Operator Setup Of The Conference Patents (Class 370/262)
  • Patent number: 9179482
    Abstract: When an incoming communication is directed to a telephony device that is capable of conducting an IP-based communication via an IP telephony system and a cellular-based communication via a mobile telephony service provider, the communication is initially setup as a cellular-based communication via the mobile telephony service provider. At the same time, an IP-based communication channel is setup between the telephony device and an IP telephony system. Once the IP-based communication channel is available, the communication is transitioned from the cellular-based communication channel to the IP-based communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: VONAGE NETWORK, LLC
    Inventors: Tzahi Efrati, Baruch Sterman
  • Patent number: 9041765
    Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints and enables a multi-party video conferencing session in real time among the plurality of participants. Each of the participants is offered a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing participants and a moderator of the video conference is further offered with in-meeting management and control over a plurality of security and privacy settings during the video conference. These interactions encompass controlling of a video conferencing session, its configuration, privacy, security, the visual layout of the participants, customization of the VMR and adaptation of the room to different vertical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Blue Jeans Network
    Inventors: Alagu Periyannan, Krish Ramakrishnan, Raghavan Anand, Anand Raghavan, Ravi Kiran Kalluri, Emmanuel Weber
  • Patent number: 9036510
    Abstract: A method for a setting up a conference call with a mobile station and an intermediary mobile station, using the intermediary mobile station as a bridged-node. When a conference server receives a request to setup a conference call, the conference server initiates conference setup signaling with both mobile stations using a cellular link. The conference server uses the conference setup signaling to direct one mobile station to act as a bridged-node and the other mobile station to act as a bridged-leg. Responsive to the directives, the bridged-leg mobile station and the bridged-node mobile station establish a Wi-Fi link. The bridged-leg mobile station then uses the Wi-Fi link to bridge to an air traffic channel associated with the bridged-node mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Tong Zhou, David Mohan
  • Patent number: 9030968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for controlling an aspect of a communication session. The method processes the session through a subscriber terminal that also controls a separate a video signal. The method comprises: analyzing call data for the session to determine whether a calling party can initiate the session with a called party; if the calling party is allowed to initiate the session, sending information about the session to the terminal; generating a GUI session from the information for a video monitor connected to the terminal; allowing further processing of the session through the terminal through the GUI session; if a command is received to further process the session, providing a message to the network to process the command; and if a command is received to change an aspect of the video signal, providing an appropriate message to the terminal to process the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Jeff Furlong, Robert J. Beaton
  • Patent number: 9025750
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for determining and utilizing local phone topography is presented. A first signal level for each of a plurality of telephone lines is determined, each of the telephone lines having a telephone of a plurality of telephones associated therewith. A new signal is initiated on another telephone line with an additional telephone. Next, a change in signal level is determined for each of the plurality of telephone lines and, based on the change in signal level for each of the plurality of telephone lines, a determination made regarding which telephones of the plurality of telephones are within a listening distance (also referred to herein as earshot) of the additional telephone. A topography is defined for the telephones and the additional telephone based on the determining which telephones are within a listening distance of the additional telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Connolly
  • Patent number: 9026489
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer method, computer program product, and computer system for automatically updating a conference invitation with contact information corresponding to a user's geographical location. A user on a client device accepts an invitation to a conference. The geographical location of the client device is determined and stored in a database. Using the location of the client device, a conference information database is accessed, and location specific conference contact information is determined. The location specific conference contact information is then input into the conference invitation so that the user has location specific conference contact information. In another embodiment, when the user accesses the conference invitation, the location of the client device is determined, and if the location has changed from when the invitation was accepted, a new location is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Judith H. Bank, Erik S. Bryant, Gary Denner, Patrick J. O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9014060
