WO2016168312A1

WO2016168312A1 - System and methods for teleconferencing using a multi-user internet directory

Info

Publication number: WO2016168312A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/027307
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey Soble
Original assignee: Cyberpulse L.L.C., D/B/A Ascend Hit
Priority date: 2015-04-13
Filing date: 2016-04-13
Publication date: 2016-10-20

Abstract

A system and associated method for providing an audio conferencing system which includes a multi-user internet based directory and a telecommunication server that is in communication with the internet and capable of connecting with various local area networks, mobile device networks and public switch phone networks to initiate and establish a teleconference session with an individual, group of individuals, or entities associated with the directory, and selected by a user. The user chooses the recipient of the teleconference session request, and may receive additional information that is relevant to the audio conferencing on a viewing device in the form of a document, image or web link.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR TELECONFERENCING USING A MULTIUSER INTERNET DIRECTORY

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/146,917 filed April 13, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to teleconferencing. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a system and methods for teleconferencing using a multi-user internet based directory and telecommunications server. "Teleconference" is a live exchange of information among several persons and machines remote from one another, but linked by a telecommunications system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common practice for groups of individuals to use a system of teleconferencing, otherwise referred to as audio conferencing, to connect several persons and machines at one time. Audio conferencing among several users at the same time allow each user to participate as desired, or, at the very least, listen to the information.

Audio conferencing can proceed in a variety of ways. The most common scenario is when users connect to a teleconference using a dial-in number and access code. Each user connects to the conference using a conference bridge, which connects telephone lines to one another.

Businesses may use audio conferencing to meet and confer with remote parties, which may reside either internally or outside of the company. By way of example, common types of audio conferencing include client meetings, sales presentations, project meetings, team meetings, training classes, or any other offering or exchange of information. Teleconferencing has many benefits including reducing travel expenses and increasing productivity, for example, by not requiring employees to attend out-of-office meetings.

Moreover, audio conferencing is increasingly being used with the internet enabling visual representations of information to be shared complementing the corresponding audio. Some audio conferencing may also include podcasting and social networking, which in turn offers new kinds of live interaction. Furthermore, live streaming or broadcasting allows a larger audience access to the information without requiring the user to "dial-in" to a bridge.

Despite these improvements in audio conferencing technology, such systems still suffer from various problems. In particular, a dial-in number must be distributed and received by each user, who must then user the number at the correct time to join access to the teleconference. This is particularly problematic when real-time or near real-time (i.e. , 5 minutes) telecommunication is desired. In addition, some users commonly wait on the call for others to join consuming valuable time.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved teleconferencing system and methods that reduce or eliminate disadvantages associated with audio conferencing such as tracking down contact information for each participant, contacting each participant, and waiting for each participant to accept and attend the teleconference. The present invention addresses this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a system and methods for teleconferencing using a multi-user internet based directory and telecommunications server.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a multi-user internet based directory to establish a voice call session between a user and at least one individual. A database in communication with the multi-user internet based directory is populated with contact information for individuals. A user request is received for a selected individual through an internet accessible server in communication with the database. The selected contact information for the individual is transmitted from the server to the user, with the selected contact information comprising at least one telephone number associated with the individual. A request to establish a teleconference session is accepted by the individual using the selected contact information, and a teleconference session is initiated with the individual through the server where the server places a teleconference to the individual, and terminating the teleconference when the individual and the user have exited the teleconference session.

The method further allows for teleconference session to be established with a mobile device, computer, or Local Area Network comprising a plurality of computers. In some instances, the Local Area Network also comprises at least one session initiated protocol (SIP) phone.

Preferably, the teleconference session is established in real-time, however, at the request of the user, a message can be sent to an individual notifying them that the teleconference session will occur at a specific time in the future. A second message can also sent to the individual indicating the beginning of the teleconference session, and further providing a call-in number so an individual who misses the beginning of the teleconference session can join the conference at a later time. In some embodiments, the message is sent via text messaging.

In another embodiment, the contact information comprises contact information for a least one entity, wherein the entity is selected from the group consisting of physicians, nurses, paramedics, laboratory personnel, radiology personnel, or other healthcare providers.

In another embodiment, an individual may be prompted to enter a response to the teleconference to join the teleconference session that allows the system to differentiate between a live user and a call that goes to voicemail.

