Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING AND SCHEDULING MULTI
PARTY CONFERENCE CALLS USING ELECTRONIC TEXT MESSAGES
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates generally to mufti-party conference calls in a
telecommunications network and, in particular, to a method and system for
establishing and scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text
messages.
Background of the Invention
[0002] United States patent number 6,694,007 (US 6,694,007), entitled,
"System and method for establishing long distance call connections using
electronic
text messages", to Lang et al., issued on February 17, 2004, teaches a method
and
system for receiving electronic text messages and generating connection
request
messages used to establish toll call connections.
[0003] Registered customers submit electronic text message to a long distance
service provider message server to initiate a public switched
telecommunications
network (PSTN) call. The information in the electronic text message is
extracted and
used to generate a connection request that is sent to call completion
equipment that
affects the call. The only information that is required to set up a two-party
plain
ordinary telephone service (POTS) call is a call command and a destination
number.
2 0 [0004] The system and method disclosed in US 6,694,007 are only used as
translator (converter) for converting the information in the electronic text
message to
information acceptable to the call completion equipment in the PSTN.
[0005] The prior art does not provide mufti-party call connections or provide
for
scheduling a long distance call between mufti-party (i.e., users). It provides
only a
2 5 simple and convenient mechanism for launching real-time long distance
calls by
customers who place toll call requests using text message protocols and have
access
to electronic text message services. The system and method are intended for
use by a
tong distance service provider who provides toll call services to customers
who access
the long distance service provider system through the Internet.
3 0 [0006] United States patent number 6,879,678 (US 6,879,678) , entitled,
"System and method for establishing long distance call connections using a
personal
communication assistant", to Lang et al., issued on April 12, 2005, teaches a
system
and method for establishing long distance call connections via a packet
network from
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a personal communication assistant (PCA). Here, the PCA is configured with a
call
completion application for operating locally on the PCA that is used for
communicating with long distance service provider call completion equipment.
[0007] United States patent number 6,804,225 (US 6,804,225) , entitled,
"System and method for establishing long distance voice communications using
the
Internet", to Lang et al., issued on October 12, 2004, teaches an apparatus
and a
method for completing long distance telephone calls over the PSTN using an
automated Internet Operator.
[0008] The method, which is disclosed in US 6,804,225, permits a calling party
to request the automated Internet operator to complete long distance call
connections
by connecting to a long distance service provider node (or call server) and
identifying
himself/herself. The caller completes a call request form which is uploaded to
the
long distance service provider node and passed to a call connection control
computer
for processing. The call connection control computer instructs the toll switch
to dial
the calling party, dial the called party, and conference the two lines.
[0009] The prior art references (US 6,879,678 and US 6,804,225) do not
provide mufti-party conference call using electronic text messages and do not
provide
for scheduling of the conference call. They are limited to a specific device
and/or
network, and hence do not provide services that are available for any wireline
and
2 0 wireless devices (e.g., telephones, PCs, PDAs, etc.) and any networks
(e.g., PSTN, an
enterprise telephony network, or a global wireless network, etc.).
[0010] Consequently, there is a need in the industry to create services that
are
available for any wireline and wireless devices and any networks, and provide
multi-
party conference calls on scheduled/future and non-scheduled/immediate bases
using
2 5 electronic text messages.
Summary of the Invention
[0011 ] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and
system
for establishing and scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic
text
messages.
3 0 [0012] The invention, therefore, according to one aspect provides a method
for
establishing and scheduling a mufti-party conference call. The method
comprises the
steps of receiving by a conference application server (CAS) from a client an
electronic text message containing a conference call request (CCR) having
presence
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information of plurality of members, a scheduled time and date of the
conference call,
and client's account information; monitoring by the CAS the account
information of
the client and the presence information of the plurality of members; and
scheduling by
the CAS a time and a date corresponding to the scheduled time and date in the
CCR
for sending instructions for initiating the conference call for the plurality
of members
to a call server located in a service provider network.
[0013] The electronic text message may be initiated from wireline and
wireless devices having access to a web browser or from wireline and wireless
devices having access to a short message service (SMS) provider. The
electronic text
message comprises an electronic-mail (e-mail) message, an instant text message
(IM),
and a short message service (SMS) message. The plurality of members attending
the
conference call are identified in the electronic text message by one or more
of the
following: telephone numbers, SMS numbers, SIP addresses, SIP identifiers, e-
mail
addresses, IM service identifiers, and IM service usernames.
[0014] In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the
step of monitoring of the client's account information comprises querying an
accounting server connected to the CAS for validating the account information
of the
client. If the account information is not valid, generating by the CAS an
error message
and sending the error message to the client. If the account information is
valid sending
2 0 by the CAS a confirmation message to the client for ensuring that the
client has
requested the conference call for the plurality of members, and receiving by
the CAS
an acknowledgement message to the confirmation message from the client.
[0015] Further, the step of monitoring of the presence information of the
plurality of members comprises collecting presence information from at least
one of
2 5 the plurality of members using an electronic text message, if the presence
information
of the at least one of the plurality of members does not match the presence
information stored on the CAS. The step of monitoring also comprises sending
by the
CAS instructions on how to join the conference call to unavailable members
before
and/or on the scheduled time and date of the conference call.
