Abstract: Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons include receiving quorum data and location data. Quorum data indicates a quorum for a particular conference. Location data indicates locations of a plurality of persons who satisfy the quorum. A proposed location for the particular conference is determined based on the location data and the quorum data. These techniques allow location data to include presence data that describes a current location of a person or a state of communication of that person; and therefore allow presence data to be used in determining where to conduct a conference and when. For example, an organizer of a meeting and meeting invitees are notified when the people constituting a quorum cross paths at the same location, or are situated at sites that support remote conferencing.

Abstract: Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons include receiving quorum data and location data. Quorum data indicates a quorum for a particular conference. Location data indicates locations of a plurality of persons who satisfy the quorum. A proposed location for the particular conference is determined based on the location data and the quorum data. These techniques allow location data to include presence data that describes a current location of a person or a state of communication of that person; and therefore allow presence data to be used in determining where to conduct a conference and when. For example, an organizer of a meeting and meeting invitees are notified when the people constituting a quorum cross paths at the same location, or are situated at sites that support remote conferencing.

Abstract: Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons include receiving quorum data, availability data and cost data. Quorum data indicates a quorum for a particular conference. Availability data indicates availability of a plurality of persons who satisfy the quorum. Cost data indicates a cost to be incurred while conducting a conference. A proposed cost for the particular conference that satisfies the quorum is determined based on the quorum data, the availability data and the cost data. These techniques allow costs of products and services that support a scheduled conference to be estimated, and allow those products and services to be reserved and paid for without additional manual input.

Abstract: Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons include receiving quorum data and location data. Quorum data indicates a quorum for a particular conference. Location data indicates locations of a plurality of persons who satisfy the quorum. A proposed location for the particular conference is determined based on the location data and the quorum data. These techniques allow location data to include presence data that describes a current location of a person or a state of communication of that person; and therefore allow presence data to be used in determining where to conduct a conference and when. For example, an organizer of a meeting and meeting invitees are notified when the people constituting a quorum cross paths at the same location, or are situated at sites that support remote conferencing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling a conference among multiple persons includes receiving group data that indicates persons in a first group. Availability data is received from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population of persons that includes the persons from the first group. Quorum data is received that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and less than all persons in the first group; thus the first group is a called a “representative group.” A proposed time interval that satisfies the quorum based on the group data, the availability data, and the quorum data is determined for the particular conference.

Abstract: Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons include receiving quorum data and location data. Quorum data indicates a quorum for a particular conference. Location data indicates locations of a plurality of persons who satisfy the quorum. A proposed location for the particular conference is determined based on the location data and the quorum data. These techniques allow location data to include presence data that describes a current location of a person or a state of communication of that person; and therefore allow presence data to be used in determining where to conduct a conference and when. For example, an organizer of a meeting and meeting invitees are notified when the people constituting a quorum cross paths at the same location, or are situated at sites that support remote conferencing.

Abstract: Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons includes receiving a conference request to schedule a particular conference. The conference request includes quorum data and limit data. The quorum data indicates a quorum of persons to conduct the particular conference. The limit data indicates a limit on a property of the particular conference, such as a limit on the date, time, location, language, or travel cost. The method also includes receiving availability data from a shared database that includes information about a recorded commitment of time for each person of a population. Also received is priority data that indicates an importance to an organization that a particular recorded commitment of a particular person is honored. A proposed time interval for the particular conference is determined based on the conference request and the availability data and the priority data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling a conference among multiple persons includes receiving group data that indicates persons in a first group. Availability data is received from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population of persons that includes the persons from the first group. Quorum data is received that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and less than all persons in the first group; thus the first group is a called a “representative group.” A proposed time interval that satisfies the quorum based on the group data, the availability data, and the quorum data is determined for the particular conference.

Abstract: Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons include receiving quorum data, availability data and cost data. Quorum data indicates a quorum for a particular conference. Availability data indicates availability of a plurality of persons who satisfy the quorum. Cost data indicates a cost to be incurred while conducting a conference. A proposed cost for the particular conference that satisfies the quorum is determined based on the quorum data, the availability data and the cost data. These techniques allow costs of products and services that support a scheduled conference to be estimated, and allow those products and services to be reserved and paid for without additional manual input.

Abstract: A user connected to a data network controls a parallel teleconference network by sending requests through the data network. The requests are validated against permissions granted to the user and an action associated with a request is performed at the teleconferencing network if the request is validated. A status for a teleconference hosted by the teleconferencing network may be sent when the action is performed or when other changes occur during the teleconference. A voice message also may be sent to a user that is affected by the action. In one aspect, the allowed actions are presented to the user through the data network. In another aspect, a graphical user interface for controlling the teleconferencing network is presented to the user through the data network.

Abstract: A user connected to a data network controls a parallel teleconference network by sending requests through the data network. The requests are validated against permissions granted to the user and an action associated with a request is performed at the teleconferencing network if the request is validated. A status for a teleconference hosted by the teleconferencing network may be sent when the action is performed or when other changes occur during the teleconference. A voice message also may be sent to a user that is affected by the action. In one aspect, the allowed actions are presented to the user through the data network. In another aspect, a graphical user interface for controlling the teleconferencing network is presented to the user through the data network.