In some instances, where a message is properly sent to a recipient, the message may include a designated time window to receive a reply from the recipient and, if a reply is not received within the designated time frame, a second or more messages is sent to the recipient indicating the start time of the teleconferencing session. The second message may be sent via SMS messaging, E-mail, text page, or an automated call to a personal mobile phone, or secondary contact number stored in the database. Furthermore, a server or user may monitor the status of a native mobile application or browser notification system, and send a second message to the recipient if the mobile application or browser is unresponsive.

In certain other embodiments of the invention, the name of an individual participating in a messaging software session can be extracted and matched to contact information stored in the database so that a participant in the messaging software session can initiate a teleconference call with the individual. The participant may further contact other individuals not originally participating in the messaging software session by located the appropriate contact information in the database and initiating a teleconference session. Moreover, the participant may send the other individuals not originally participating in the messaging software session a message including at least a portion of content of the messaging software session by text, E- mail, or other means. In some instances, a message sent to an individual comprises additional information regarding a topic of the teleconference session including a document, image or web link that may contain information relevant to conversation.

In some embodiments, the multi-user internet based directory is integrated with at least one organizational system, including, for example, a hospital or healthcare provider.

In further embodiments, the contact information of a rapid response team is selected from the database and a teleconference is initiated, and in some embodiments, other information comprising alphanumeric information, waveform information, laboratory tests, and medical imaging results are sent to the rapid response team. More specifically, the information may include X-rays, CT scans, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, troponin level, creatinine level, liver function tests, or coronary angiograms.

In other embodiments, an individual, using image viewing software, extracts selected data from an image and communicates the selected data to the teleconferencing system, which sends a message to a second individual indicating the first individual requires more information regarding the image, and the second individual initiates a teleconferencing session with the first individual and second individual, and view the image simultaneously. The selected data includes, for example, the name of the first individual requesting more information and places the image in a context for the second individual. In some embodiments, the first and second individuals are medical professional and the image may be a medical report or diagnostic test result, and the selected data further includes at least a portion of the patient's medical record.

Also provided in the disclosure is a system for establishing a teleconference session using a multi-user internet based directory comprising a multi-user internet based directory in communication with a database for storing contact information related to the multi-user internet based directory; a server in communication with the multi-user internet based directory, the server also being in communication with the Internet for receiving a teleconference session request for the multi-user internet based directory, and for transmitting directory information to the user making the request, and the server placing a teleconference to a selected individual in response to the teleconference session request. In other embodiments, the system monitors the teleconference session and terminates the teleconference session when the user and other individuals have exited the teleconference session.

In some embodiments, the multi-user internet based directory of the system includes contact information for a plurality of individuals, wherein the contact information comprises a name of the at least one individual and at least one telephone number, however, in some instances, only the name of the individual is visible to the user, thereby keeping some contact information private.

In further embodiments, the system comprises an image viewing component capable of displaying and viewing images, the images being sent to an individual and displayed on a viewing device. The viewing device can be, for example, a computer or mobile device.

The present invention and its attributes and advantages will be further understood and appreciated with reference to the detailed description below of presently contemplated embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to the limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an example of an integrated communications network. Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a method for initiating a conference. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

While the disclosed technology is illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, a system and methods according to the invention contemplates many different processes and configurations. There is depicted in the drawings, and will be described in detail, preferred embodiment of the disclosure, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the technology as described in the disclosure.

Audio conferencing is an important tool to exchange information among several persons and machines remote from one another. Although users may reference their personal contact list - such as that programmed into their phone or saved in a computerized form such as Outlook - to select participants of a teleconference, selection of certain participants is difficult when the contact information is unknown such as in large organizations. Easy access to contact information of a participant not readily available may promote audio conferencing, including real-time audio conferencing, as a standard means of communication.

One example of a large organization with a need for real-time communication is a hospital. Hospitals may have numerous employees such as a doctor, nurse, intake coordinator, billing specialist, radiologist, etc. that may require the exchange of information real-time. For example, a doctor may wish to view a radiologist's findings while prescribing to a nurse medication to obtain and administer. As a further example, a billing specialist may investigate whether or not the medication prescribed by the doctor is approved by insurance. However, engaging each employee is more difficult when their contact information is not readily available.

Another example benefiting from real-time hospital communication may be a provider (nurse, doctor, paramedic, first responder, physician's assistant, etc.) wishing to update several other providers (e.g., physicians, residents, primary care physicians, specialists) simultaneously caring for a patient, for example, time- sensitive patient management issues.