3 0 [0016] In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention,
the
step of scheduling by the CAS comprises negotiating with a call server a time
and a
date corresponding to the scheduled time and date in the CCR for the
conference call;
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and controlling communications between the client, the plurality of members,
and the
call server.
[0017] The step of controlling communications comprises sending by the CAS
an error message to the client if the scheduled time and date of the
conference call is
rejected by the call server, and if the conference call is aborted. Sending by
the CAS a
confirmation message to the client if the scheduled time and date of the
conference
call is confirmed by the call server; and sending instructions for initiating
the
conference call for the plurality of members to the call server; and also
sending by the
CAS instructions on how to join a conference in progress to at least one of
the
plurality of members, if the at least one of the plurality of members is not
available on
the scheduled time and date of the conference call.
[0018] Another aspect of the invention provides a system for establishing and
scheduling a multi-party conference call. The system comprises a conference
application server (CAS); an accounting server connected to the CAS for
validating
identification and accounting information of the clients; and a web server
connected
to the CAS for providing a web browser for the clients for formulating a
conference
call request (CCR), managing members' information, and administering
accounting
and billing information.
[0019] In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the
2 0 CAS comprises a database for storing presence information of plurality of
members
for a client connected to the CAS; a monitoring agent for validating the
client account
information and the presence information of the plurality of members stored on
the
database; a messaging interface for communicating using an electronic text
message
with the client, the plurality of members, and an electronic text message
agent through
2 5 an Internet. The electronic text message agent comprises an e-mail agent,
an IM
agent, and an SMS agent; and the electronic text message comprises an e-mail
message, an IM message, and an SMS message. The CAS also comprises a scheduler
agent for scheduling a conference call and establishing the conference call
for the
plurality of members on the scheduled time and date; and a communications
interface
3 0 for sending instructions for initiating the conference call for the
plurality of members
to a call server.
[0020] The monitoring agent of the CAS comprises means for querying the
accounting server for validating the account information of the client;
generating an
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error message and sending the error message to the client, ifthe account
information
is not valid. If the account information is valid, sending a confirmation
message to the
client for ensuring that the client has requested the conference call for the
plurality of
members, and receiving an acknowledgement message to the confirmation message
from the client.
[0021 ] The monitoring agent further comprises means for collecting presence
information from at least one of the plurality of members using the electronic
text
message, if the presence information of the at least one of the plurality of
members
does not match the presence information stored on the database.
[0022) The messaging interface of the CAS comprises means for parsing each
of the e-mail message, the IM message, and the SMS message and extracting
conference call information from each of the messages for setting up the
conference
call for the plurality of members. The communications interface comprises
means for
inserting the extracted conference call information for the plurality of
members into a
connection request message and forwarding the connection request message to
the
call server.
[0023] The scheduler agent of the CAS comprises means for negotiating a
scheduled time and date of the conference call with the call server; and means
for
controlling communications between the client, the plurality of members, and
the call
2 0 server. The means for controlling communications comprises sending an
error
message to the client if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is
rejected
by the call server and if the conference call is aborted; and sending a
confirmation
message to the client if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is
confirmed by the call server; and sending instructions on how to join a
conference in
2 5 progress to at least one of the plurality of members, if the at least one
of the plurality
of members is not available on the scheduled time and date of the conference
call.
[0024] In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention the
web server, the CAS, and the accounting server are the same machine; and
communicate with each other using internal communications protocol.
3 0 [0025) In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the
web
server, the CAS, and the accounting server are different machines, each being
connected to the Internet. The web server, the CAS, and the accounting server
communicate with each other using a point-to-point secure communications
protocol.
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[0026] The CAS is connected to the call server; and the call server is located
in
a service provider network. The service provider network is a PSTN; an
enterprise
telephony network; or a global wireless network.
[0027] The accounting server comprises a database for storing accounting and
billing information for clients connected to the CAS; and means for payments
of cost
of the conference call by the clients. The means for payments of cost comprise
pre-
paid payments of cost for scheduled and non-scheduled conference calls; and
post-
paid payments of cost for scheduled and non-scheduled conference calls. The
accounting server comprises means for generating an error message if any of
the
above methods for payments does not cover the cost of the conference call; and
means for sending the error message to the CAS connected to the accounting
server.
[0028] The web browser comprises a conference service screen for formulating
the CCR. The conference service screen comprises information display windows
for a
members list for inputting client's contacts (members); a conference details
for
inputting a scheduled time and date of the conference call, a maximum length
of time
for the conference call, required participation members, optional
participation
members, and client account data. The conference service screen further
comprises a
per conference window for displaying the members selected from the members
list for
planning the conference call; a conferences list for storing scheduled
conferences for
2 0 the client; a members' cards window for storing business cards for the
members of the
client; function keys for checking account balance, managing members'
information,
and client's logging out; and function menu and keys comprise save, change,
delete,
cancel, confirm, status, and send operations.
