/003 Click to dial servicesH04M 7/128 Details of addressing, dire...