Sequential communication between providers can lead to dangerous delays, miscommunication, and communication of outdated information. Each provider may benefit from an audio conference with all other providers in real-time.

Although a hospital may have a shared directory of employees containing certain work contact information such as work phone numbers, work email addresses, but typically these types of shared directories do not include personal contact information such as home numbers, cell phone numbers, etc. Furthermore, it is unlikely that each user has access to a directory that includes all contact information for each and every employee not knowing which one will be needed when. Once contact information is obtained, however, a provider must contact the other providers individually or collectively regarding the details of the teleconference. It is not practical, or necessarily desirable, for each employee to share their personal contact information and/or their personal contact list. A personal contact list is a compilation of contact information of other individuals. Sharing personal contact information of other individuals may raise privacy concerns.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides for a system and methods for teleconferencing using a multi-user internet based directory and telecommunications server. Generally, the multi-user internet based directory can be used to put a user in voice contact with individuals, groups of individuals or any entities as listed in the disclosure, through a public switch telephone network (PSTN), a public LAN mobile network (PLMN), or through a device operating according to the Internet protocol (I P) in real-time.

With respect to IP, the multi-user internet based directory itself may be configured as a Web site accessible to users through the Internet, or also accessible through a VPN network. Furthermore, a user may access the Internet in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to a standard telephone connection to a server operated by an Internet service provider (ISP). The ISP server is continuously connected to the Internet and can enable access for many users in this way. Alternatively, a user may be connected to a local area network (LAN), which maintains an Internet connection. In a further alternative, a user may simply be directly connected to the Internet as well.

Turning now to Figure 1 , an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is presented. The system 100 generally comprises a conferencing system 105 which may comprise a multi-user internet based directory and database 110, a telecommunications server 115 which is in communication with at least the internet 140, a public switch telephone network 180, and a public LAN mobile network 130, or in any combination.

In one embodiment, a user of the system 100 employs a computer 195 to accesses the internet 140, using a device such as a modem, thereby making a connection to a PSTN 180. In its simplest form, a PSTN 180 includes a plurality interconnected switching devices for establishing a connection from a user's calling device to the intended recipient's device (or devices). Accordingly, a user, through a computer or similar device, connects with the PSTN to call an Internet Service Provider (ISP) server 170, which maintains an Internet connection, and provides a means for accessing the multi-user internet based directory 110 and server 115. In other embodiments, multiple users, through a network of computers or similar devices, form a part of a Local Area Network, or LAN 150, that can establish an Internet connection through a LAN server 145. A LAN server 145 generally includes a number of other applications accessible to the multiple users of a LAN. A LAN user can access the multi-user internet based directory 110 through the LAN server 145 via internet connection 140.

Optionally, the users are equipped with telephonic instruments 190, which can in turn be communicate with the PSTN 180 through what is referred to in the art as a private branch exchange (PBX) 185. Configurations of this type are typically found in business applications or other large institutions. In such environments, a great many computers and other devices may also be included in the LAN 150.

In other situations, a SIP phone 160 or soft phone may also be connected to the LAN 150. A SIP phone uses session initiation protocol (SIP) to establish a voice connection via the Internet, and provides the user with the ability to make telephone calls without accessing the PSTN 180. When a user wishes to call a telephone connected only to the PSTN, VoIP communications from a SIP phone are routed through a gateway such as, for example, a PSTN gateway 175. As is known in the art, a gateway is a device that allows communications to be exchanged between different networks, affecting whatever format or protocol translations are necessary for doing so. SIP phones may communicate with each other via the Internet without the need for such a device.

Like SIP phones, a soft phone can be used to make teleconferences through the internet. For example, a software application installed on a computer or similar device may be used to make teleconferences through its connection to the Internet. A soft phone may comprise components such as a microphone and speakers system to facilitate communication. These devices may in some cases be incorporated into a handset similar to that of an ordinary telephone instrument.

