GB2367711A - Pre-registration of intended participants in a teleconference - Google Patents

Abstract

A teleconference system and method permitting teleconference pre-registration is disclosed. The system includes a configuration tool, a pre-registration system, and, preferably, an audio bridge. The configuration tool is initially used by a conference organizer to configure the pre-registration system to pre-register intended teleconference participants in accordance with a conference-specific scheme. Pre-registration may be configured to be operative during a selected time period. The pre-registration system receives calls from intended conference participants during the selected time period and pre-registers callers for the scheduled conference. During pre-registration, information is gathered from the participant in accordance with the organizer's instructions. A unique personal identifier may also be assigned to each caller by the pre-registration system. At the conclusion of pre-registration, intended participation in the scheduled conference can be ascertained by noting which intended participants have pre-registered for the scheduled conference. At the time of the scheduled conference, pre-registered parties call the audio bridge to be connected to the scheduled conference. Entry of assigned personal identifiers (if any) may serve to identify the conference to which the caller should be connected, or to provide an indication of conference attendance.

Description

TELECONFERENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD PERMITTIN (i PRE-REGISTRATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION : The present invention relates to teleconferencing, and more particularly to a teleconference system and method permitting conference prE :-registration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION : Teleconferencing allows two or more distant parties to establish a conference by way of telephone or similar equipment. As such, teleconferencing and conferencing systems, such as audio telephone conferencing systems, have become indispensable in the contemporary business world. Teleconferences facilitate dialogue between offices and individuals in remote locations and are instrumental in reducing meeting costs by eliminating the need for travel. Similarly, teleconferences allow large virtual meetings, such as shareholder and investor meetings, without requiring physical attendance of the meeting participants. In the future video teleconferences will likely be equally popular.

Various types of teleconferencing systems and methodologies are known. For example teleconference call services are often provided by a third party teleconference service provider (TSP). Typically, a client seeking to have a teleconference creates contacts a TSP that provides the customer a telephone number (usually an 800. 888 or 900 number) to be used for future conference ca) ! s. Subsequently, each time the client wishes to schedule a teleconference, the client contacts the TSP to reserve the requisite telephone resources for a desired time and a specific number of participants. The reservation ensures the availability of any TSP equipment that may be required for the conference, such as a conferencing bridge and sufficient line') for the anticipated number of call participants. During reservation, the TSP assigns a unique call identification number (CLIN) to the scheduled conference. At the scheduleo time, each caller dials the TSP-provided number to establish a connection to a conferencing bridge and then enters the GIN to identify the proper conference to which to be connected. The conference bridge

connects all callers identifying a particular call by CIN. Typi ally, conference bridges are capable of facilitating multiple teleconferences simultaneously.

These conventional conferencing systems have various limitations. Foremost is the absence of any mechanism by which intended participants may confirm their intention to join a particular call A conference organizer scheduling c, teleconference typically has no indication of whether or not a scheduled conference will e well attended. The organizer will usually reserve sufficient resources to support attendance by all intended conference participants. Disadvantageously, if any of the intended call participants fail to join the conference at the scheduled time, reserved telephone lines may go unused, possibly resulting in wasted per-line reservation charges.

Another shortcoming of known systems IS the generic nature of the procedure by which participants are connected to a conference call. Because each person registering for a particular teleconference is required to enter the same. : ombination of digits (telephone number + CLIN), it is difficult to identify individual (. onference participants.

Disadvantageously, the difficulty of tracking conference participation often results in diminished accountability for unauthorized nonattendance or unauthorized attendance at a given conference. Similarly, attendance information cannot t, e effectively leveraged after the completion of the conference call through, for example, tne distribution of follow-up information to conference attendees or the invitation of past, conference attendees to subsequent conferences.

Hence what is needed is a teleconference system and method which overcomes some of these shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tel-conference system and method allowing callers to pre-register for a scheduled teleconference. Preferably, conference participants may pre-register in accordance with a pre-registration scheme determined by a conference organizer.

Advantageously. teleconference pre-registration may be provided during a during a specific time window, intended participation in the scheduled conference may therefore be ascertainable at the conclusion of the pre-registration time window.

The teleconference system and method may also provide each participant with a unique personal identifier during conference pre-registration Subsequent entry of the assigned personal identifier at the time of registration may advantageously serve to identify the teleconference participant and optionally the tele. : onference to which the participant should be connected.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a method of configuring a computing device to pre-register intended teleconference participants for a scheduled teleconference includes the step of configuring the computing device to gather information specified by a teleconference organizer from the intended teleconference participants. in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium stores computer software that, when loaded into a first computing device, adapts this device to be capable of configuring another computing device to gather information from intended participants of a scheduled teleconference during a pre-registration time period in accordance with instructions of an organizer of the scheduled teleconference.

In accordance with stiff another aspect of the present Invention, a method of preregistering an intended teleconference participant for a scheduled teleconference during a pre-registration time period includes the steps of: receiving communication from the intended teleconference participant ; identifying the scheduled teleconference in which the intended participant wishes to participate; and gathering info, mation specified by an organizer of the scheduled teleconference from the intended teleconference participant.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a computing device pre-registers an intended participant of a scheduled teleconference during a pre

registration time period by : receiving a communication from in intended teleconference participant over a switched network in communication with the computing device ; identifying the scheduled teleconference in which the intended participant wishes to