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure disclose system, apparatus and methods for providing an integrated web conferencing. In various aspects, the disclosure is directed to integrating a VoIP client for audio conferencing with a web client. In particular, the system provides for integrating a web portion of a web conference with an audio portion of the web conference. More specifically, the system, apparatus and methods provide for connecting a VoIP client to an audio conferencing portion of the system to facilitate communications between client and server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Dean Terpstra, Adam Charles Uzelac
  • Patent number: 9001703
    Abstract: A method, system, and device consolidate unicast downlinks in a broadband radio access network (RAN) for a requested group call. A subset of subscriber devices of the group in sufficiently close proximity is detected, one subscriber device in the subset is selected to act as a subscriber device to subscriber device broadcast downlink repeater (SD-BDR), and group call data is transmitted to each subscriber not in a subset via a separate unicast downlink, and to each subset via a single outbound unicast link to the selected subscriber device. The selected SD-BDR in each subset then re-broadcasts the group call data to the other members of the subset, thereby reducing outbound broadband resource usage in the broadband RAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathanael P. Kuehner
  • Patent number: 9002955
    Abstract: A computing network, including: a plurality of peer computing devices including code, which when executed by a peer computing device causes the executing peer computing device to cooperate with at least one other of the peer computing devices; at least one server including code, which when executed by the at least one server locates at least one of the peer computing devices; and at least one mediator including code, which when executed by the at least on mediator collects charging information from at least some of the peer computing devices; wherein, the peer computing devices, at least one sever and at least one mediator are communicatively coupled via an at least carrier-grade telecommunications network being suitable for enhancing cooperation among the cooperating ones of the peer computing devices relative to best-efforts communications among the cooperating ones of the peer computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: ZTE Corporation, ZTE USA Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Shaoyan Ma, Weiyong Zhu, Li Mo
  • Patent number: 8995306
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a multimedia transformation unit, media streams from a plurality of endpoints, transmitting audio components of the media streams to a multipoint conferencing unit, receiving an identifier from the multipoint conferencing unit identifying one of the media streams as an active speaker stream, processing at the multimedia transformation unit, a video component of the active speaker stream, and transmitting the active speaker stream to one or more of the endpoints without transmitting the video component to the multipoint conferencing unit. An apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Puri, Jim Chou
  • Patent number: 8971216
    Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Alcatel Lucent, Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Clemmett Macleod Beck, Jonathan Michael Berke, Joel A Johnstone, Robin Marie Mitchell, James Karl Powers, Mark Franklin Sidell, Charles Dazler Knuff
  • Patent number: 8958535
    Abstract: A method for transferring participation authorization for a scheduled conference call. A conference call server includes a memory for storing conference call scheduling information with respect to a scheduled conference call session, the conference call scheduling information including participant authorizations for eligible communication devices of the scheduled conference call session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Michael Scott Colbert
  • Patent number: 8958536
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an audio/video conference includes receiving audio from a moderator via a circuit-switched telephone network, transmitting a representation of the audio to a first listener group via the circuit-switched telephone network, and transmitting a representation of the audio to a second listener group via a packet-switched network. The audio/video conference may be transmitted to the first listener group and the second listener group in real-time or near real-time (e.g., within a few seconds). The method and system may be used with a circuit-switched telephone network such as, for example, a public switched telephone network. Further, the method and system may be used with a packet-switched network such as, for example, the Internet. The method and system further provide synchronization of video data, including slide data, and audio data related to the audio/video conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cinchcast, Inc.