[0029] Yet another aspect ofthe invention provides a mufti-party conference
2 5 call service using electronic text messages. The service comprises
messaging interface
for receiving an electronic text message containing a conference call request
(CCR)
from a client, wherein the CCR comprises presence information of plurality of
members, a scheduled time and date of a conference call, and client's account
information; a database for storing the presence information of the plurality
of
30 members; a monitoring agent for monitoring account information of the
client and the
presence information of the plurality of members; a scheduler agent for
scheduling a
time and a date corresponding to the scheduled time and date in the CCR for
establishing the conference call for the plurality of members; and means for
pre-paid
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and post-paid payments of cost for the conference call. The mufti-party
conference
call service comprises a two-party conference call service.
[0030] The monitoring agent comprises means for validating account
information of the client; generating an error message and sending the error
message
to the client, if the account information is not valid; and means for sending
a
confirmation message to the client for ensuring that the client has requested
the
conference call for the plurality of members, if the account information is
valid, and
means for receiving an acknowledgement message to the confirmation message
from
the client. The monitoring agent comprises means for collecting presence
information
from at least one of the plurality of members using the electronic text
message, if the
presence information of the at least one of the plurality of members does not
match
the presence information stored on the database.
[0031 ] The scheduler agent comprises means for negotiating the scheduled time
and date of the conference call with a call server; and means for controlling
communications between the client, the plurality of members, and the call
server. The
means for controlling communications comprise sending an error message to the
client, if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is rejected by
the call
server; sending an error message to the client and the plurality of members,
if the
conference call is aborted; sending a confirmation message to the client, if
the
2 0 scheduled time and date of the conference call is confirmed by the call
server; sending
instructions for initiating the conference call for the plurality of members
to the call
server; and sending conference call instructions to the client and the
plurality of
members.
[0032] This invention provides a method and system for establishing and
2 5 scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages.
The invention
enables any wireline or wireless device sending an electronic text message
(that is, e-
mail message, IM message, or SMS message) into the Internet to request a
scheduled/future or a non-scheduled/immediate mufti-party conference call for
plurality of members/contacts.
3 0 [0033] The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and
system
for establishing and scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic
text
messages that would overcome the shortcomings and limitations of the prior
arts.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
[0034] The invention will be better understood from the following description
of a preferred embodiment together with reference to the accompanying drawing,
in
which:
[0035] Figure 1 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method for scheduling
mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages in accordance with
an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] Figure 2 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method for establishing
mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages for the method of
Figure 1
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a system for establishing and
scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages in
accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a communications environment for
establishing mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages for
the system
of Figure 3 in accordance with the present invention;
[0039] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating another system for establishing and
scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages in
accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention;
2 0 [0040] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a communications environment for
establishing mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages for
the system
of Figure 5 in accordance with the present invention;
[0041 ] Figure 7 is a process diagram illustrating messages flow for
establishing
mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages for the system of
Figure 3
2 5 (or Figure 5) in accordance with the present invention;
[0042] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a conference service screen for
formulating and submitting a conference call request (CCR) for establishing
and
scheduling a mufti-party conference ca(1 using electronic text messages in
accordance
with the present invention;
3 0 [0043] Figure 9 is a process diagram illustrating messages flow between a
client's device and a conference application server (CAS) of the system of
Figure 3
(or Figure 5) in accordance with the present invention;
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(0044] Figure 10 is a process diagram illustrating messages flow between a
client's device, an IM agent, and the CAS of the system of Figure 3 (or Figure
5) in
accordance with the present invention;
[0045] Figure I 1 is a process diagram illustrating messages flow between a
client's device, an SMS agent, and the CAS of the system of Figure 3 (or
Figure 5) in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0046] Figure 12 is a process diagram illustrating messages flow between a
client's device, an e-mail agent, and the CAS of the system of Figure 3 (or
Figure 5)
in accordance with the present invention.
[0047) Similar references are used in different figures to denote similar
components.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
(0048] Figure 1 shows a flow chart diagram 100 illustrating a method for
scheduling multi-party conference calls using electronic text messages in
accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention. The method of Figure I is
incorporated
on a conference application server (CAS) (not shown) which receives the
electronic
text messages 170 containing conference call requests from clients through
data
network connections. The clients and clients' members (associates/contacts)
contact
information are stored in a database on the CAS.
2 0 [0049] Upon start up (block 105), procedure 100 receives a conference call
request (CCR) (block 110) from a client in an electronic text message 170
format. The
CCR contains client's account information, required conference members
(participants/contacts), and a scheduled time and date of a conference call.
Procedure
I00 queries (block I 15) an accounting server connected to the CAS (not shown)
to
2 5 validate the client's account. If the client's account is not valid (block
115), procedure
100 generates an error message (block 143) and sends the error message to the
client
(block 145), thus, finishing the procedure 100 (block 190). If the client's
account is
valid (block I 15), procedure 100 generates and sends out (block I80) a
confirmation
message to the client for ensuring that the client has requested the
conference call for
3 0 the plurality of members using an electronic text message 170. Procedure
100, then,
generates members list (party/contacts list) for the conference call (block I
30).