participate ; and gathering information specified by a teleconference organizer from the intended teleconference participant.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present Invention, a computer readable medium stores computer software that, when loade d into a computing device, adapts the device, during a pre-registration time period, to gilther information from intended participants of a scheduled teleconference in accordance with instructions of an organizer of the scheduled teleconference.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention a computer readable medium stores computer software that, when loaded into a computing device adapts the device, during a pre-registration time period, to : receive a communication from an intended teleconference participant over a network in communication with the device; identify a scheduled teleconference in which the intended participant wishes to participate ; and gather information specified by an organizer of the scheduled teleconference from the intended teleconference participant.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a method of connecting an intended teleconference participant to a scheduled teleconference for which the intended participant has previously pre-registered Includes the steps of: receiving a communication from the intended teleconference participant : identifying the schduled teleconference for which the intended participant has previously pre-registered ; and connecting the intended participant to the identified scheduled teleconference.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of connecting an intended telephone conference call participant to a scheduled conference call for which the intended call participant has previously pre. registered includes the steps of: receiving a telephone call from the intended conference c. ill participant; receiving a unique personal identifier from the intended conference call participant which was previously assigned to the intended participant during pre-registration ; using the received unique personal identifier to identify the scheduled conference call for which the intended call participant has previously pre-registered ; and connecting the intended participant to the Identified scheduled conference call based on the received unique personal identifier.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present Invention. in a teleconference system, a method of ascertaining intended participation in a scheduled teleconference in advance of the scheduled teleconference time includes the s temps of: receiving communications from intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period in which the intended participants'intention to participate in the scheduled teleconference is confirmed: maintaining records of the received communications wherein the identity of each intended teleconference participant from whom a communication has been received is apparent; and after the pre-registration time period has elapsed, examining the recorded identities of the intended teleconference participants from whom a communication has been received. in accordance with yet another aspect of the present Invention, in a teleconference system, a method of ascertaining intended participation in a scheduled teleconference in advance of the scheduled teleconference time includes the :. teps of: configuring a computing device to receive communications from intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period; further configuring the computing device to maintain records of the received communications wherein the identity of each intended teleconference participant from whom a communication has been received is apparent ; receiving communications from the intended teleconference participants during the preregistration time period using the configured computing device ; and after the preregistration time period has elapsed, examining the recorded identities of the intended teleconference participants from whom communication has been received.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present Invention, a method of allocating teleconferencing resources for a scheduled teleconference includes the steps of : receiving communications from intended teleconference participants during a preregistration time period in which the intended participants'intention to participate in the scheduled teleconference is confirmed ; and allocating the teleconferencing resources based on the communications so that conference call participants may participate in the teleconference.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, in a teleconference system, a method of ascertaining actual participation in a sclleduled teleconference includes the steps of: receiving communications from intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period ; assigning a unique personal identifier to each of the intended teleconference participants from whom a communication has been received ; conveying an assigned identifier to each of the intended teleconference participants to- whom an identifier has been assigned ; receiving telephone calls from at least some of the pre-registered teleconference participants at a time of the scneduled teleconference; receiving the assigned personal identifier from each of the pre-registered participants from whom a call is received ; and recording participation of each of the pre-registered participants from whom a call is received ; so that, at the conclusion of the scheduled teleconference, actual participation in the scheduled telecomerence can be ascertained.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS : In figures which illustrate example embodiments of the invention : FIG. 1 illustrates a teleconference system exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention interconnected with a switched network and various exemplary users; FIG. 2A illustrates the format of a reservation record contained in a teleconference database illustrated in FIG. 1 : FIG. 28 illustrates the format of a pre-registrant recors contained in the teleconference database illustrated in FIG. 1 : FIG. 2C illustrates the format of a call details record contained in the conferencing database illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of steps performed by the telecc, nference system of FIG. 1 during the conference set-up stage : FIG. 4 is a flow chart of steps performed by the teleconference system of FIG. 1 during the pre-registration stage ; and FIG. 5 is a flow chart of steps performed by the telecc, nference system of FIG. 1 during the registration stage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION : FIG. 1 illustrates a teleconference system 10 exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary teleconference system 10 is used for the establishment of conference calls. However, it will be appreciated that many aspects of the invention may be embodied and used in a variety of other teleconference systems, such as video conference systems, and the like.

Exemplary teleconference system 10 includes an interactive voice response (IVR) pre-registration system 50, an IVR configuration tool 30 and a conferencing bridge 80, each of which communicates with a conferencing database 60. Various exemplary system users including a conference organizer 20 and conference pi e-registrants/participants 40, 42, and 44 are also illustrated. Each of conference organizer 20 and conference pre registrants/participants 40,42, and 44 is connected to a switched network 46, which is preferably the public switched telephone network ("PSTN") 01 any comparable communications networks, such as a conventional packet or circuit switched network. As will become apparent, during normal system operation, callas 40,42 and 44 initially assume the role of conference pre-registrants and later became conference participants.

A receiver 22 proximate to a TSP-provided human operator 24 is also connected to the switched network 46 by way of connection 28. The operator 24 is additionally proximate to, and capable of operating, the IVR configuration tool 30. Tune IVR configuration tool 30 is thus indirectly accessible by the conference organizer 20 through the operator 24 and by way of switched network 46, connection 28 and receiver 22. The switched network 46

is additionally connected to the IVR pre-registration system'. 0 and the conferencing bridge 80 by way of connections 48 and 78 (respectively). Thus, conference pre registrants 40,42, and 44 may access the IVR pre-registration system 50 by way of network 46 and connection 48, and conference participants. to, 42, and 44 may similarly access the conferencing bridge 80 via network 46 and connection 78.

Switched network 46 is capable of providing Dialed Number identification Service (DNIS). As understood by those skilled in the art, DNIS capability allows the dialed number of multiple telephone numbers associated with the s. 3me physical destination (e. g.

800,888 or 900 numbers) to be identified and transmitted to the called party. DNIS capability is thus suitable for centrally processing calls to multiple destination telephone numbers, each of which requires different handling. As will become apparent, the DNIS capability is used in the illustrated embodiment by the IVR pi a-registration system 50 to identify the conference with which incoming pre-registration. : alls should be associated, and by the conferencing bridge 80 to facilitate identification of the conference call to which the caller should be connected.

IVR pre-registration system 50 is an automated interactive voice response system capable of automatically pre-registering intended participant !. for a particular conference call during a conference-specific time period. Pre-registration system 50 employs IVR technology in which incoming pre-registration calls are received automatically by way of network 46 and connection 48. callers are presented with voice prompts, and callers may provide their responses by pressing touch tone keys to generate OTMF tones which are detected and captured, for example, or by providing verbal responses which are recorded.

Pre-registration system 50 is typically a conventional computing device or server executing an IVR software application that has been tailored to implement a conference pre-registration system as described herein. The software may be be loaded into the preregistration system 50 from any suitable computer-readable nedium, such as a magnetic disk 54, an optical storage disk, a memory chip or a file downloaded from a remote source. The computing device or server is additionally equipped with computer telephony hardware (not shown) to support the implementation of IVR capabilities as described

herein. This hardware may comprise for example, one of the Dialogie Singlespan TM series of voice processing boards.

In a manner exemplary of the present invention, IVR system 50 is capable of automatically accepting pre-registration telephone calls from conference pre-registrants 40, 42 and 44, preferably during a pre-registration time period determined by the conference organizer 20. The pre-registration time period is prior to the scheduled conference time and is defined by a pre-registration start time and a later pre-registration end time. The time span between the pre-registration end time and the scheduled conference time is typically sufficient to permit intended conference participation to be evaluated, but is not necessarily so. In the event that the pre-registration time periods for multiple conferences overlap, pre-registration system 50 is capable of accepting preregistration calls for any conference for which pre-registration is currently active. That is, system 50 is capable of accepting pre-registration calls for any conference with a preregistration time period that has commenced but not yet expired.