In this way, SIP phones and softphones have the advantage of being able to engage in voice communication over the Internet. In practical terms, this often means that they are able to avoid toll charges associated with teleconferences through a standard wireline or cellular system. They may also be able to easily relocate from place to place with little or no involvement from a network operator, as long as a suitable Internet connection is available. A SIP phone may be particularly advantageous in this sense; as it is a dedicated instrument and easier to move from place to place than are many computers having appropriate audio equipment.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the conferencing system is in communication not only to the multi-user web based directory and telecommunications server, but also to the Internet as well. In addition, the conferencing system may be coupled to a gateway 175 for communicating directly with the PSTN Instantiate. Furthermore, the conferencing system 105 may also be coupled to gateway 125 for directly communicating with a public land mobile network (PLMN) 130, which is a wireless communication network. A wireless communication network is a network for voice and data communication that maintains a plurality of antennas spread across a geographic area for radio communication with mobile stations. Such a connection allows access to and from the multi-user internet based directory 110 and a mobile device 135. A mobile device is typically a small computing device, generally small enough to be handheld. A mobile device can be a mobile phone, smart phone, personal data manager (PDA), pager, personal navigation devices, smart watches, tablets, and similar devices. In some embodiments, the mobile device is a personal phone, work phone or PDA. Most mobile devices may access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi or Wireless Wide Area Networks.

The conferencing system is configured to communicate through a variety of different communications networks, directly or indirectly, to enable automatically placed calls to SIP phones and other entities and users when requested to do so (such as, for example, to those networks shown in Figure 1 ). This initial request originates from a user in communication with, and accessing the multi-user internet based directory and telecommunication server, wherein the requested voice communication is established between the conferencing system and an individual, a group of individuals, or an entity listed in the multi-user directory.

Turning now to the multi-user internet based directory of the present disclosure, the database is populated with contact information of individuals, groups of individuals or other entities that are chosen to be part of the directory. These entities may be companies or individuals, businesses, government or charitable organizations, trade associations, universities, fraternal organizations and so forth, or are subsets of individuals of departments within the entities, such as those associated with a specialized team. In instances where only a single user or small group of users connect with and are part of the directory, these users themselves may choose the entities to be represented. In some embodiment, these users themselves enter the necessary information directly into the directory. In another embodiment the users may provide contact information to a directory operator, who then populates the database to create the multi-user internet based directory. As used here, a user is one that seeks to find one or more individuals, groups of individuals or entities listed in the multiuser internet based directory, generally for the purpose of establishing a voice-communication session.

Once populated, the multi-user internet based directory is made available for access. Generally speaking, the internet based directory is located on, or in conjunction with a server in communication with the Internet so that it may be accessed by any Internet user worldwide. Preferably though, access may be restricted to specific users. This is usually accomplished using a password system, with the specific sign-in protocol varying according to design. Access to the directory may be limited by the directory operator, for example, to those who pay a subscription fee, or who maybe employees where the system is in use. Users may be asked to enter a password to sign in, or may have to use a particular identifiable device for access, or both.

The multi-user based directory may be populated with virtually any contact information, or other information that may be deemed valuable to the user. In particular, the directory may include one or more of a computer IP address, email addresses, personal, or work telephone numbers of an individual, group of individuals or entity. In some embodiments, the telephone number is not visible to the user, nor do they have direct access to the telephone number. Instead, the user generally sees a name(s) of interest and selects the telephone number based on that criterion. The association between the telephone number and contact is maintained in the directory. The directory may also include phone numbers that are not permanently assigned to a particular user, such a collection of mobile phones that are temporarily assigned to a pool of users.

In some embodiments, an exemplary system can include a means to differentiate a live user from a voicemail once a call session is initiated to prevent a call which goes to a voicemail from entering the call session. The means for differentiating a user from a voicemail may include the user being prompted to enter a symbol (alphanumeric, etc.), a voice response system such as requiring the user to give a voice command to join the call session, or joining the call session directly.

Preferably, each of the users who respond to the call will be entered into the conference in real time. Participants will know to begin the conversation immediately by answering the request and do not need to wait for others to join. The call conference system can also be linked to a specific caller ID that allows participants to recognize they are receiving an audio conferencing from someone in the organization.

In a further embodiment, the user originating the audio conferencing has the option to have the call go out immediately, or have it delayed for a specified time period (e.g., 1 , 5, 10, 15 minutes). In these situations, the system can send a text message (e.g. short message system (SMS) or multimedia messaging service (MMS)) or email message to each of the call participants alerting them to the fact that they will be, for example, called into a conference at a specified time, letting them know who originated the call and who the other participants will be, and potentially the topic of the call. The participants might then have the option of replying (e.g. texting) back a pre-determined response that will convey that they are not available, and which will remove their number from the list to be called. In addition, a participant can send an SMS response, which changes the phone at which they will be called from the default (e.g. a reply text such as "cell" to a different user phone stored in the directory (such as "home" or "office"). In addition, the call organizer can receive a notification (e.g., by SMS) of invited participants that have responded that they cannot join the call, and will have the option to cancel the call if too many or any crucial participants are not available.

