CA2522881A1 - Method and system for establishing and scheduling multi-party conference calls using electronic text messages - Google Patents

Method and system for establishing and scheduling multi-party conference calls using electronic text messages Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2522881A1
CA2522881A1 CA002522881A CA2522881A CA2522881A1 CA 2522881 A1 CA2522881 A1 CA 2522881A1 CA 002522881 A CA002522881 A CA 002522881A CA 2522881 A CA2522881 A CA 2522881A CA 2522881 A1 CA2522881 A1 CA 2522881A1
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members
client
conference call
call
message
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CA002522881A
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French (fr)
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Stephan Monette
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Individual
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H04L12/1813—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms
    • H04L12/1818—Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/21—Monitoring or handling of messages
    • H04L51/222—Monitoring or handling of messages using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/56—Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/56—Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities
    • H04M3/563—User guidance or feature selection
    • H04M3/565—User guidance or feature selection relating to time schedule aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
    • H04M7/0024—Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services
    • H04M7/0042—Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services where the data service is a text-based messaging service
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H04L12/189—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast in combination with wireless systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/54—Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M2203/65—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to applications where calls are combined with other types of communication
    • H04M2203/652—Call initiation triggered by text message
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/42365—Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
    • H04M3/42374—Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/42382—Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A method and system for scheduled and non-scheduled multi-party conference calls using electronic text messages are disclosed. The method comprises receiving an electronic text message containing a conference call request (CCR) from a client. The CCR comprises presence information of plurality of members of the client, a scheduled time and date of the conference call, and client's account information. The method also comprises monitoring the client's account information;
monitoring the presence information of the plurality of members; and scheduling the conference call on the scheduled time and date. The scheduling of the conference call comprises negotiating the scheduled time and date of the conference call with a call server located in a service provider network; and controlling communications between the client, the plurality of members, and the call server. The negotiating and controlling of communications comprise sending instructions to the call server for initiating the conference call for the plurality of members; and sending instructions on how to join a scheduled conference call and a conference-in-progress to the plurality of members. The method and system enable a conference call service, with pre-paid and post-paid payments of charges for clients' convenience, for any wireline and wireless devices and any telecommunications networks.

Description

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 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 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;

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 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.

[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 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.

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;

(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 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 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 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 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).

[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 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 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 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.

[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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Claims (38)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PORPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method for establishing and scheduling a mufti-party conference call comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving by a conference application server (CAS) from a client an electronic text message containing a conference call request (CCR) comprising presence information of plurality of members, a scheduled time and date of the conference call, and account information of the client;
(b) monitoring by the CAS the account information of the client and the presence information of the plurality of members, wherein the CAS storing the presence information of the plurality of members;
(c) 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, wherein the CAS being connected to the call server; and (d) sending by the CAS instructions on how to join the conference call to at least one of the plurality of members before or on the scheduled time and date of the conference call, if the presence information of the at least one of the plurality of members does not match the presence information stored on the CAS.
2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises receiving the electronic text message being initiated from wireline and wireless devices having access to a web browser.
3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises receiving the electronic text message being initiated from wireline and wireless devices having access to a short message service (SMS) provider.
4. The method as described in claim 2, wherein the step (a) further comprising receiving the electronic text message from a web server connected to the CAS;
and wherein the CCR being formulated using the web browser of the web server.
5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the receiving by the CAS of the electronic text message comprises receiving an electronic-mail (e-mail) message; an instant text message (IM); or a short message service (SMS) message.
6. The method as described in claim 5, further comprising receiving the electronic text message having one or more of the following: telephone numbers, SMS
numbers, SIP addresses, SIP identifiers, e-mail addresses, IM service identifiers, and IM service usernames for identifying the plurality of members attending the conference call.
7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises querying an accounting server connected to the CAS for validating the account information of the client.
8. The method as described in claim 7, further comprising generating by the CAS
an error message and sending the error message to the client if the account information is not valid.
9. The method as described in claim 7, further comprising sending by the CAS 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 by the CAS an acknowledgement message to said confirmation message from the client.
10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the step (b) further comprising collecting presence information from at least one of 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.
11. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the step (c) comprises negotiating by the CAS with the call server the scheduled time and date of the conference call; and controlling communications between the client, the plurality of members, and the call server.
12. The method as described in claim 11, wherein 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.
13. The method as described in claim 12, further comprising 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.
14. The method as described in claim 12, further comprising 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.
15. A system for establishing and scheduling a multi-party conference call comprising:
(x) a conference application server (CAS) comprising:
(r) a database for storing presence information of plurality of members for a client connected to the CAS, (s) a monitoring agent for validating the client account information and the presence information of the plurality of members stored on the database;
(t) a messaging interface for communicating using an electronic text message with the client, the plurality of members, and an electronic text message agent through an internet, (u) 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 (v) a communications interface for sending instructions for initiating the conference call for the plurality of members to a call server;
(y) an accounting server connected to the CAS for validating identification and accounting information of the clients; and (z) 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.
16. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the electronic text message agent comprises an e-mail agent, an IM agent, and an SMS agent; and wherein the electronic text message comprises an e-mail message, an IM message, and an SMS message.
17. The system as described in claim 16, wherein the monitoring agent (s) comprises means for querying the accounting server (y) for validating the account information of the client.
18. The system as described in claim 17, further comprising means for generating an error message and sending the error message to the client, if the account information is not valid.
19. The system as described in claim 18, further comprising 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 said confirmation message from the client.
20. The system as described in claim 16, wherein the monitoring agent (s) further comprising 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 (r).
21. The system as described in claim 16, wherein the messaging interface (t) 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 said messages for setting up the conference call for the plurality of members.
22. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the communications interface (v) 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.
23. The system as described in claim 22, wherein the CAS is connected to the call server; and the call server is located in a service provider network; and wherein the service provider network is a PSTN; an enterprise telephony network; or a global wireless network.
24. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the scheduler agent (u) 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 server.
25. The system as described in claim 24, wherein the means for controlling communications comprises means for 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.
26. The system as described in claim 25, further comprising means for sending a confirmation message to the client if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is confirmed by the call server.
27. The system as described in claim 25, further comprising means for 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.
28. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the web server (z), the CAS
(x), and the accounting server (y) are the same machine.
29. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the web server (z), the CAS
(x), and the accounting server (y) are different machines, each being connected to an Internet.
30. The system as described in claim 29, wherein the web server (z) communicates with the CAS (x) using a point-to-point secure communications protocol.
31. The system as described in claim 29, wherein the CAS (x) communicates with the accounting server (y) using a point-to-point secure communications protocol.
32. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the accounting server (y) comprises:
(e) a database for storing accounting and billing information for clients connected to the CAS; and (f) means for payments of cost of the conference call by the clients comprising one or more of the following:
(m) means for a pre-paid payment of cost for a scheduled conference call, (n) means for a pre-paid payment of cost for a non-scheduled conference call, (p) means for a post-paid payment of cost for a scheduled conference call, and (q) means for a post-paid payment of cost for a non-scheduled conference call.
33. The system as described in claim 32, further comprising means for generating an error message if any of the means for payments (m) to (q) does not cover the cost of the conference call; and means for sending the error message to the CAS
connected to the accounting server.
34. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the web browser comprises a conference service screen for formulating the CCR; and the conference service screen having information display windows comprising:
- a members list for inputting client's contacts;
- 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's account information;
- a per conference window for displaying the members selected from the members list for planning the conference call;
- a conferences list window for storing scheduled conferences for 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
35. A multi-party conference call service using electronic text messages comprising:
(i) 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 account information of the client;
(ii) a database for storing the presence information of the plurality of members;
(iii) a monitoring agent for monitoring the account information of the client and the presence information of the plurality of members;