Association of incoming pre-registration calls with the proper conference is achieved by way of the DNIS capability of the switched network 46. As will be described,

each conference is assigned a unique pre-registration telephone number at the time of .. conference reservation. Pre-registration calls for different conferences thus have different DNIS numbers. Pre-registration system 50 accordingly uses the DNIS number received from the switched network 46 (by way of connection 48) in conjunction with the current time and date (as maintained by pre-registration system 50) to uniquely identify the conference for which a caller intends to pre-register. The system 50 then retrieves information from conferencing database 60 regarding the voil, e prompts, data collection procedures and proper logical flow of the pre-registration process for the identified conference, and implements automated pre-registration accc, rdingly. Data collection procedures are tailored to the particular conference but typic-illy include the capture of such data as the pre-registrant's name, title, location and other attributes. Pre-registration system 50 is further capable of screening data that has been collected from preregistrants during the course of pre-registration. Screening may further include the

transcription of recorded caller responses (if any) into text, for example, or the correction of any erroneous data. Screened data is ultimately stored in conferencing database 60.

During the pre-registration call, system 50 may be used to provide the caller with information necessary to facilitate future conference participation. For example, if the chosen conferencing scheme requires a unique PIN code to be entered by each participant during conference registration, system 50 is capable of assigning a PIN and conveying it to the caller during pre-registration for future reference and use during registration for the associated teleconference. As will beconie apparent, the provision of a unique PIN by the pre-registration system 50 and the subsequent entry of the PIN during registration advantageously allows attendance of conference : participants such as participants 40,42 and 44 at a particular conference to be ascertained.

IVR configuration tool 30 is a computing device capable of creating teleconference reservations and configuring a pre-registration scheme to be implemented by IVR system 50 during pre-registration for a particular conference. Configuration of the pre-registration scheme normally includes setting the desired time window for pre-registration ; setting the maximum number of pre-registrants and thus conference participants (if necessary) ; selecting voice prompts to be played to pre-registrants ; setting data collection parameters; and generally determining the overall logical flow of the IVR pre-registration system 50 in accordance with the instructions of the conference organizer 20. In the exemplary embodiment, IVR configuration tool 30 is operated by a hum in TSP operator 24 who interacts with the conference organizer 20 (by way of network 46, connection 28 and receiver 22) to identify the desired pre-registration characteristics and then uses configuration tool 30 to configure the pre-registration system 50 to operate accordingly.

During the course of the configuration process, the configuration tool 30 updates records contained in conferencing database 60 to reflect the desired pre-registration scheme.

Configuration tool 30 includes a display 36 and a keyboard 38 (or comparable data entry device) interconnected with a conventional computing device-or server 32 executing software which permits the definition of pre-registration characteristics and corresponding modification of conferencing database 60 as described herein. The computing device or server 32 of configuration tool 30 may be the same as, or different from, the computing

device or server used to implement the IVR pre-registration ; ystem 50. The software component of configuration too 30 may be a commercially available product, such as Apex Voice Communications OmniviewO or similar product, as may be shipped in conjunction with commercial IVR application software, or alt < : matively may be a proprietary software package or product having the capabilities described herein. The software may be loaded into the configuration tool 30 from any suitable computerreadable medium, such as a magnetic disk 34, an optical storage disk. a memory chip or a file downloaded from a remote source.

In the exemplary embodiment, IVR configuration tool 30 is further capable of defining certain teleconference characteristics to be implemented by the conferencing bridge 80 during the actual conference call. More specifically, IVR configuration tool 30 may be used to set the conference call reservation time and date, and to configure the call to require a personal identification number (PIN) for conference participation. The tool 30 encodes these settings in records that are written to database 60. The records are subsequently read by the conferencing bridge 80 when a call is implemented.

Alternatively, the records may be uploaded to the conferencing bridge 80 manually.

Conferencing bridge 80 is an audio bridge used to interconnect the conference call between exemplary conference participants 40, 42 and 44. Conferencing bridge 80 is capable of automatically accepting telephone calls from would-be conference participants and connecting them to the appropriate conference of multiple conferences simultaneously maintainable by the bridge 80. Conferencing bridge 80 has two primary functions. First, the bridge 80 is responsible for identifying the proper conference to which each incoming call should be connected and connecting the caller accordingly. Access to a particular call is restricted to parties who have previously p'e-registered for the call using pre-registration system 50. Conferencing bridge 80 is able to determine which callers have pre-registered for a particular call by accessing pre-registrant data previously written to conferencing database 60 by the pre-registration system 50 (as will be described). The bridge 80 may use DNIS information, which is automatically received from the switched network 46 (via connection 78), as well as PIN codes optiomdly received from conference participants 40,42 and/or 44, to identify the proper conferen e with which pre-registered

callers should be connected and then connects them therewirh. Second, the bridge 80 is responsible for authenticating each conference participant. It will be recognized that this second function is only achievable within conferencing system () embodiments capable of uniquely identifying pre-registered callers through, e. g., the assignment of PIN codes to each caller. In the present embodiment, PIN codes are received from pre-registered callers by the bridge 80 and validated against PIN codes, relieved from the conferencing database 60, which were previously assigned to prie-registrant by the IVR pre-registration system 50 and stored in the database 60. During the conference, bridge 80 maintains call detail information pertaining to each participant, such as call duration, attendance, and the like, which is ultimately written to the conferencing database 60. This information may then be may be used for billing : it may be used to generate a printed report; or it may be applied for other useful purposes. For example, when PIN authentication is operative, conference attendance information may be used to distribute follow-up information to conference attendees or to invite past conference attendees to subsequent conferences.

Conferencing bridge 80 may be. for example, a Compunetix Context 480 or a comparable bridge.

Conferencing database 60 is an exemplary database containing various types of information necessary to implement the teleconference system 10. In particular, three categories of information, determined at various stages of fun conference call process, are preferably stored in the database 60: (1) reservation-specific information. such as a unique reservation identifier, associated teleconference characteristics and pre-registration procedures, as determined during conference call set-up ; (2) pre-registrant information, as collected from callers. by the IVR pre-registration system 50 during pre-registration: and (3) conference call details, i. e. the metrics of the actuel conference, as compiled by the conferencing bridge 80 during the course of th (teleconference.