(0050] Procedure 100 monitors presence information for members (block 120)
and if the monitored presence information of at least one of the members does
not
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match the presence information stored on the CAS (block 125), procedure 100
sends
an electronic text message 170 to the at least one of the members for
collecting the
presence information (block 160). Procedure 100 updates the presence
information
(block 163), which is stored on the CAS, with the collected presence
information for
the at least one of the members.
[0051 J If the CCR requires presence of the members and the monitored
presence information indicates that the members are not available to take the
call,
(e.g., busy, not available, etc.), (block 125), procedure 100 sends
instructions for the
conference call to the unavailable members (block 140). If the monitored
presence
information for the members match the presence information stored on the CAS
(block 125), procedure 100 checks the scheduled time and date of the
conference call
(block 135). If it is not the proper time for the call (block 135), procedure
100 waits
for the proper time for the call (block 150) before launching process B, and
then
activates process B. If it is the time for the call (block 135), procedure 100
activates
process B.
[0052] Figure 2 shows a flow chart diagram 200 illustrating a method for
establishing multi-party conference calls using electronic text messages by
activating
the process B of Figure 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention. The method of Figure 2 is also incorporated on the CAS (not shown).
Upon
2 0 start up (block 205), procedure 200 sends instruction for call connection
to a call
server (block 2I0). The call server (not shown) is located in a service
provider
network (not shown). Procedure 200 checks if the conference call is
established by
the call server (block 245). If the conference call is not established by the
call server
(block 245), procedure 200 generates a conference call aborted error message
(block
2 5 143) and sends the conference call aborted error message (block 145) to
the client,
thus finishing the procedure 200 (block 190).
[0053] Procedure 200 also monitors presence information for the conference
members (block I20). Ifat least one ofthe members is not available (block
225),
procedure 200 sends this at least one of the members instruction on how to
join a
3 0 conference in progress (block 250) using an electronic text message 170.
Procedure
200 also sends using an electronic text message 170 an alert message (block
260) to
the client indicating that the at least one of the members is not available.
If all
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required members are available (block 225), procedure 200 attempts to
establish the
conference call (block 275) and then, checks if call is established (block
245).
(0054] If the call server established the conference call (block 245), that
is, the
call server conferences the client and the members, procedure 200 monitors
conference call progress (block 230) for the duration of the conference call.
If the
time's up or the call is ended (block 235), procedure 200 generates billing
information
(block 270) and sends billing information (block 280) to an accounting server
(not
shown) connected to the CAS, thus, finishing the procedure 200 (block 190).
[0055] Figure 3 shows a diagram illustrating a system 300 for establishing and
scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages 170 in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The system 300
comprises a web server 3I 0, a conference application server (CAS) 320, and an
accounting server 330.
[0056] The CAS 320 comprises a database 325 for storing contacts
(members/associates) and presence information for plurality of members for
each of
the clients connected to the CAS 320; a monitoring agent 328 for validating
the client
account data and the presence information of the members stored on the
database 325;
and a scheduler agent 329 for scheduling real-time and non-real time
conference calls.
[0057] The monitoring agent 328 comprises means for querying the accounting
2 0 server 310 for validating the account information of the client;
generating an error
message and sending the error message to the client, if the account
information is not
valid. Further, the monitoring agent 328 comprises means for sending a
confirmation
message to the client for ensuring that the client has requested the
conference call for
the plurality of members, if the account information is valid; and means for
receiving
2 5 an acknowledgement message to the confirmation message from the client.
[0058] Further, the monitoring agent 328 comprises means for collecting
presence information from at least one of the plurality of members using the
electronic text message 170, if the presence information of the at least one
of the
plurality of members does not match the presence information stored on the
database
30 325.
[0059] The scheduler agent 329 comprises means for negotiating a scheduled
time and date of the conference call with a call server (not shown) located in
a service
provider network. The scheduler agent 329 also comprises means for controlling
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communications between the client, the plurality of members, and the call
server. The
means for controlling communications comprises means for sending an error
message
to the client ifthe scheduled time and date ofthe conference call is rejected
by the call
server and if the conference call is aborted; sending a confirmation message
to the
client if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is confirmed by
the call
server; and sending instructions on how to join a conference in progress to at
least one
of the plurality of members, if the at least one of the plurality of members
is not
available on the scheduled time and date of the conference call.
[0060] The CAS 320 comprises a messaging interface 324 for communicating
using the electronic text messages 170 with the clients, the clients' contacts
(members), and an electronic text message agent. The electronic text messages
170
comprise e-mail messages 370, IM messages 375, and SMS messages 350. The
electronic text message agent comprises an e-mail agent 321, IM agent 322, and
SMS
agent 323. The messaging interface 324 communicates with an SMS provider (not
shown) using SMS messages 350. The CAS 320 also comprises a communications
interface 327 for sending instructions for initiating the conference call for
the plurality
of members to the call server (not shown) via a communications link 360.