(iv) 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 (v) means for pre-paid and post-paid payments of cost for the conference call.
36. The service as described in claim 35, wherein the mufti-party conference call service is a two-party conference call service.
37. The service as described in claim 35, wherein the monitoring agent (iii) 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;
- 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;
- receiving an acknowledgement message to said confirmation message from the client; and - 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.
38. The service as described in claim 35, wherein the scheduler agent (iv) comprises:
(g) means for negotiating the scheduled time and date of the conference call with a call server, wherein the call server being located in a service provider network; and (h) means for controlling communications between the client, the plurality of members, and the call server including:
(i) sending an error message to the client, if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is rejected by the call server;
(j) sending an error message to the client and the plurality of members, if the conference call is aborted;
(k) sending a confirmation message to the client, if the scheduled time and date of the conference call is confirmed by the call server;

(l) sending instructions for initiating the conference call for the plurality of members to the call server; and (o) sending conference call instructions to the client and the plurality of members.
CA002522881A 2005-10-21 2005-10-21 Method and system for establishing and scheduling multi-party conference calls using electronic text messages Abandoned CA2522881A1 (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1986368A1 (en) * 2007-04-24 2008-10-29 Aspect Software Inc. Method and apparatus for conferencing
EP2154820A1 (en) * 2007-10-16 2010-02-17 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. A method for initiating conferences, an application service proxy, a conference server and system
US7778629B2 (en) * 2007-01-10 2010-08-17 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system for handling potentially contentious situations upon receipt of an automatically connecting SMS message
EP2224718A1 (en) 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 Ascendent Telecommunications Inc. Method and system for conference call scheduling via e-mail
WO2010145149A1 (en) * 2009-06-17 2010-12-23 中兴通讯股份有限公司 Conference reservation method, device and communication system
WO2011057427A1 (en) * 2009-11-13 2011-05-19 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Multiple party communications for mobile terminals
US8204197B2 (en) 2009-02-27 2012-06-19 Research In Motion Limited Method and system for conference call scheduling via e-mail
US8229083B2 (en) 2007-01-10 2012-07-24 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system for automatically connecting to conference calls

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7778629B2 (en) * 2007-01-10 2010-08-17 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system for handling potentially contentious situations upon receipt of an automatically connecting SMS message
US8229083B2 (en) 2007-01-10 2012-07-24 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system for automatically connecting to conference calls
EP1986368A1 (en) * 2007-04-24 2008-10-29 Aspect Software Inc. Method and apparatus for conferencing
EP2154820A1 (en) * 2007-10-16 2010-02-17 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. A method for initiating conferences, an application service proxy, a conference server and system
EP2154820A4 (en) * 2007-10-16 2011-11-09 Huawei Tech Co Ltd A method for initiating conferences, an application service proxy, a conference server and system
EP2224718A1 (en) 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 Ascendent Telecommunications Inc. Method and system for conference call scheduling via e-mail
US8204197B2 (en) 2009-02-27 2012-06-19 Research In Motion Limited Method and system for conference call scheduling via e-mail
US8488763B2 (en) 2009-02-27 2013-07-16 Research In Motion Limited Method and system for conference call scheduling via e-mail
US8948363B2 (en) 2009-02-27 2015-02-03 Blackberry Limited Method and system for conference call scheduling via E-mail
WO2010145149A1 (en) * 2009-06-17 2010-12-23 中兴通讯股份有限公司 Conference reservation method, device and communication system
WO2011057427A1 (en) * 2009-11-13 2011-05-19 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Multiple party communications for mobile terminals

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