    Inventors: Avrohom Y. Charish, Alan Levy, Aleksandr Yampolskiy
  • Patent number: 8954501
    Abstract: Described are methods and devices for identifying a group that include various methods to determine a group. Also described are devices and methods for attempting communication with a missing member of the group include different manners in which to determine information related to an entry of a group. The described devices and methods may be particularly beneficial at the particular time the certain group members plan to be or are in communication with one another. In this way, in the event that two or more entries of a group planned to be in communication or are in communication in-real time, in accordance with the disclosed devices and methods, the parties may be able to bring one or more other entries of the group into the communication as needed or desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Steve R. Bunch, Gary W. Grube, Michael A. Newell, Robert J. O'Dea, William L. Olson, Frederick W. Vook
  • Patent number: 8929257
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for media-based (e.g., video and/or audio) conferencing between a plurality of end point devices. The methods and apparatuses provide for secure conferencing while offering a robust feature set that provides call enhancement features such as interactive voice response (IVR) functionality and auto attendance, call security features such as password management, multi-factor authentication and authorization of end points (including filtering and allow/deny functionality), and call compliance features such as recording options, regulatory rules, and other retention/surveillance features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Edifire LLC
    Inventors: Daniel P. Goepp, Eric Anderson, Marc Rudkowski
  • Patent number: 8917635
    Abstract: Method for dynamically optimizing bandwidth allocation in a variable bitrate conference environment. Conference means with two or more outputs are provided, where each one can output data at different rates, in order to support two or more endpoints which may have different media rates. Two or more endpoints are connected to these conference means for participating in the conference. Whenever more than one video rate is used by participants during the conference, each set of output rates is selected from all possible combinations of output rates in the conference means, wherein the lowest output rate in each selected set is the entry rate of the endpoint joining the conference at the lowest rate. A Quality Drop Coefficient (QDC) for each endpoint that joins the conference is determined for each selected set, wherein the QDC is computed according to the endpoint entry rate and the highest rate, among the output rates of each selected set, that is lower or equal to said endpoints' entry rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Avaya, Inc.
    Inventor: Pierre Hagendorf
  • Patent number: 8914070
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communication terminal includes a wireless communication module and a controller. The wireless communication module is configured to communicate with other communication terminals over at least one direct point-to-point wireless interface. The controller is configured to establish a connection with each of a plurality of participant wireless communication terminals via the wireless communication module, to receive an image send command from a user, and to send a digital image file over the at least one direct point-to-point wireless interface to each of the plurality of participant wireless communication terminals as a group responsive to the image send command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Tomas Karl-Axel Wässingbo
  • Publication number: 20140362742
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for facilitating the set-up of a conference call over a telecommunication network, the call being between a first user and a one (or more) second user(s) of said network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Rogelio MARTINEZ, Marco RIESCO, Rafael DOMINGUEZ
  • Patent number: 8903445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Push to talk Over Cellular [PoC] Server for providing PoC communication services in mobile radio communications system, the PoC Server being arranged to perform at least one Controlling PoC Function for a PoC Session between PoC Clients in mobile terminals. The PoC Server is characterized in that it is arranged to: receive a first information indicating the PoC Session priority order for the PoC Session for each of the PoC Clients participating in the PoC Session; receive a second information, if any one of the PoC Clients is also participating in other simultaneous PoC Sessions, indicating the PoC Session priority order for the other simultaneous PoC Sessions for each of the PoC Clients participating in the other simultaneous PoC Sessions; store the first and second information for enabling control of the transmission of Media in the PoC Session based on the first and second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Dahl, Jan Holm
  • Patent number: 8885013
    Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach provides various ways for the participants to the video conference to access, control, and interact with each other during the conference for a customized personal experience. A globally distributed infrastructure supports the sharing of the event among the participants at geographically distributed locations through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit), each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Blue Jeans Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Alagu Periyannan, Krish Ramakrishnan, Raghavan Anand, Michael Grupenhoff, Anand Raghavan, Ravi Kiran Kalluri, Emmanuel Weber
  • Patent number: 8861405
    Abstract: A method of dynamically switching voice channels between sampling rates in a telecommunication system including a plurality of conferenced channels that have a telephony side, a network side, and a conferencing unit therebetween. During conferencing the presence of a switching stimuli is detected, and at least a first affected voice channel affected by the switching stimuli is identified from the plurality of conferenced voice channels. Responsive to the switching stimuli, based on a telephony side sampling rate of the first affected voice channel, a network side sampling rate of the first affected voice channel, and respective sampling rates of other conferenced voice channels, it is determined whether or not to switch a sampling rate for at least the first affected voice channel using a switching criteria. Provided the determining decides to switch, the sampling rate is switched for at least the first affected voice channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Justin Timothy Sobota