A text message to invited participants can also contain an audio conferencing- in number, so that anyone who cannot accept the call immediately can still call in late while the conference is in progress, if they become available. Alternatively, participants can also receive a text message alerting them that the call has begun if they have missed the call. This message can contain a "text-back" message that will have the system call them again to bring them into the call if they become available when the call is still in progress. For instance, the text message may read "The audio conferencing has begun ... if you would like to join the call, text back 1 1 ". If the user texts back "1 1 ", they are called again to join the conference. A final text message notifies any user not in the call that the conference is over, so they know they will no longer be able to join.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is provided an exemplary method for using the multi-user internet based directory conferencing system 200. A user initially establishes an internet connection 205 and locates the multi-user internet based directory containing the contact information of various individuals or entities 210. The user then receives and displays the multi-user internet based directory 215. The user may access a list of individuals or entities of interest 220 and request a teleconference session with the selected party, which is initiated by the telecommunication server 225. The user and recipient of the teleconference session request may then engage in a teleconference session 230, which is terminated by the server when all involved parties exit the teleconference session 235.

In another embodiment, each of the conference participants can be sent additional information relevant to the call. This can be a text comment added by the originating user, or any other document or web link to pertinent information. For example, in a hospital environment, this may be information about the patient who is the subject of the call, or a link to the patient's record within the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The additional information can be sent via SMS with or without attachments, within a smartphone application, or as an email.

In another embodiment of the current disclosure, the multi-user directory is integrated with other organizational systems that facilitate identification of users relevant to the audio conferencing. For instance, in the context of a hospital, the user directory may be integrated with the EHR which stores the clinical information on all patients, and contains information about which providers are caring for any individual patient. This information may be available in a standard data feed, such as HL-7, which refers to international standards, formats and definitions for exchanging and developing electronic health records. The conferencing system can be sent or might extract the list of providers caring for the patient that a nurse is reviewing in the EHR, match them to users in the system, and allow them to be conferenced without having to select them individually in the system directory. Alternatively, the system may interface with a nurse call response system that links patients to nurse phones, which are often from a pool of mobile phones supplied by the hospital and connected to the hospital network. In another embodiment, the system is used to report critical results to appropriate caregivers. It is common practice to call the ordering physician and/or other patient healthcare providers when a lab or radiology result represents a critical danger to the patient. In this case, the conferencing system can be integrated with the EHR and/or lab/radiology system, to extract the ordering physician along with other physicians caring for the patient, and allow someone in the lab or radiology department to initiate a call to one or more providers to convey and, if necessary, discuss this result. In some embodiments, a user can select an entity from the multiuser directory and request a teleconference session. An entity may include, for example, primary care physicians, nurses, paramedics, healthcare providers, laboratory personnel and radiology personnel. The user may select a subset of individuals within the entity to receive the request for teleconference conference, or alternatively, a teleconference conference request may be sent to the entire entity.

In another example, such as when a care provider is reviewing an imaging study (whether in the setting of diagnostic or non-diagnostic image review), the audio conferencing system can extract the patient / study context as data extracted from the image review software. This data would generally be extracted through an application programming interface (API) that may be proprietary, or based on data interchange standards such as HL-7. This extracted patient/study data can then be linked to a physician order in the EHR (i.e., the order for the test), or to other providers caring for the patient. This allows the system to identify the one or more providers most likely required to be contacted for collaboration or review of the patient's medical imaging results. A physicians order or order set may include drug prescriptions and various diagnostic tests such as an amylase test, ANA, aPTT (PTT), Hemoglobin A1 C or Glycohemoglobin, basic metabolic panel, complete blood count, electrolyte panel, sedimentation rate (ESR), flu test, glucose test, HIV antibody test, lipid profile, liver function panel, Lyme disease test, micro-albumin test, mononucleosis test, pap smear, prostate specific antigen, prothrombin time, semen analysis, stool culture, thyroid stimulating hormone test, T4 test, uric acid test, urinalysis, urine culture, blood tests, toxicology tests, medications, echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, and x-rays or other imaging technology (CT scans etc.). In other instances, the system may communicate at least a portion of a patient's medical history. Furthermore, the system may present a list of potential users/providers for the patient who may be relevant to any particular communication episode, and allow them to be selected or deselected as the case may be. For example, a user may select: Dr. X - ordering physician for an imaging study, Dr. Y - primary physician for the patient, Dr. Z - consultant for the patient, and Nurse A - patient's bedside nurse (base on room assignment, nurse call system).