[0061 ] The accounting server 330 is connected to the CAS 320 and
communicates with the CAS 320 using internal communications protocol 337 for
2 0 validating identification and accounting information of the clients. The
accounting
server 330 comprises a database 335 for storing billing and accounting
information
and means for payments of cost (charge) of the conference call by the clients.
The
means for payments of the cost comprise pre-paid payments of cost for
scheduled and
non-scheduled conference calls, and post-paid payments of cost for scheduled
and
2 5 non-scheduled conference calls. The accounting server 330 further
comprises means
for generating an error message and sending the error message to the CAS 320
through intercommunication link 337 if the payment stored in the client's
account
does not cover the cost (charge) of the conference call.
[0062] The web server 310 provides a web browser 315 to clients for
3 0 formulating the conference call requests. The web server 310 is connected
to the CAS
320 and communicates with the CAS 320 using internal communications protocol
317. The web server 310 communicates with the clients and the clients' members
using the electronic text messages 170 through the Internet (not shown).
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[0063] The web server 310, the CAS 320, and the accounting server 330 are the
same machine and communicate with each other using internal communications
protocol 317 and 337.
[0064] Figure 4 shows a diagram illustrating a communications environment
400 for the system 300 of Figure 3 for establishing and scheduling multi-party
conference calls using electronic text messages 170 in accordance with the
present
invention. The system 300 communicates with the Internet 440 using the
electronic
text messages 170 (that is, e-mail messages 370, IM messages 375, and SMS
messages 350) and communicates with an SMS provider 450 using the SMS
messages 350. The system 300 communicates with a call server 465 via a
communications link 360. The call server 465 is located in a service provider
network
460, and the service provider network 460 is a PSTN, an enterprise telephony
network, or a global wireless network.
[0065] Clients using wireline and wireless devices 410 send electronic text
messages 170 containing conference call requests to the system 300 of Figure 3
through the Internet 440.
[0066] The CAS 320 of the system 300 of Figure 3 receives the conference call
requests and processes them. The monitoring agent 328 of the CAS 320 queries
the
accounting server 330 for validating the account information of the client and
2 0 generates an error message and sends the error message to the client, if
the account
information is not valid. If the account information is valid, the monitoring
agent 328
sends a confirmation message to the client for ensuring that the client has
requested
the conference call for the plurality of members. The CAS 320 receives an
acknowledgement message to the confirmation message from the client. The
2 5 monitoring agent 328 collects presence information from at least one of
the plurality
of members using the electronic text message 170, if the presence information
of the
at least one of the plurality of members does not match the presence
information
stored on the database 325.
[0067] The scheduler agent 329 of the CAS 320 negotiates with the call server
3 0 465 a scheduled time and date of the conference call. The scheduler agent
329
controls communications between the client, the plurality of members, and the
call
server 465 by sending an error message to the client if the scheduled time and
date of
the conference call is rejected by the call server 465 and if the conference
call is
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aborted; and sending a confirmation message to the client if the scheduled
time and
date of the conference call is confirmed by the call server; and also sending
instructions on how to join a conference in progress to at least one of the
plurality of
members, if the at least one of the plurality of members is not available on
the
scheduled time and date of the conference call.
[0068] Figure 5 shows a diagram illustrating a system 500 for establishing and
scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages 170 in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As in the system
300
of Figure 3, the system 500 comprises a web server 310, a conference
application
server (CAS) 320, and an accounting server 330.
[0069] The CAS 320 comprises a monitoring agent 328 and a scheduler agent
329. As before, the monitoring agent 328 comprises means for querying the
accounting server 310 for validating the account information of the client;
generating
an error message and sending the error message to the client, if the account
information is not valid. The monitoring agent 328 comprises means for sending
a
confirmation message to the client for ensuring that the client has requested
the
conference call for the plurality of members, if the account information is
valid; and
receiving an acknowledgement message to the confirmation message from the
client.
[0070] Further, the monitoring agent 328 comprises means for collecting
2 0 presence information from at least one of the plurality of members using
the
electronic text message, if the presence information of the at least one of
the plurality
of members does not match the presence information stored on the database.
[0071 ] The scheduler agent 329 comprises means for negotiating a scheduled
time and date of the conference call with a call server (not shown) located in
a service
2 5 provider network (not shown). The scheduler agent 329 comprises means for
controlling communications between the client, the plurality of members, and
the call
server. The means for controlling communications comprises sending an error
message to the client if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is
rejected
by the call server and if the conference call is aborted; and sending a
confirmation
3 0 message to the client if the scheduled time and date of the conference
call is
confirmed by the call server; and sending instructions on how to join a
conference in
progress to at least one of the plurality of members, if the at least one of
the plurality
of members is not available on the scheduled time and date of the conference
call.
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[0072] The web server 310, the CAS 320, and the accounting server 330 are
different machines, each being connected to the Internet (not shown). The web
server
310 communicates with the CAS 320 using a communications protocol 517. The CAS
320 communicates with the accounting server 330 using a communications
protocol
537. The communications protocol 517 and 537 is a point-to-point secure
protocol.