Conferencing database 60 may be any suitable database known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Conferencing database 60 may be a commercially available relational or object-oriented database accessible by known database engines such as Dbase, SQL, or Fox Pro, or any other comparable commerci. or proprietary database capable of storing conferencing information as described her ein.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate exemplary data record; contained in the conferencing database 60 of teleconference system 10. FIG. 2A shows an exemplary reservation data record 210 associated with a scheduled coriference. Fields 210a to 210e of exemplary data record 210 contain information pertaining to the teleconference reservation including the conference's unique reservation ID (field 210a) ; a reservation descriptor (field 210b) ; such characteristics as the time and oate of the scheduled conference (field 210c) ; an indicator of whether entry of a unique PIN code will be required of each participant during registration (field 210d) ; and the telephone number that will be dialed by each conference participant during registratin (field 210e). Fields 210f to 21 os of exemplary data record 210, on the other hand, pet tain to the pre-registration scheme of the subject conference. These fields include information such as the telephone number to be dialed by intended conference participants for pre-registration (fiefd 21 Of) ; the start time/date and end time/date of pre-registration (field 21 Og and 210h respectively) ; and the maximum number of pre-registrants if touch a maximum exists (field 210i). Moreover, exemplary fields 210k to 21 Op reflect organizer-specified pre-registration procedures including voice prompts, data collection requirements and logical flow of the pre-registration process for the associated conference.

In particular, pre-registration procedures are defined as a series of N preregistration steps, with each step preferably including an action-data pair of fields. The action component of each step (e. g. fields 210k, 210m and 210c) represents a unitary action that IVR system 50 is capable of executing during the processing of a pre

registration call, e. g. play a prompt, record a response, captui e digits. play digits, and play number. The data component of each step (e. g. corresponding fields 2101, 210n and 21 Op) includes the data associated with these exemplary actions, e. g. a digital representation of a recorded prompt to be played, digits to be played, or a number to be played. It will be understood that action steps involving data entry by a caller may obviate the need to utilize the corresponding data component of an action-data pair. because captured data is stored in separate pre-registrant data records, as will be described. As can be appreciated, pre-registration procedures for different conferences may involve greater or lesser numbers of prompts and may therefore result in larger or smaller corresponding reservation data records 210 having a greater or lesser number of actiondata field pairs (respectively). Additional fields (not shown) may be included in reservation data record 210.

FIG. 2B shows an exemplary pre-registrant data record 220 associated with a single pre-registrant of a particular conference. Multiple sue ! ! records may exist for a particular conference, with the number of records matching tile number of conference preregistrants. Pre-registrant records may be arranged within an overarching data structure to facilitate their organization and maintenance, such as a tinned fist for example (not illustrated). The overarching data structure in turn may be associated with the reservation data record 210 of the particular conference for which the prc-registrants have preregistered, by way of a pointer within the latter record for example. The information contained in exemplary data record 220 includes the reservation) ID of the conference in which the pre-registrant intends to participate (field 220a) an (required, the preregistrant's assigned PIN code (field 220b). Exemplary data record 220 further includes a number of fields 220d to 220f containing data collected from the pre-registrant in response to queries posed by the IVR pre-registration system 50 in accordance with the operative pre-registration scheme.

It will be appreciated that the number of fields 220d to 220f is dependent upon the number of responses to be collected from each pre-registrant under the operative preregistration scheme. For example, if the only response to be collected from a pre

registrant under an adopted pre-registration scheme, the pre-registrant's spoken name, data record 220 of FIG. 2B would contain a single field 220d, in place of the exemplary fields 220d to 220f, suitable for storing a spoken name. As can be appreciated, different pre-registration schemes involving greater or lesser numbers of captured responses will result in larger or smaller pre-registrant data records 220 hav. ng a greater or lesser

number of stored pre-registrant responses (respectively) Additional fields (not shown) may be included in pre-registrant data record 220 without de-parting from the present invention.

FIG. 2C shows an exemplary call details record 230 containing call metrics information for a particular conference. Typically, multiple such records may exist for a particular conference, with the number of records matching the number of conference participants. Record 230 contains the reservation ID of the. (ssociated conference (field 230a) ; the participant's assigned PIN number, if any (field 230b) ; the telephone number associated with the conference participant (field 230c), the (onference date (230d) ; the start time and end time of the caller's participation in the conference (230e and 230f) ; the duration of the caller's participation in the conference (field 230g) ; and an indicator of whether the conference has been completed (field 230h). It will be understood that each call details records contains at least one field containing information, such as the participant's assigned PIN (field 220b) or the participant's name (not shown), that uniquely identifies the participant with whom the record 230 is associ, lted. Additional fields (not shown) may be included in call details record 230.

The operation of the exemplary teleconference system 10 occurs in three stages illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The first stage is the conference set-up stage, during which the conference organizer 20 initially schedules a conference and defines a teleconferencing/pre-registration scheme. This stage is illustrated in steps 300 of FIG. 3 and occurs primarily within the IVR configuration tool 30. Th) : second stage is the preregistration stage, during which intended conference participants 40. 42 and 44 preregister for the scheduled conference. This stage is illustrated in steps 400 of FIG. 4 and occurs primarily within the IVR pre-registration system 50. The third stage is the registration stage, at which time conference participants 40, 42 and 44 connect to the scheduled teleconference. This stage is illustrated in steps 500 of FIG. 5 and occurs primarily within the conferencing bridge 80.

In the first or conference set-up stage, a conference oganizer 20 (FIG. 1) wishing to scheduie a conference call for a future time and date (which. for convenience, will be

referred to as the"conference time") places a call to the teleconference service provider. In step S302, the call is received at receiver 22 over connection 28 by a TSP operator 24 having access to the IVR configuration tool 30. The TSP operator 24 confirms that the conference organizer 20 wishes to schedule a teleconference and, in step S304, interacts with the keyboard 38 of configuration tool 30 to create a reservation accordingly. ! n step S306, the configuration tool 30 accordingly allocates a new reservation data record 210 (FIG. 2A) for the newly scheduled conference and assigns it a unique conference reservation ID which is stored in field 210a of record 210. The TSP operator further preferably enters a suitable descriptor for the newly-created, eservation which is stored In field 21 Ob of record 210.

In the next step S308, the TSP operator 24 queries the conference organizer 20 about various aspects of the desired teleconferencing scheme and then manipulates the IVR configuration tool 30 to effect the desired scheme in accordance with the responses of the organizer 20. In the present example, the TSP operator queries the organizer 20 as to the desired time and date of the reservation and whether entry of a unique PIN code should be required of each participant during registration. Th.) operator's responses to these queries are then entered into the keyboard 38 of the configuration too) 30 in step S310 and are stored in fields 210c and 210d (respectively). The telephone number to be dialed by each conference participant for registration, which may be determined automatically based on the identity of the call organizer 20 or may alternatively be operator-assigned, is stored field 210e.