In the context of a project management system which is used, for instance, by large programming teams, integration with a project management system may allow a user to originate a call to all the members of a specific project team without having to select them individually in the system directory.

Similarly, the systems and methods as described can also facilitate complex case management. Complex case management may include, for example, transitional care programs that manage the transition from hospital to home to reduce coordinate care, facilitate medication compliance, and reduce re-admissions. These programs often involve hospital providers, social workers and case management personnel, home care providers and other social service agencies, in addition to both patients and their families. Complex case management programs focus on the small percentage of patients that use the greatest resources within a health plan or provider organization. Also involved in complex case management are specialized care "rapid response" teams that are generally multidisciplinary, and focused on high-risk patients in whom rapid decisions about life-saving (but often costly) interventions need to be made within very short time windows. Examples of such decisions include, but are not limited to: Event: Massive or submissive pulmonary embolism

Decision - anticoagulation, systemic thrombolysis, catheter-directed therapy, surgical embolectomy

Key data - CT scan, echocardiogram, troponin level Event: Acute myocardial infarction

Decision - medical therapy, cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention

Key data - troponin level, ECG Event: Cardiogenic shock

Decision - inotropic support, intra-aortic balloon pump, mechanical circulatory support

Key data - ECG, creatinine, liver function, echocardiogram, coronary angiogram

Even: Stroke

Decision - systemic thrombolysis, catheter-directed therapy

Key data - CT scan As noted above, the key data needed by a rapid response team is often more than just alpha-numeric text, and may include waveforms and images. In further embodiments of the disclosure, the audio conferencing system as provided can incorporate image viewing software, or other web based programs that allow viewing and sharing of waveforms (e.g. electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms or any other medical tests or information as disclosed) and images. In some instances, the system may contain a processor configured to use the image viewing software, and other applications. For example, a physician who opens a cardiology or radiology report, and views the images in an enterprise image viewer (typically a non-diagnostic, web-based viewer) makes an important finding needing review with the reading physician or other colleague. The physician may then access the audio conferencing system, which receives the user, patient and study context, which may also include any pertinent information regarding the medical record of the patient, from the viewer application. The system sends an automated text to the reading physician that the referring physician has a question. The reading physician can initiate a call to the referring physician, where both physicians can view image data as screen capture and/or standard video feed for discussion. Additional information such as portions of the patient's medical history may also be sent and viewed by the physicians during the teleconferencing session. Examples of rapid response teams include, but are not limited to physicians, nurses, critical care nurses, clinical nurse specialists, respiratory therapists, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, physician assistants, stroke teams, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) teams, burn teams, trauma teams, neonatal teams, code blue teams, behavioral response teams, CPR teams, or other specialized teams consisting of nurses and/or physicians. Integration with local Electronic Health Records (EHRs) or regional Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) may also be used to send participants relevant clinical information which is time-sensitive and secured. For example, when a healthcare provider is using the EHR within a specific patient context, they can initiate an audio conferencing to the patient's providers using the mechanism described above. Each provider may then receive a link to a secure web page that contains relevant patient information, such as their medications, allergies, diagnoses and recent lab and test results obtained from a Continuity of Care Document or otherwise abstracted from the EHR. This link would only be active until the audio conferencing was finished, or for a specified time frame around the call. The fact that the link becomes inactive within a short time span increases security of patient-identifiable health information. This mechanism may be used to increase the security of disseminating sensitive information relevant to the topic of the call in any industry or call context.

The integrated platform may be relevant to all of these scenarios, but perhaps the most direct connection is to the rapid response team. The ability to automatically pull together the patient providers, multi-specialty team members (I.e. , through a call schedule), and case specific data from the EHR may greatly facilitate decision making and improve patient outcomes and resource utilization. For instance, if a Pulmonary Embolism Rapid Response Team is accessed through the platform, the patient's CT, echo and troponin level may be pulled from the EHR and made available to all collaborating providers simultaneously, as they engage in real time communication about the patient. If a decision is made to send the patient for catheter-directed therapy in Interventional Radiology, the appropriate team can be contacted automatically (including the IR nurse and technician on call).