[0073] Figure 6 shows a diagram illustrating a communications environment
600 for the system 500 of Figure 5 for establishing and scheduling multi-party
conference calls using electronic text messages I70 in accordance with the
present
invention. The CAS 320 and the web server 310 communicate with the Internet
440
using the electronic text messages 170 (that is, e-mail messages 370, IM
messages
375, and SMS messages 350), and the CAS 320 communicates with an SMS provider
450 using the SMS messages 350. The CAS 320 communicates with a call server
465
via a communications link 360. The call server 465 is located in a service
provider
network 460; and the service provider network 460 is a PSTN, an enterprise
telephony network, or a global wireless network.
[0074] Clients using wireline and wireless devices 4I0 send the electronic
text
messages 170 containing conference call requests to the system 500 of Figure 5
through the Internet 440.
[0075] The CAS 320 of the system 500 of Figure 5 receives the conference call
2 0 requests and processes them. The monitoring agent 328 of the CAS 320
queries the
accounting server 330 for validating the account information of the client and
generates an error message and sends the error message to the client, if the
account
information is not valid. If the account information is valid, the monitoring
agent 328
sends a confirmation message to the client for ensuring that the client has
requested
2 5 the conference call for the plurality of members. The CAS 320 receives an
acknowledgement message to the confirmation message from the client. The
monitoring agent 328 collects presence information from at least one of the
plurality
of members using the electronic text message 170, if the presence information
of the
at least one of the plurality of members does not match the presence
information
3 0 stored on the database 325 of the CAS 320 of the system 500 of Figure 5.
[0076] The scheduler agent 329 of the CAS 320 of the system 500 of Figure 5
negotiates a scheduled time and date of the conference call with the call
server 465.
The scheduler agent 329 controls communications between the client, the
plurality of
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members, and the call server 465 by sending an error message to the client if
the
scheduled time and date of the conference call is rejected by the call server
465 and if
the conference call is aborted; and sending a confirmation message to the
client if the
scheduled time and date of the conference call is confirmed by the call
server; and
sending instructions on how to join a conference in progress to at least one
of the
plurality of members, if the at least one of the plurality of members is not
available on
the scheduled time and date of the conference call.
[0077] The web server 310, the CAS 320, and the accounting server 330 are
different machines each being connected to the Internet 440 and communicate
with
each other using a communications protocol 517 and 537.
[0078] Figure 7 shows a process diagram illustrating messages flow for
establishing multi-party conference calls using electronic text messages for
the system
300 of Figure 3 (or the system 500 of Figure S) in accordance with the present
invention. A wireline or wireless device 410 of Figure 4 and Figure 6 sends a
conference call request (CCR) 760 using an electronic text message 170 into
the
Internet 440 or SMS service provider 450 of Figure 4 and Figure 6 to a web
server
310 connected to a conference application server (CAS) 320 for processing. The
CAS
320 receives the CCR 761 and sends out a query message 762 to an accounting
server
330 connected to the CAS 320 for validating the client's account in the CCR
761. The
2 0 accounting server 330 checks its database 335 in Figure 3 (or Figure 5) to
validate the
client's account 743. If the client's account is not valid 743, the accounting
server 330
sends an error message 763 to the CAS 320, and the CAS 320 sends out an error
message 764 to the web server 3 L 0 and the web server 310 sends out an error
message
765 to the client's device 410.
2 5 [0079] If the client's account is valid 745, then, the accounting server
330 sends
the CAS 320 a valid client information message 766 and the CAS 320 sends the
web
server 310 a valid account message 781, and then the web server 310 sends a
valid
account message 782 to the client's device 410 for ensuring that the client
has
requested the conference call for the plurality of members. The CAS 320 then
3 0 generates the members list (required conference participants) for the
conference call
733 and validates the presence information for the members 735. If presence
information for at least one of the members is not valid 735, the CAS 320
sends an
electronic text message 170 to the web server 310 for collecting information
767 and
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a collect information message 768 is sent by the web server 310 to the
member's
device 410. The CAS 320 updates 737 its database 325 with the new presence
information collected from the member's device 410. The CAS 320 sends
instructions
736 to members 769 via the web server 310 and the web server 310 sends the
instruction 770 to the members' devices 410.
[0080] The CAS 320, on the scheduled time and date of the conference call 738,
sends instruction for call connection message 771 to a call server 465 of
Figure 4 and
Figure 6, and the call server 465 initiates connection requests 772 through a
service
provider network 460 of Figure 4 and Figure 6. The CAS 320 monitors conference
call progress and generates billing information for the conference call 734.
[0081 ] An initiating connection message 773 is sent through the service
provider network 460 and the Internet 440, and ringing 774 of member's device
410
is affected. If the member is available, the member answers and connected 775
with
the client. If the member is not available, that is no answer 778, hence, a
release or
disconnects 777 follows. The CAS 320 monitors members' availability 739 and
sends
instruction 779 to members that are not available to join conference-in-
progress. The
instruction 780 is sent to the members via the Internet using the electronic
text
messages 170 (that is, the e-mail message 370, the IM message 375, or the SMS
message 350).