In the next step S312, the TSP operator 24 queries the conference organizer 20 about the desired pro-registration scheme and then manipulates the IVR configuration tool 30 to effect the desired scheme in accordance with the responses of the organizer 20.

For example, the TSP operator 24 may query the organizer 20 as to: the desired start time/date and end time/date for pre-registration; and whether a maximum number of preregistrants is desired and what the maximum, if any, should be. The operator's responses to these queries are then entered into the keyboard 38 of configuration tool 30 by the operator 24 in step S314 and are stored in fields 210g to 210. (respectively) of data record 210. The telephone number to be dialed by intended conference participants for pre

registration, which may be assigned automatically by configuration too) 30 based on availability or may alternatively be operator-assigned, is stor. ! d field 210f. Also in step S314, the TSP operator 24 queries the organizer 20 as to the desired pre-registration procedures including the voice prompts, data collection requirements and logical flow of the pre-registration process for the present conference. The operator 24 then manipulates the configuration tool 30 to implement the specified scheme. This manipulation results in the allocation of a finite set of action-data field pairs (i. e. pre-registration steps) within reservation data record 210. For example, if the organizer expresses a desire to have the pre-registration system initially playa personalized greeting Iind prompt to the caller, e. g.

"Welcome to the automated pre-registration for Company ABC's regional sales teleconference of January 1, 2000. Please enter your employee number", the operator 24 will accordingly manipulate the IVR configuration tool 30 to effect this desire. As a result, the configuration tool 30 will allocate an action-data pair of fit-ids 21 Of and 21 Og within data record 210, store an value corresponding to the action. play a prompt within the action field 21 Of. and store a representation of the desired recorded greeting message in the associated data field 210g. Additional prompts or data collection steps would be similarly defined and would result in the allocation of additional action-data field pairs as well as the storage of appropriate data therein.

Thus, at the conclusion of step S314, the desired teleconferencing and preregistration scheme has been ascertained and stored within leservation data record 210 through suitable manipulation of the configuration tool 30. The TSP operator 24 at this stage ensures that the conference organizer 20 is aware of the appropriate telephone number to call for pre-registration as well as the selected time window for pre-registration.

The organizer 20 may disseminate this information to all intended ca) ! participants at his or her discretion. At this stage, the operator 24 may also provide the organizer 20 with teleconference information, such as the scheduled time of the teleconference and the TSP-provided conferencing telephone number, for dissemination to intended call participants. Alternatively, the pre-registration system 50 may be configured to provide the latter information to pre-registrants automatically. The generated reservation data record

210 is ultimately stored in the conferencing database 60 in step S316.

It will be recognized that the various queries made in steps S308 and S312 need not be performed in the order specified, and that configuration of particular aspects of the desired pre-registration/teleconferencing scheme performed in steps S310 and S314 may be performed in a different order or cumulatively at the conclusion of the querying process rather than as described.

In the second or pre-registration phase, intended conference participants, having received a communication from the conference organizer 20 indicating that a teleconference has been scheduled and that pre-registration is required, pre-register for the upcoming conference. An exemplary pre-registrant 40 (FIG. 1) dials the assigned preregistration number that has been provided by the conference organizer 20. The incoming call is received by pre-registration system 50 in step S402 (FIG. 4). In the next step S404, the actual number dialed by the pre-registrant 40 is received by system 50 via the DNIS capability of the switched network 46. The pre-registration system 50 uses the received DNIS and its own current system time and date in step S406 to index into conferencing database 60 In an attempt to identify a unique teleconferenc < : for which pre-registration is presently active. Indexing may involve, for example, comparison of the received DNIS and system time/date with the contents of the assigned pre-registration telephone number field (21 Of) and the pre-registration start time/date and endltilne date fields (210g and 210h, respectively) of each reservation data record 210 in conferencing database 60. If no teleconference can be identified in step S408 for which the received DNIS matches the value stored in field 21 Of and current time/date falls within the time window defined by the values contained in fields 210g and 21 Oh. a message is played to the caller in step S410 indicating that pre-registration is currently inactive, and the colin is terminated in step S432.

Otherwise, the pre-registration system 50 retrieves the reservation data record 210 associated with the identified conference from the conferencing database 60. The system 50 next reads field 21 oui to determine whether a maximum number of pre-registrants has been specified, and if so, the current number of prie-registrant for the identified conference (as maintained by the pre-registration system 50) as compared to the maximum permissible number of pre-registrants. If it is determined in step S412 that the maximum number of pre-registrants has been reached for th' ; present conference, a message indicating that fact, e. g.,"Pre-registrat) on is now closed as the maximum number

of pre-registrants for this teleconference has been reached", may be played to the caller in step S414, and the call is subsequently terminated in step 132 Assuming that the maximum number of pre. registrant- for the present teleconference has not been reached, or alternatively that no maximum has been stipulated, in step S416 the IVR pre-registration system 50 allocates a pre-registrant data record 220 (FIG. 2B) for the current pre-registrant 40 and ste res the corresponding conference reservation I D in field 220a of record 220. The \/R pre-registration system 50 is now free to conduct the pre-registration procedures prescribed within reservation data record 210 for the associated teleconference. In steps S418 to S420, the pre-registration system 50 iteratively implements pre-registration procedural steps including, e. g., the playing of voice prompts or collection of pre-registrant data, in accordance with the operative pre-registration scheme. In particular, in step S41R, the pre-registration system 50 examines the action field (field 2101) of the first action-datl field pair (fields 2101 and 210m) to ascertain the action to be performed. If the value contained in the first action field 2101 indicates the action "play a prompt", for example, the system 50 would then access the data contained in the associated data field 210m, which in the present case comprises an initial greeting message and prompt tailored to the teleconference (i. e.

"Welcome to the automated pre-registration for Company ABC's regional sales teleconference of January 1, 2000. Please enter your employee number."), and play it for the caller. Further, f the data record 210 contains another step including an additional action-data field pair 210n and 210o, the system 50 detects this fact in step S420. The system would then examine the action field 210n of the next action-data field pair (fields 210n and 2100) to ascertain the action to be performed. Assuming that the action field 210n contains a value indicating an action record a response", for example, the system will store the response of the pre-registrant 40 in a response'field (e. g. field 220d) of data record 220 allocated for that purpose.