  • Patent number: 8850012
    Abstract: A network node, such as a network control node like a CSCF or an application server, executing forking forward only the first successful response message arriving from a forking branch, which enables the charging function in the forking node and in nodes in the backward direction from this point to apply charges only for the “winning” branch. By including a special Reason header sent in a BYE request of “unused” successfully contacted branches, charging function in nodes in the forward direction from the forking point are allowed to suppress charges for such unused branches. This is applicable both for online and offline charging methods as defined, for example, by 3GPP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Ropolyi, Jozsef Varga
  • Patent number: 8842580
    Abstract: A method of communicating digitized speech from a transmitting forum participant comprises the step of receiving a data structure that includes said digitized speech. The data structure is analyzed to determine whether the digitized speech is redundantly represented in a plurality of forms in the data structure. A portion of the data structure is forwarded to a receiving forum participant, thereby communicating the digitized speech from the transmitting forum participant. In this method, when the digitized speech is redundantly represented in the data structure in a plurality of forms, the forwarding step includes a step of selecting one or more forms, based on a function, from the plurality of forms in the data structure. Furthermore, the portion of the data structure that is forwarded to the receiving forum participant includes data in the data structure that corresponds to each of the selected one or more forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Entropy Processing NV LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Granger, Edward A. Lerner, James E. G. Morris, Jonathan B. Blossom, Martin Hung
  • Patent number: 8787213
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device attaches a header including an identifier for an original call to an outgoing refer message and may also modify a table entry for a consultative call to include the identifier. The network device then monitors incoming invite messages for a header containing the identifier and observes that an incoming invite message containing the header correlates to the original call. When a header is not included, the network device extracts information from the incoming invite messages and compares the extracted information to the modified table entry to correlate one of the incoming invite messages to the original call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Cai, Shuojiun Wu
  • Patent number: 8767592
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein provide improved systems and methods for conferencing enterprise and non-enterprise callers. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first call initiated by an enterprise caller at an enterprise, communicating with an enterprise media server to initiate a tributary conference on the enterprise media server, joining the enterprise caller to the tributary conference such that the enterprise caller is in data communication with the tributary conference, receiving a second call initiated by a non-enterprise caller via a public switched telephone network, interfacing the non-enterprise caller with a data center media server, creating a home conference on the data center media center, joining the second call to the home conference, and interfacing the home conference on the data center media server to the tributary conference on the enterprise media server to form a linked conference between the enterprise caller and the non-enterprise caller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Myron P Sojka, Mark Steven Jarzynka, Srinivas Maganti, Andrew Nelson
  • Patent number: 8737272
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient and accurate establishment of SIP sessions between calling and called end-points. A calling endpoint creates a SIP INVITE request including a header portion and a body portion. The header portion includes standard routing information and the body portion includes additional information about the user and relevant to caller's intent. A SIP server receives a SIP INVITE request and determines an address of the called end-point as a function of the standard routing information contained in the header and the additional caller information contained in the body. The SIP server routes the session to the determined address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Michael Wengrovitz
  • Patent number: 8675525
    Abstract: A media conference device is provided. The media conference device includes a processor and a memory coupled with the processor. The memory stores instructions that are executable by the processor. The instructions are executable to detect a termination event and transmit a termination event message that indicates that the termination event was detected and requests that a media conference be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang Lee, Shmuel Shafer
  • Patent number: 8670354
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution for performing a sharing an ongoing data session between a first user and a group of at least one additional user in a telecommunication system. The basic idea of this invention is to provide a network integration node with a shared streaming session logic, replication logic and group membership management functions of a conference node, like for example the “Push to-talk over Cellular (PoC)” application. Using this functionality the conference system is to be included into the ongoing streaming session, shall invite additional members and forward the streaming traffic to them as well. This results into a shared streaming service using unicast communication resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Thorsten Lohmar, Frank Hundscheidt, Ralf Keller
  • Patent number: 8660251
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for alerting a participant when a topic of interest is being discussed and/or a speaker of interest is speaking during a conference call. A participant to a conference call identifies the topics and/or speakers of interest which is stored for future use along with the participant's contact information. When a participant's identified topic of interest is being discussed and/or a participant's identified speaker of interest is speaking during a conference call, the participant will be alerted to that fact, such as via the means specified in the participant's contact information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Miller, Lisa A. Seacat
  • Patent number: 8660040