2 0 [0082] Figure 8 shows a diagram illustrating a conference service screen
800 for
collecting client account data, required contacts (members list), and presence
information for the members for establishing and scheduling multi-party
conference
calls using electronic text messages in accordance with an embodiment of the
present
invention. The conference service screen 800 is one example of a web browser
for
2 5 formulating a conference call request (CCR) 760 of Figure 7 for a mufti-
party
conference call. In accordance with this embodiment, the conference service
screen
800 enables a client using a wireline or wireless device 410 of Figure 4 and
figure 6 to
send (or submit) the CCR 760 to the CAS 320 of Figure 3 (or Figure 5) for the
multi-
party conference call.
3 0 [0083] The CCR 760 information is inputted into the conference service
screen
800 and sent to the CAS 320 for establishing and scheduling the conference
call. The
CCR 760 information comprises presence information for plurality of members, a
scheduled time and date for the conference call, and client's account
information. The
17
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CCR 760 information may be manually input into information display windows
within the conference service screen 800. The conference service screen 800
comprises a members list 830 and a conference details window 820. The client
inputs
in the conference details window 820 information such as a scheduled time and
date
of the conference call, a maximum length of time for the conference call,
required
members list for the conference call, and the client data for accounting and
billing
purposes. The members list 830 comprises names of members of the client 811 to
818, a select contact key 8 for selecting a member on the members list 830,
and a
scroll bar 840 for viewing names on the members list 830.
[0084] Using the select contact key 8, the name on the members list 830 is
selected and added to a per conference window 810 by using an add select
contact key
850. Selected members 811 and 812 and attributes 1 to 5 for each one of the
members
811 and 812 are displayed in the per conference window 810 for planning a
conference call. For each one of the members 811 and 812 in the per conference
window 810, the attributes 1 to 5 may be added and/or changed. These
attributes 1 to
5 comprise telephone numbers to call 1 (that is, telephone numbers for mobile,
home,
work, etc devices); required participants (members/contacts/parties) status 2;
optional
participants status 3; a monitor presence function 4 for monitoring the
member's
presence during the conference call; a presence status alert 5 for displaying
member's
2 0 presence status (available or not available) during the conference call.
[0085] The conference service screen 800 comprises a conferences list window
890 for storing scheduled conferences for the client and a members' cards list
window
895 for storing business cards for the members of the client. The conference
service
screen 800 further comprises function keys for client to check his/her account
balance
2 5 870, manage his/her members list 873, and logging out 875. In addition,
the
conference service screen 800 comprises function menu and keys (not shown) for
save, change, delete, cancel, confirm, status, send, and the like operations.
[0086] Figure 9 shows a process diagram illustrating messages flow between a
client's device 410 and a conference application server (CAS) 320 of the
system 300
3 0 of Figure 3 (or the system 500 of Figure 5) in accordance with the present
invention.
A wireline or wireless device 410 requests a web access for a conference call
service
910 and the CAS 320 responded with the web site for the conference call
service 920.
The client logs in the web site for the conference call service 930 and the
CAS 320
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responded with a conference service screen 800 of Figure 8 for formulating a
conference call request (CCR) 940. As discussed in Figure 8, the client
adds/changes
data 945 on the conference service screen 800 including adding contacts
(members)
and changing a scheduled time and date of the conference call. The client's
device
410 sends out via the web server 310 the updated information 950 of the
conference
service screen 800 to the CAS 320 for processing. The CAS 320 processes 955
the
data and updates the information stored on its database 325 of Figure 3 (or
Figure 5).
The CAS 320 requests confirmation 960 of the scheduled time and date of the
conference call and the client's device 410 confirms the schedule 970.
[0087] The CAS 320 negotiates 975 with a call server 465 of Figure 4 and
Figure 6 the scheduled time and date of the conference call. The CAS 320
controls
communications 975 with the clients by sending a message confirming the
scheduled
time and date of the conference call 980, if the call server 465 confirms the
scheduled
time and date of the conference call, and by sending a message rejecting the
scheduled time and date of the conference call 990, if the call server 465
rejects the
scheduled time and date of the conference call. The call server 465 may reject
the
scheduled time and date of the conference call due to lack of network
resources and
congestion in a service provider network 460 in Figure 4 and Figure 6,
improper
formatting of the connection request 772 of Figure 7, or error due to
equipment
2 0 failure.
[0088] Figure 10 shows a process diagram illustrating messages flow between a
client's device 410 of Figure 4 and Figure 6, the IM agent 322, and the CAS
320 of
the system 300 of Figure 3 (or the system 500 of Figure 5) in accordance with
the
present invention. The wireline or wireless device 410 sends out an IM message
2 5 containing a conference call request (CCR) 1010 to the IM agent 322. The
CCR
comprises presence information for plurality of members and a scheduled time
and
date of the conference call. The IM agent 322 processes the IM message 1010
and
transmits the CCR 1030 to the CAS 320. The CAS 320 negotiates 975 with a call
server 465 of Figure 4 and Figure 6 the scheduled time and date of the
conference
3 0 call.
