Abstract: A system and method for supporting a multi-participant voice conference call using PSTN and Internet networks is described. The method for supporting a multi-participant voice conference call includes receiving voice from a PSTN client. The method also includes receiving voice data from a moderator and from at least one remote client connected to the Internet. The method then proceeds to mix the voice data from the PSTN client with the voice data from the moderator into a first mixed voice data that is transmitted to the remote client that is connected to the Internet. The method also mixes the voice data from the moderator with the voice data from the remote client connected to the Internet into a second mixed voice data that is transmitted to the PSTN client.

Abstract: A method which allows standard telephone users to audio conference with video conferencing participants over IP networks in a private secure environment. A dial-out is performed from one or more conference client terminals bridging audio between the Internet and the PSTN networks. The process uses a mixed mode hybrid network architecture for call set-up, initialization and teardown including the method to mix audio at the desktop terminal instead of in a general purpose server as in the prior art. The method conferences video and audio between multiple clients and include audio from a standard telephone network within the conference. A virtual private network connects all of the IP clients together including the voice over IP server used to transcode the proprietary audio into the H.323 standard for transport into the telephony network.