    Abstract: A source conference function is provided for each source device, and a destination conference function is provided for each destination device. Any given user terminal may act as both a destination device when receiving media content and a source device when sending media content to facilitate bidirectional conferencing. The source device generates media content, which is sent to the associated source conference function. In general, the source conference function identifies destination conference functions to which the media content should be delivered, and delivers the media content to the identified destination conference functions. Any given destination conference function receives the media content from this and other source conference functions. The media content received from all or select of the source conference functions may be processed by the destination conference function as desired, and then mixed together to form destination media content, which is delivered to the destination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP
    Inventor: Philip Edholm
  • Patent number: 8649300
    Abstract: An audio processing method includes: after the terminal accesses the control server, the control server obtains audio capabilities of the terminal through capability negotiation; and the control server selects coded audio data for a terminal and forwards the selected coded audio data to the terminal according to its audio capabilities, without first decoding the selected coded audio data. The audio data does not need to undergo an operation of audio coding and decoding every time when the audio data passes through a control server, and the coding and decoding operations performed by the control server are reduced drastically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yingbin Li
  • Patent number: 8634530
    Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a first node having audio and video streams. The system includes a second node having only an audio stream. The system includes a mechanism for forming a call between the first node and the second node so the first node and the second node communicate their audio streams with each other. The forming mechanism is in communication with the first and second nodes. Preferably, a third node can communicate with the first and second nodes through the forming means. A method for forming a telecommunications call including the steps of calling from a first node having audio and video streams a second node having only an audio stream. There is the step of forming a call between the first node and the second node so the first node and the second node communicate their audio streams with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ericsson AB
    Inventors: Arun Punj, Peter D. Hill, Richard E. Huber
  • Patent number: 8620290
    Abstract: A schedule for a desired call, obtained, for example as an SMS message sent from a user's mobile station, enables a server to automatically initiate set-up of a voice call for the user's mobile station at a scheduled time selected by the user and indicated in the message. The user can specify time and a telephone number for the call, in advance, in the call scheduling request message. However, at the time of the call, the user does not need to read a reminder or dial the call. The call scheduling and automatic set-up services described by way of examples herein may be very useful, for example, for attending important conference calls. This may also be very useful for setting a reminder to call a special person to wish him/her well on his/her birthday/anniversary etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventor: Kumar Sanjeev
  • Patent number: 8621006
    Abstract: In a computer system having a memory, a processor, and a network interface, a method for listening on multiple conferencing interfaces having the steps of loading a set of transport components into the memory; initializing each transport components of the set of transport components to listen on a particular conferencing interface using the network interface, each transport component of the set of transport components listening to a different conferencing interface; receiving an incoming call signal on the network interface having an incoming conferencing interface; processing the incoming call signal to detect the incoming conferencing interface; and launching an application based on the incoming conferencing interface. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Guy Riddle
  • Patent number: 8594714
    Abstract: A method for processing a media request in a multimedia communication process is provided, including: adjusting, by a multimedia application server, a media request queue according to information contained in a media request message or a media request cancellation message received from a first client; determining all the media requests of which positions in the media request queue are changed due to the adjustment; and sending, to one or more clients corresponding to the media requests of which positions in the media request queue are changed, media request queue position status messages to notify the clients corresponding to the media requests of which positions in the media request queue are changed of updated position status of the media requests. A device for processing a media request in a multimedia communication process is also provided. The demands of various multimedia communication services such as the PoC service can be satisfied well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yajuan Wu
  • Patent number: 8570907
    Abstract: Some embodiments use several different types of networks to relay several different types of media content among several different computing devices. The media content of some embodiments is data that a computing device can process in order to provide a presentation of the media content to a user of the device. Examples of types of such media content include audio data, video data, text data, picture data, game data, and/or other media data. In some embodiments, two different networks relay media content of two different types among multiple computing devices. Specifically, in some embodiments, a first network routes among the computing devices one type of media data content (e.g., game data), while a second network routes among the computing devices another type of media data content (e.g., audio and/or video data of game participants). The two networks differ in some embodiments based on their topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Garcia, Jr., Hyeonkuk Jeong, Nirav Patel, Berkat S. Tung, Joe S. Abuan
  • Patent number: 8554281