[0089] The CAS 320 controls communications 975 with the client by sending a
message confirming the scheduled time and date of the conference call 1050 to
the IM
agent 322 and the IM agent 322 then, sends an IM message containing
confirmation
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of the schedule 1070 to the client's device 410, if the call server 465
confirms the
scheduled time and date of the conference call. The CAS 320 also sends out a
message rejecting the scheduled time and date of the conference call 1080 to
the IM
agent 322 and the IM agent 322 sends out an IM message containing rejection of
the
schedule 1090 to the client's device 410, if the call server 465 rejects the
scheduled
time and date of the conference call. The call server 465 may reject the
scheduled
time and date of the conference call due to lack of network resources and
congestion
in a service provider network 460 in Figure 4 and Figure 6, improper
formatting of
the connection request 772 of Figure 7, or error due to equipment failure.
[0090] Figure I 1 shows a process diagram illustrating messages flow between a
client's device 410, the SMS agent 323, and the CAS 320 of the system 300 of
Figure
3 (or the system 500 of Figure 5) in accordance with the present invention.
The
wireline or wireless device 410 sends out an SMS message containing a
conference
call request (CCR) 1 I 10 to the SMS agent 323. The CCR comprises presence
information for plurality of members and a scheduled time and date of the
conference
call. The SMS agent 323 processes the SMS message 1110 and transmits the CCR
1130 to the CAS 320. The CAS 320 negotiates 975 with a call server 465 of
Figure 4
and Figure 6 the scheduled time and date of the conference call.
[0091] Similar to Figure 10, the CAS 320 controls communications 975 with the
2 0 client by sending out a message confirming the scheduled time and date of
the
conference call 1150 to the SMS agent 323 and the SMS agent 323 then, sends
out an
SMS message containing confirmation of the schedule 1170 to the client's
device
410, if the call server 465 confirms the scheduled time and date of the
conference call.
The CAS 320 also sends out a message rejecting the scheduled time and date of
the
2 5 conference call 1 I 80 to the SMS agent 323, and the SMS agent 323 sends
out an SMS
message containing rejection of the schedule 1 I 90 to the client's device
410, if the
call server 465 rejects the scheduled time and date of the conference call. As
before,
the call server 465 may reject the scheduled time and date of the conference
call due
to lack of network resources and congestion in a service provider network 460
in
3 0 Figure 4 and Figure 6, improper formatting of the connection request 772
of Figure 7,
or error due to equipment failure.
[0092] Figure 12 shows a process diagram illustrating messages flow between
a client's device 410, the e-mail agent 321, and the CAS 320 of the system 300
of
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Figure 3 (or the system 500 of Figure 5) in accordance with the present
invention. The
wireline or wireless device 410 sends out an e-mail message containing a
conference
call request (CCR) 1210 to the e-mail agent 321. The CCR comprises presence
information for plurality of members, a scheduled time and date of the
conference
call, and client's account information. The e-mail agent 321 responds with an
e-mail
confirmation message 1220 to the client's device 410. The client's device 410
sends
out an e-mail acknowledgement message 1240 to the e-mail agent 321 for the e-
mail
confirmation message 1220 received. The e-mail agent 321 processes the e-mail
message 1210 and transmits the CCR 1230 to the CAS 320. The CAS 320 negotiates
975 with a call server 465 of Figure 4 and Figure 6 the scheduled time and
date of the
conference call.
[0093] As before, the CAS 320 controls communications 975 with the client by
sending out a message confirming the scheduled time and date of the conference
call
1250 to the e-mail agent 321 and the e-mail agent 321 then, sends out an e-
mail
message containing confirmation of the schedule 1270 to the client's device
410, if
the call server 465 confirms the scheduled time and date of the conference
call. The
CAS 320 also sends out a message rejecting the schedule of the conference call
1280
to the e-mail agent 32I and the e-mail agent 32I sends out an e-mail message
containing rejection of the schedule 1290 to the client's device 410, if the
call server
2 0 465 rejects the scheduled time and date of the conference call. As before,
the call
server 465 may reject the scheduled time and date of the conference call due
to lack
of network resources and congestion in a service provider network 460 in
Figure 4
and Figure 6, improper formatting of the connection request 772 of Figure 7,
or error
due to equipment failure.
2 5 [0094] The embodiments of this invention provide a method and system for
establishing and scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text
messages.
[0095] Appreciably, the present invention enables any wireline or wireless
device which sends an electronic text message into the Internet to request a
real-time
30 (non-scheduled/immediate) or non-real time (scheduled/future) mufti-party
conference call.
[0096] Advantageously, the present invention provides a method and system for
establishing and scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text
21
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messages which offer services that are available for any wireline and wireless
devices
(e.g., telephones, PCs, PDAs, etc.) and any networks (e.g., PSTN, an
enterprise
telephony network, and a global wireless network, etc.).
[0097] The present invention provides a method and system for establishing and
scheduling mufti-party conference calls using electronic text messages. It
will be
apparent to those with skill in the art that modifications to the above
methods and
embodiments can occur without deviating from the scope of the present
invention.
Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be
illustrative,
but not limiting, of the scope of the invention which is set forth in the
following
claims.
22