Prompting and data collection continues in step S418 unfit it has been determined in step S420 that, according to the pre-registration scheme re trieved from conferencing database 60, no additional steps require implementation. Subsequently, if it is determined in step S42d (via an examination of field 210d of the reservation data record 210) that the

current teleconferencing scheme calls for the use of PIN codes, the IVR pre-registration system 50 identifies a unique PIN code, by way of table lockup or random number generation, for example, and assigns it to the current pre-registrant 40 in step S426. The assigned PIN code is the stored in field 220b of pre-registrar, t data record 220 and conveyed to the caller through, e. g., the playing of a generated voice stating the PIN code digit sequence. Following this step or alternatively if no PIN (ode is to be assigned pursuant to the present pre-registration scheme, the responses collected from the preregistrant are screened by the TSP in step S428. The screening process typically requires a human TSP employee to listen to the caller's recorded verbal responses (if any) and transcribe them into text, or the correction of any data that is determined to be erroneous. Upon completion of the screening step, the pre-registrant data record 220, now containing screened data, is stored in the conferencing database 60 in step S430.

The pre-registration call is then terminated in step S432.

The pre-registration stage is repeated for each intend conference participant.

Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, pre-registrants 42 and 44 are additionally preregistered for the scheduled conference through the execution of steps 400 of FIG. 4. It will be recognized that a unique pre-registrant data record 220 is created for each preregistrant 40. 42 and 44. Moreover, a unique PIN code is assigned to each pre-registrant 40,42 and 44 in the present embodiment. The set of pre-registrant records in existence at any given time is indicative of the intended participants who have pre-registered for the scheduled conference. At the conclusion of pre-registration (i e. when the pre-registration time period has elapsed), the conference pre-registrant records reject the intended participation in the scheduled conference. This information may be used (regardless of whether PIN codes are assigned) to adjust conference call reservations, if necessary, so that the reserved facilities are suitable for a conference call involving the number of preregistered parties.

In the third or registration phase, intended conference participants, having preregistered for the upcoming teleconference as described heretofore, call the TSP at the appointed conference time to be connected to the teleconference. An exemplary participant 40 (FIG. 1), previously pre-registrant 40 during the pre-registration stage of the

present example. dials the TSP-provided conferencing telephone number, as may have previously been provided by the conference organizer 20 or the IVR pre-registration system 50. The incoming call is received by the conferencing bridge 80 in step S502 (FIG. 5). In step S504 the actual number dialed by the participant 40 is received by the bridge 80 via the DNIS capability of the switched network 96 A welcome message, such as."Wetcome to Company ABC's teleconferencing network", is played in step S506. The conferencing bridge 80 next uses the received DNIS in step i508 to index into conferencing database 60 in an attempt to identify whether any teleconferences are scheduled for the present time. Indexing may involve, for ex-impie, comparison of the received DNIS and current time/date with the contents of the assigned teleconferencing telephone number field (21 Oe) and the reservation time/date field (21 Oc) of each reservation data record 210 in conferencing database 60. If no scheduled teleconference can be found in step S510 for which the received DNIS and Die current time/date match the values contained in fields 21 ose and 21 Oc of any examined reservation data records, a message is played to the caller (step S512) indicating that no teleconference is presently taking place. and the call is terminated (step S526). Otherwise, assuming in the present example that only one teleconference is scheduled for the current time/date, the bridge 80 retrieves the reservation data record 210 associated with the identified teleconference from the conferencing database 60.

The bridge 80 next reads the field 21 Od of retrieved reservation data record 210 to determine whether entry of a unique PIN code is required for registration. If it is determined in step S514 that entry of a PIN code is in fact required for connection to the teleconference, the conferencing bridge 80 prompts the caller to enter his or her assigned PIN in step S516. The entered PIN is then received by the bridge 80 and is subsequently validated in step S518. Validation may involve, for example, matching the received PIN code against the PIN codes contained in field 220b of any pre-registrant data records 220 in the conferencing database 60 in which the reservation ID contained in field 220a matches the reservation ID of the present teleconference. If the entered PIN is determined to be invalid, a message indicating that an invalid PIN has been entered is conveyed to the caller in step S524. At this stage it may be desirable to allow repetition of the PI N entry procedure of steps S516-S518 to permit reentry of mistyped PIN codes.

Ultimately, if the entered PIN code cannot be validated, the (all is transferred to a TSP operator (step S528) who may interact with the participant 4o in order to identify the desired conference and confirm the validity of the participant s PIN. Assuming that the caller is identified to be a valid participant to the desired conference, the participant 40 may then be connected to the conference in step S522. Otherwise, if the entered PIN has successfully been validated in step S518 or if entry of a PIN code is not required pursuant to the chosen teleconferencing scheme, the conferencing bridge 80 uses the received DNIS and validated PIN to connect the caller to the appropriate conference (of multiple conferences that may be ongoing within bridge 80 at that time) in steps S520 and S522.

Advantageously. indication of the assigned PIN by caller 40 logether with the associated DNIS provides unique identification of the caller, thus permitting a record of the participation of caller 40 in the scheduled teleconference to be made by conferencing bridge 80.

The registration stage is repeated for each conference participant. Thus, in the illustrated example, participants 42 and 44 additionally register for the scheduled conference by executing steps 500 of FIG. 5. Upon the connection of the conference participants 40, 42 and 44, or some subset thereof, the teleconference may then proceed at the connected participants'discretion. During the conference, the bridge 80 maintains metrics specific to that conference, including such information as the number of conference participants and the identity of the participating parties for example, which reflects actual participation in the conference. Upon completi) n of the call, conferencing bridge 80 may then allocate a call details record 230 (FIG. 2 ( ;) for each participant 40, 42 and 44 in the conferencing database 60, fill in the appropriate-fields with conference metrics information for that caller, and store the formatted records in the conferencing database 60 for future use in billing or other applications. Advantageously, attendance information may now be leveraged in various ways. For example. attendance information may be used to distribute follow-up information to conference attendees, or to invite past conference attendees to subsequent conferences.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, modifications to the abovedescribed embodiments can be made without departing from the invention For example.

an alternative embodiment of teleconference system 10 may be capable of performing pre-registration in two or more languages. During the conference set-up stage, the conference organizer 20 may be queried as to the desired language (s) in which preregistration system 50 should be capable of pre-registering callers. If multi-lingual capability is desired, the provision of voice prompts in each of the selected languages may be necessary. During pre-registration, the IVR pre-registration system 50 may initially query the pre-registrant as to the desired language and then set the voice prompt language in accordance with the pre-registrant's selection. It will be recognized that the screening of caller responses in such a multi-lingual system nay additionally entail translation of the responses into a"base'language, i. e. a single language that has been chosen to represent all pre-registrant information regardless of the original language in which pre-registrant responses were recorded.