    Abstract: A method of automatically establishing an input language for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a request to initiate the composition of a new message, receiving a selection of a particular contact that is the intended recipient of the message, and determining whether the particular contact has a stored preferred input language. If a preferred input language is stored, the method includes determining whether the preferred input language is different than the current input language (which may be a pre-established default input language). If the preferred input language is different, the method further includes switching the current input language to the preferred input language. Also provided is an improved handheld electronic device having one or more routines adapted to implement the method. Also provided is a method of indicating a preferred language in association with a call received by or placed to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott, Jason T. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8543095
    Abstract: Architecture for accessing and purchasing multimedia services in a mobile terminal cellular environment. The architecture brings together the on-the-fly discovery of music and connectivity for the purchase or preview of multimedia services (e.g., music tracks). Provided is a music client on a cell phone or other mobile communications device that facilitates the discovery, storage, and play of multimedia content or portions thereof such as music. A user can listen to music transmitted to the mobile terminal device (e.g., cell phone) via broadcast, satellite radio, streaming internet radio, etc., review the music, and buy tracks or whole albums over-the-air via the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Gregg H. Brown, Robert Everett Hyatt, Marc Paul Lefar, James Patrick Ryan
  • Patent number: 8531994
    Abstract: An audio processing method includes: after the terminal accesses the control server, the control server obtains audio capabilities of the terminal through capability negotiation; and the control server forwards the coded audio data to each terminal according to the audio capabilities. An audio processing system and a control server are disclosed. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the audio data does not need to undergo an operation of audio coding and decoding every time when the audio data passes through a control server, and the number of coding and decoding operations performed by the control server are reduced drastically. Especially, in the case that only one control server exists, the audio delay between terminals only derives from network transmission, coding of the sending terminal and decoding of the receiving terminal, and the control server extracts and reassembles the packets of the audio data only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yingbin Li
  • Patent number: 8532621
    Abstract: Techniques in a wireless device for use in accessing a common data application with a service network which is external to a plurality of wireless networks are described. The device receives a data session configuration file which includes a list of the plurality of wireless networks mapped against authentication credentials associated with each wireless network. The device communicates with a current one the wireless networks. The device selects from the list one of the authentication credentials that is associated with the current wireless network. The device submits, via the current wireless network, the selected authentication credentials for establishing a packet data session via the current wireless network. The device then accesses, via the current wireless network using the packet data session, the common data application with the service network which is external to the current wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Leonard Trevor Plestid, Allan David Lewis, Ian Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 8527878
    Abstract: A computer program of the type commonly known as a “wizard” is disclosed that initializes user interface software for controlling an audio conferencing device. The wizard allows the desired audio inputs (e.g., microphone, telephones, etc.) and audio outputs (speakers, recording devices, etc.) to be chosen by an audio system administrator. Thereafter, the wizard allows an audio conferencing device (or devices) to be chosen by the administrator, or allows such a device(s) to be optimally chosen dependent upon the chosen inputs and outputs. The wizard then maps the inputs and outputs to the input and output ports on the audio conferencing device. When the administrator finishes the wizard, the wizard computes the mapping parameters and other audio-optimizing parameters for the selected inputs and outputs. These parameters are then loaded into the user interface software automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Drewes, James S. Joiner, Michael A. Pocino, Craig H. Richardson
  • Patent number: 8520822
    Abstract: A conference calling system and method for designating of hosting control from a server device. In a conference call session, one of the client devices may be designated as a host device, wherein that host device is permitted to implement hosting functions. In some instances, the required host device may not be available for the scheduled conference call, but may be available prior to the conference call. The host device may provide hosting control commands to the server device prior to the conference call. Such hosting control commands may include such commands as delegating of hosting control functions in relation to the designated host device. This may allow the presently designated host device to end communications with the server device prior to starting a conference call, while having the server device implement the specific hosting control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Douglas Michael Gisby, Robert Joseph James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8515044
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an audio conference includes receiving audio from a moderator via a circuit-switched telephone network, transmitting a representation of the audio to a first listener group via the circuit-switched telephone network, and transmitting a representation of the audio to a second listener group via a packet-switched network. The audio conference is preferably transmitted to the first listener group and the second listener group in real-time or near real-time (e.g., within a few seconds). Although the method and system could be used with any suitable circuit-switched telephone network, the method and system are preferably used with a public switched telephone network. Further, although the method and system could be used with any suitable packet-switched network, the method and system are preferably used with the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Cinchast, Inc.