In another embodiment, the system is integrated with videoconferencing capabilities that allow participants to share their computer or smartphone screens during an audio conferencing. This would be particularly useful in the setting of conferencing about cardiology or radiology imaging results, such as the case for critical results reporting. Image sharing may be accomplished by synchronization of image review software between two users or, perhaps more easily, by converting a region of interest with an application window into a standard video stream format (as used by common webcams). An alternative to videoconferencing includes relevant static screen grabs of key image frames sent to conference participants. The information abstracted and exchanged with selected users is preferably provided in a HIPAA secure format. One challenge for a HIPAA-secure messaging application is that it cannot use standard texting (SMS) provided by telecommunications carries, since these messages are stored on servers that do not meet HIPAA standards. Because of this, HIPAA-secure text or chat applications need to go through private servers, and be delivered to mobile devices as either encrypted messages to a dedicated app, or as secure web pages. In the case of a dedicated mobile app, the user needs to download, install and configure it properly to receive communication notifications. In the case of a mobile web page, the user needs to have a mobile browser that supports offline notification, and configure it properly. In either case, notification of new messages and access to them is not configured "out-of-the-box", as is the case with standard cellphone SMS.

These situations can introduce a significant problem for a healthcare messaging platform, where immediate availability and response may be essential to the care of a patient. The need to assure availability is the reason paging systems have traditionally been used, since they can always be left on and provide a reliable notification mechanism. A mobile messaging platform based on cellphone technology can suffer from one of two points of failure— 1 ) the mobile device is off or out of battery, 2) the device is on, but that application or browser is either not configured or configured improperly. In addition, a related problem is that the user may receive the notification or a new message, but not know its importance or be distracted at the time, and not view or respond to it within the timeframe required by the person sending it.

The current disclosure also includes a mechanism for detecting the fact that there is a potential problem with the receipt of text/chat messages, or lack of response within a required timeframe, and notifying the message recipient of the problem by other communication channels. This "communication escalation" may be triggered by a message property set by the sending user— the number of minutes allowable for a response. The time limit may, for example, be any time between and including 1 to 30 minutes; however, the time limit may be 30 or more minutes. When this time limit is exceeded without a response, escalation occurs. In another scenario, the platform server software can monitor the status of a native mobile app or browser notification system and prompt escalation if the application or browser is unreachable, unresponsive or improperly configured. The communication escalation process itself can involve any combination of: standard SMS message (which does not depend on correct configuration of the application or browser), E-mail, voice automated "robo-call" to personal cellphone or secondary contact number stored in the system, or a text page through a separate paging system

In further embodiments, the system may also support asynchronous voice messaging threads. In this instance, a user selects their own phone and one or more recipients from the Internet directory. The system calls the originator on their designated phone and prompts them to record a voice message, which is stored on the telecommunications server, or a dedicated messaging server. In some instances, the telecommunications server or messaging server may record the conference for replay at a future time for individuals who may miss the call, or for individuals wanting to review the contents of the call.

Continuing with the asynchronous voice messaging feature, a text or email message is then sent to the message recipients with web link (URL) to the voice message. When a recipient activates this link, they are called by the system on their designated phone, and can hear the voice message. Any recipient can leave a new voice message or call back the originator using integrated voice response (IVR). Any new voice messages are sent to all recipients (either by new text or direct call-back). All recorded voice messages appear on an encounter web page in the system and can be played back from at any time, and voice messages can be saved indefinitely or destroyed at after a specified time interval. Web links to voice messages (URLs) can expire after a specified time interval to enhance security.

In another embodiment, the system is integrated with an organization's existing calendar software and/or employee directory. This can be used to pre- populate the conference systems directory with existing users and their demographic information, and to check the calendars of potential audio conferencing participants for their availability at the time of the anticipated call.

In another embodiment, the system integrates with chat (e.g., HipChat®, Slack ®), Instant Messaging (IM) or text messaging (SMS) software (referred to here as Messaging Software). All of these platforms allow informal, real-time communication which creates a thread of text-based content between two or more participants. The difference is that chat and IM sessions are on the computer, while texting is done on cell phones. Chat sessions are web browser-based, whereas IM requires an installed program. Although extremely useful and ubiquitous for real-time communication, the content of Messaging Software conversations is restricted to text, and the limited nature and asynchrony of each message can make these platforms impractical for long or complex conversations. For this reason, Messaging Software is often integrated as an adjunct to videoconferencing software.