In another alternative, the configuration tool 30 may be directly controllable by the organizer 20 rather than being controllable only through the operator 24 by way of connection 28 and receiver 22. For example, IVR technology may be employed in the configuration tool 30 to permit automated configuration of tehconferencing and preregistration schemes by organizer 20. In such an embodiment, connection 28 may interconnect switched network 46 to the IVR configuration tos 11 30 directly, with no need for a receiver 22 or an operator 24.

As well, pre-registration data collection techniques may differ frorm those described above. For example, an alternative embodiment may employ automated speech-to-text transcription within pre-registration system 50 to facilitate the collection of user responses in textual form without the need for manual transcription. In addition, it may be possible to omit the data screening step (e. g. step S428 of FIG. 4) when human review of the collected data is unnecessary or will do little to improve its accuracy. This may be the case, for example, if the operational pre-registration scheme employs only DTMF capture but no recording of voice.

It will further be appreciated that teleconference pre-registration and participation is achievable without the use of dialed number information. For example, during the pre

registration stage, identification of the teleconference for which the caller wishes to pre register may be by way of entry of a ON code associated with the scheduled teleconference, of which the caller may previously have been informed by the teleconference organizer. During the registration stage, access to the teleconferencing bridge by would-be teleconference participants may be through a general number dialed by everyone seeking access of any of the multiple teleconferences maintained by that bridge. Subsequent identification of the desired teleconference may be by way of entry of a ON code and, optionally, a PIN code. Alternatively, teleconference identification may require entry of a PIN code only. In such alternative embodiments, the network over which calls are received by the pre-registration system 50 and the conferencing bridge 80 need not be ON IS capable.

Various approaches may also be taken towards the maintenance and structure of reservation and pre-registrant information within teleconference system 10. For example, the system 10 may employ a separate database for each of the configuration tool 30, the pre-registration system 50 and the conferencing bridge 80, rather than the single common database described above. In such a three-database system, each database may be used to maintain a different category of information. For example, the database associated with the configuration tool 30 may contain reservation information, the database associated with the pre-registration system 50 may contain pre-registrant information, and the database associated with the conferencing bridge 80 may contain call detail information.

Any necessary sharing or transmission of information between databases, such as the communication of a newy-created teleconference reservatic, n ID from the configuration tool 30 to the IVR pre-registration system 50 for example, m iy be achieved through periodic inter-database communication, manual copying between databases, or via other database synchronization techniques. Also, reservation and pre-registrant information may be represented by way of alternative or hybrid data structures, such as linked lists or record t linked list combinations, rather than as described above.

Fundamentally, teleconference pre-registration exemplary of embodiments of the present invention may be achieved in many ways and envirc, nments. For example, teleconference pre-registration for data conferences or video conferences could be

provided by way of a system similar to system 10. Pre-registration could also be provided without the use of IVR technology in pre-registration system 50. The system 50 may employ alternative means of interaction with intended conference participants during preregistration for a scheduled conference. For example, pre-registration system 50 may be a human TSP operator who receives calls from intended tele. conference participants and manually performs the pre-registration procedure, by gathering the pre-registrant's personal information, conveying the assigned conference call telephone number and PIN to the pre-registrant, and the like.

As another alternative, the pre-registration system may be implemented as a clientserver application, wherein pre-registration system 50 comprises a central server application communicating with one or more client applications that are executed remotely by intended conference participants. In this model, pre-registrant data entered remotely in the client application may be electronically transmitted to the central server, while any information needed for conference participation may be electronically transmitted in the opposite direction. Any network capable of sustaining data traffic to facilitate such interaction may be used in place of switched network 46 in si ich an embodiment It should be noted that pre-registration in this manner may require conference preregistrants 40, 42 and 44 to have access to local terminals, servers or nodes in communication with the network to execute the remote client application.

Furthermore, the configuration tool 30 may be implemented as an internet-based application. For example, configuration tool 30 may comprise a computer program executing on an internet-connected Wond Wide Web server owned or leased by the TSP.

In such an embodiment, control of the configuration tool 30 by the organizer 20 may not involve a link 28, a handset 22 or a TSP operator 24 (FIG. 1) Rather, a conference organizer with Internet access and suitable hardware and software (possibly comprising a personal computer executing a World Wide Web browser application and TCP ! IP communications software) may be able to control the configuration tool 30 directly. That

is, the organizer may enter a known URL (i. e. World Wide Web address) into a web browser to access the TSP's configuration application. The c. rganizer may subsequently be presented with prompts and may enter data to facilitate ccnfiguration of the pre registration system 50. Suitable prompting and data collection may allow the organizer 20 to confirm his/her desire to schedule a teleconference ; stipulate the desired conferencing scheme; indicate the desired time/date of the conference; specify whether a unique PIN should be required of each participant during registration ; stipulate the desired preregistration scheme ; indicate the desired start time/date and end time/date for preregistration ; and indicate whether a maximum number of pro-registrant is desired and what the maximum (if any) should be. The presentation of pi ompts by the tool 30 may be textual or aural, for example, while data collection may be by way of the organizer's keyboard or through other conventional means. The data collected from the organizer is transmitted by way of at least one communication across the. Internet to the configuration tool 30, where it is received and processed into a reservation data record 210 for ultimate storage in conferencing database 60. At the conclusion of the conference set-up stage, the organizer may be presented with a conference-specific pre-registration URL (rather than a conference-specific pre-registration telephone number) which will allow intended participants to access the pre-registration system associates with that conference. The pre-registration URL may be stored in place of the pre-registration telephone number in field 21j0f (FIG 2A) of reservation data record 210. The organizer 20 may then disseminate the pre-registration URL along with the selected pre-registration time period to all intended conference participants, by telephone, fax, written correspondence or other conventional means. Alternatively, the configuration application may provide preregistration information directly to intended call participants, hy way of electronic mail for example.

The pre-registration system 50 may also be implemented as an internet-based application executing on the same, or different, World Wide Web server as that which may be used to host the configuration tool application. During the pre-registration stage, intended conference participants with Internet access and a: ; uitable computing device may enter the pre-registration URL and thereby gain access to, and directly interact with, the pre-registration system 50. It will be recognized the pre-registration URL's. unique identification of the conference for which pre-registration is being sought may obviate the use of DNIS and current time/date for conference identification. Assuming that the appropriate conference is identified, pre-registration of the caller may proceed in

accordance with steps S412-S432 (FIG. 4). Prompting and data entry as described above with regard to the World Wide Web configuration too) application may be utilized to gather information from the pre-registrant which is received by the pre-registration system 50 in the form of at least one communication across the Internet fr. m the pre-registrant's computing device. Any information needed for conference participation may conveyed to the pre-registrant's device in the opposite direction. It will be recognized that. depending upon the operative pre-registration scheme and the method of data entry, it may be possible to omit the response screening step S428. When the pre-registration stage has been completed by all pre-registrants, the conference may proceed at the scheduled time as described previously.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that a similar client-server arrangement could be employed to permit direct remote access to the system 50 by preregistrants over various packet-switched networks other than the Internet, or over circuitswitched networks.

Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.

Claims (26)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS :

1. A method of configuring a computing device to pro-register intended teleconference participants for a scheduled teleconference, said method comprising : configuring said computing device to gather information specified by a teleconference organizer from said intended teleconference participants.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising : configuring said computing device to pre-register intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period specified by said teleconference organizer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring said computing device to assign a unique personal identifier to each of said intended teleconference participants.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring said computing device to convey information specified by said teleconference organizer to said intended teleconference participants.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said computing device comprises an interactive voice response system.

6. A computer readable medium storing computer software that. when loaded into a first computing device, adapts said first device to be capable of configuring a second computing device to gather information from intended participants of a scheduled teleconference during a pre-registration time period in accordance with instructions of an organizer of the scheduled teleconference.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein said computer software further adapts said first device to be capable of configuring said second device to assign a unique personal identifier to each of said intended teleconference participants.

8. A method of pre-registering an intended teleconference participant for a scheduled teleconference during a pre-registration time period, said me thod comprising: (a) receiving a communication from said intended teleconference participant; (b) identifying the scheduled teleconference in which said intended participant wishes to participate: and (c) gathering information specified by an organizer of the scheduled teleconference from said intended teleconference participant.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: (d) assigning a unique personal identifier to said intended teleconference participant

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: (d) conveying information specified by said organiser of the scheduled teleconference to said intended teleconference participant.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication received from said intended teleconference participant is a telephone call over a network providing dialed number identification, and wherein said communication further includes dialed number information from said switched network.

12. The method of daim 11, wherein step (b) comprises using said received dialed number information together with a determined current time and date to identify said scheduled teleconference.

13. A computing device operable, during a pre-registration time period, to gather information from intended participants of a scheduled teleconference in accordance with instructions of an organizer of the scheduled teleconference

14. A computing device operable to pre-register an intended participant of a scheduled teleconference during a pre-registration time period by : (a) receiving a communication from an intended teleconference participant over a switched network in communication with saicl computing device : (b) identifying the scheduled teleconference in whIch said intended participant wishes to participate ; and (c) gathering information specified by a teleconference organizer from said intended teleconference participant.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein said pre-registration further comprises: (d) assigning a unique personal identifier to said intended teleconference participant.

16. A computer readable medium storing computer software that, when loaded into a computing device. adapts said device, during a pre-registratIon time period, to gather information from intended participants of a scheduled teleconference in accordance with instructions of an organizer of the scheduled teleconference

17. A computer readable medium storing computer software that. when loaded into a computing device adapts said device, during a pre-registration time period, to : (a) receive a communication from an intended teleconference participant over a network in communication with said device ; (b) identify a scheduled teleconference in which suid intended participant wishes to participate ; and (c) gather information specified by an organizer of the scheduled teleconference from said intended teleconference participant.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17. wherein said computer software further adapts said device to: (d) assign a unique personal identifier to said intended teleconference participant.

19. A method of connecting an intended teleconference participant to a scheduled teleconference for which said intended teleconference participant has previously pre registered, said method comprising: (a) receiving a communication from said intended teleconference participant : (b) identifying said scheduled teleconference for which said intended teleconference participant has previously pre-r, gistered ; and (c) connecting said intended teleconference participant to said identified scheduled teleconference.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: (d) receiving a unique personal identifier from said intended teleconference participant which was previously assigned to said intended teleconference participant during pre-registration for said scheduled teleconference.

21. A method of connecting an intended telephone confer ence call participant to a scheduled conference call for which said intended call participant has previously preregistered, said method comprising : (a) receiving a telephone call from said intended conference call participant; (b) receiving a unique personal identifier from said intended conference call participant which was previously assigned to s. lid intended call participant during pre-registration ; (c) using said received unique personal identifier t) identify said scheduled conference call for which said intended call participant has previously pre registered; and (d) connecting said intended call participant to sai (i identified scheduled conference call based on said unique personal identifier.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving dialed number information associated with said received telephone call, and wherein step (c) further comprises using said received dialed number information to identify said scheduled telephone conference call for which said call participant has previously pre-registered.

23. In a teleconference system, a method of ascertaining intended participation in a scheduled teleconference in advance of said scheduled tele, : onference time, said method comprising: (a) receiving communications from intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period in which said intended participants'intention to participate in said scheduled teleconference is confirmed; (b) maintaining records of said received communications wherein the identity of each intended teleconference participant from whom a communication has been received is apparent; and (c) after said pre-registration time period has elapsed, examining said recorded identities of said intended teleconference participants from whom communication has been received.

24. In a teleconference system, a method of ascertaining intended participation in a scheduled teleconference in advance of said scheduled teleconference time. said method comprising: (a) configuring a computing device to receive communications from intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period : (b) further configuring said computing device to mi lointain records of said received communications wherein the identity uf each intended teleconference participant from whom a communication has been received is apparent; (c) receiving communications from said intended teleconference participants during said pre-registration time period using s id configured computing

device ; and (d) after said pre-registration time period has elapsed, examining said recorded identities of said intended teleconference participants from whom communication has been received.

25. A method of allocating teleconferencing resources for a scheduled teleconference, said method comprising :

(a) receiving communications from intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period in which said intended participants'intention to participate in said scheduled teleconference is confirmed : and (b) allocating said teleconferencing resources based on said communications so that conference call participants may participate in said teleconference.

26. In a teleconference system, a method of ascertaining actual participation in a scheduled teleconference, said method comprising : (a) receiving communications from intended teleconference participants during a pre-registration time period ; (b) assigning a unique personal identifier to each of said intended teleconference participants from whom a communication has been received ; (c) conveying an assigned identifier to each of said intended teleconference participants to whom an identifier has been assigned ; (d) receiving telephone calls from at least some or said pre-registered teleconference participants at a time of the scheduled teleconference ; (e) receiving the assigned personal identifier from each of said pre-registered participants from whom a call is received ; and (f) recording participation of each of said pro-registered participants from whom a call is received ; so that. at the conclusion of the scheduled teleconference, actual participation in said scheduled teleconference can be ascertained.