    Inventor: Avrohom Y. Charish
  • Patent number: 8494503
    Abstract: A wireless device and method are provided for redialing of conference calls comprising: establishing a call connection based on a first dialed number; monitoring for subsequent numbers dialed after the establishment of the call connection; determining if the subsequent numbers dialed meet predetermined criteria; and saving the first dialed number and the subsequent numbers dialed in a memory of the wireless device as a saved first dialed number and saved subsequent numbers if the predetermined criteria are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Edward Winter, Andrew Douglas Bocking, Lawrence Edward Kuhl
  • Patent number: 8471890
    Abstract: A videoconference system includes a camera at each several user locations, a computer at each user location linked to the camera at each location, and one or more bridges linking the computers to one another. A video encoding program stored on each computer causes each computer to encode video data received from the camera at the user location. A decode information set request monitoring program stored on at least one of the computers causes the computer to monitor the bridges for reception of a decode information set request message; and respond to the decode information set request message by querying the request message for an ID. If the ID of the request message matches an ID assigned to the computer, the computer generates a decode information set based on video data received from the camera, and communicates the decode information set to all of the other computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Insors Integrated Communications
    Inventor: Christopher Golas
  • Patent number: 8462772
    Abstract: A method and system of an embodiment of the present invention may involve receiving an incoming call from a calling party for one or more members of a group; transmitting an invite message to the one or more members; identifying an acceptance of the invite message by at least one member of the one or more members; and establishing an active dialog between the calling party and the at least one member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: David C Robbins
  • Patent number: 8441962
    Abstract: A method and corresponding device and system to provide a real-time call announcement to a called device. According to the method, a called device begins receiving call announcement media without having first engaged in session setup signaling to set up a session through which to receive the call announcement media. In normal operation, the device would disregard such incoming media, since no session has been set up for receiving the media. As disclosed, however, the device will also receive at about the same time a call setup request that seeks setup of the underlying call, and the device will treat its receipt of that call setup request as a key to allow playout of the call announcement media even though no session has been set up for receipt of the call announcement media. The called device will then play out the call announcement media as an announcement for the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Breau, Jason R. Delker, Manish Mangal, Mathew Oommen
  • Patent number: 8416936
    Abstract: A conference call management method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor from a conference call administrator, a command for enabling a first conference call. The computer processor enables the first conference call thereby allowing telecommunications between the conference call administrator and a first participant. The computer processor locks the first conference call such that additional participants are unable to access the first conference call. The computer processor receives from a second participant, a conference call request for accessing a second conference call and routes the second participant to a virtual holding area. The computer processor enables the second conference call and routes the second participant from the virtual holding area to the second conference call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Andrew R. Jones, Charles S. Lingafelt, Kevin C. McConnell, John E. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8411595
    Abstract: A video teleconferencing system and method for providing reservationless conferencing is disclosed. The method involves creating a conference profile identifying selected connection parameters; allocating a dial-in number; notifying participants of the dial-in number; detecting a call from a requesting participant; determining if sufficient resources for the participant are available; and connecting the requesting participant into the reservationless conference. Additionally, the video teleconferencing method allows the conference time to be automatically extended. This is done using timers and reallocating available resources when the original end of conference time arrives. The method also enables the conference to automatically terminate after all conference participants leave the conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Eran Decker, Rami Boneh
  • Patent number: 8412253
    Abstract: The present invention related to a Push to talk Over Cellular (PoC) Server for providing PoC communication services in communications system, the PoC Server being arranged to simultaneously perform a first PoC Session between a first PoC Client and at least a second PoC Client, and at least one second PoC Session between the first PoC Client and at least a third PoC Client in accordance with a priority setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Jan Holm, Jan Dahl