However, not uncommonly, users of Messaging Software who are not videoconferencing find themselves in text-based conversations that are too long or complex, and need to speak directly to resolve issues or ambiguities that have come up in their messaging conversation. An integrated embodiment of the current invention would extract the Messaging Software session participants and match them to users in the system's Internet directory, allowing any user to then initiate an audio conferencing with one or more of the messaging participants, and to bring additional users from the system directory into the conference. For instance, a messaging session may lead to questions that can only be answered by someone not currently online or available to the Messaging Software. This person can be selected from the directory and conferenced in by phone along with one or more users from the messaging session. The content of the messaging session may be sent via a document attachment to a text or email, for reference by participants in the conference who were not in the messaging session.

In another embodiment, a multi-user internet directory is used to initiate an audio conferencing to participant landlines and cell phones, along with a bridge to or integration with web conferencing software. It is not uncommon that modern web conferences are comprised of participants using their computer, as well as others on standard landlines or cellphones. Standard web conferencing software provides a conference bridge that allows voice conferencing by phone or computer (Voice over IP, VoIP), along with videoconferencing and other integrated communication features such as chat and desktop sharing. It is not uncommon that there is a heterogeneous combination of participants dialed in from phone lines but not connected by computer, along with others dialed in from phone lines and also using their computer for these web conferencing features, or using VoIP. In such embodiments, a user initiates a dial-out audio conferencing which creates a simultaneous link to a web conference sent to participants via SMS and/or email. The audio conferencing is bridged to the web conference so that participants may participate by voice using their phone or computer, with or without using additional web conferencing features.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A method of providing a multi-user internet based directory to establish a teleconference session with at least one individual comprising:

populating a database in communication with the multi-user internet based directory with contact information for the at least one individual; and

receiving a user request for selected contact information through an internet accessible server in communication with the database; and

transmitting the selected contact information from the server to the user, the selected contact information comprising at least one telephone number associated with the at least one individual; and

accepting a request to establish a teleconference session with the at least one individual using the selected contact information; and

initiating a teleconference session with the at least one individual through the server where the server places a teleconference to the at least one individual, and terminating the teleconference when the at least one individual and the user have exited the teleconference session.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the teleconference session is established in real-time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contact information further comprises contact information for a least one entity, wherein the user contacts the entire entity, or contacts a subset of the entity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one entity is selected from the group consisting of physicians, nurses, paramedics, laboratory personnel, radiology personnel, and other healthcare providers.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one individual is prompted to enter a response to the teleconference to join the teleconference, and if the response is not entered, the teleconference is terminated.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein, at the request of the user, a message is sent to the at least one individual notifying the at least one individual that the teleconference session will occur at a specific time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the message further comprises additional information regarding a topic of the teleconference session.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the message sent to the at least one individual further comprises a designated time window to receive a reply and, if a reply is not received within the designated time frame, at least a second message is sent to the at least one individual indicating the start time of the teleconferencing session.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the status of a native mobile application or browser notification system is monitored, and the second message is sent if the mobile application or browser is unresponsive.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-user internet based directory is integrated with at least one organizational system, wherein information from the organizational system is accessible to the user.

1 1 . The method of claim 10, wherein the additional information comprises a document, image or web link.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a name of at least one individual participating in a messaging software session is extracted and matched to the contact information stored in the database so that a participant in the messaging software session can initiate a teleconference call with the at least one individual.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the participant contacts other individuals not originally participating in the messaging software session by locating contact information in the database and initiating a teleconference session.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the participant communicates to the other individuals not originally participating in the messaging software session a message including at least a portion of content of the messaging software session.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user, using image viewing software, extracts selected data from an image and communicates the selected data to the teleconferencing system, which sends a message to the at least one individual indicating the user requires more information regarding the image, and the at least one individual initiates a teleconferencing session with the user, and the user and at least one individual simultaneously view the image.

16. A system for establishing a teleconference session using a multi-user internet based directory comprising:

the multi-user internet based directory in communication with at least one database for storing contact information related to the multi-user internet based directory; and

a server in communication with the multi-user internet based directory, the server also in communication with the Internet for receiving a teleconference session request for the multi-user internet based directory and for transmitting directory information to a user making the request, the server placing a teleconference to at least one individual in response to the teleconference session request.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system monitors the teleconference session and terminates the session when the user and the at least one individuals have exited the teleconference session.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact information comprises at least a name and at least one telephone number for the at least one individual.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises an image viewing component capable of displaying and viewing images, the images being sent to the at least one individual and displayed on a viewing device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the viewing device is a computer or mobile device.