Conference bridge server

{
  "publication_number": "US2008031437A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Conference bridge server",
  "abstract": "The invention concerns a conference bridge server (30) for establishing a conference telephone call, and a corresponding method and a computer program product. The conference bridge server (30) comprises input and output means (31, 33) for a plurality of communication connections connecting conference terminals (11 to 16, 20) with the conference bridge server (30) and a conference core (32) for distributing input signals from conference terminals (11 to 16, 20) to at least some of the remaining conference terminals (11 to 16, 20). The conference bridge server (30) comprises means for issuing a special address to be utilized, by one or more participants (111 to 116) at a first location (1) using a common conference phone (10), to connect one or more laptop computers (11 to 16) as additional conference terminals (11 to 16). Said conference core (32) is programmed to distribute, in said conference call, input signals from conference terminals (11 to 16) connected via said special address to conference terminals (20) assigned to other participants (200) at one or more other locations (2). At the same time, said conference core (32) is programmed to redirect output signals destined for conference terminals (11 to 16) connected via said special address to said common conference phone (10).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A conference bridge server for establishing a conference telephone call, the conference bridge server comprising input and output means for a plurality of communication connections connecting conference terminals with the conference bridge server and a conference core for distributing input signals from conference terminals to at least some of the remaining conference terminals, wherein the conference bridge server comprises means for issuing a special address to be utilized by one or more participants at a first location using a common conference phone to connect one or more laptop computers as additional conference terminals, and wherein said conference core is adapted to distribute, in said conference call, input signals from conference terminals connected via said special address to conference terminals assigned to other participants at one or more other locations, but redirect output signals for conference terminals connected via said special address to said common conference phone.",
    "2. The conference bridge server of claim 1, wherein the conference bridge server comprises means for issuing a common special address to all participants at a specific location.",
    "3. The conference bridge server of claim 1, wherein the conference bridge server comprises means for providing the participants at the first location using the common conference phone with a common special address associated with the conference bridge server and the other participants at one or more other locations with one or more other special addresses associated with the conference bridge server for separate processing of the respective input and output signals.",
    "4. The conference bridge server of claim 1, wherein the communication traffic between the conference bridge server and the conference terminals assigned to the participants is conducted using the session initiation protocol and the real-time transport protocol/real-time transport control protocol.",
    "5. The conference bridge server of claim 1, wherein the conference bridge server further comprises means for detecting a speaking participant at the first location and utilizing this information for controlling the conference call.",
    "6. The conference bridge server of claim 1, wherein the conference bridge server is adapted to apply different echo cancellation parameters to said input signals received from said laptop computers dependent on a position of the one or more laptop computers relative to the common conference phone and/or dependent on a position of the participants at the first location relative to the one or more laptop computers.",
    "7. The conference bridge server of claim 1, wherein the conference bridge server further comprises means for receiving identification information of the participants at the first location and indicating a name or another identification information of the current speaker to the other participants of the conference call.",
    "8. A method of providing a conference telephone call, the method comprising the steps of establishing a plurality of communication connections connecting conference terminals with a conference bridge server, and distributing input signals from conference terminals to at least some of the remaining conference terminals, wherein the method comprises the further steps of: utilizing a special address to connect one or more laptop computers as additional conference terminals, the one or more laptop computers assigned to one or more participants at a first location using a common conference phone; distributing, in said conference call, input signals from conference terminals connected via said special address to conference terminals assigned to other participants at one or more other locations; and redirecting output signals destined for conference terminals connected via said special address to said common conference phone.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method comprises the further step of: using a relay function implemented in a laptop computer of one of the participants using the common conference phone to connect one or more laptop computers of one or more other participants at the first location using the common conference phone to the conference call through said laptop computer serving as a relay; and routing stream traffic from the one or more relayed laptop computers through said relay laptop computer to the conference bridge server and routing signalling for control of the conference call directly to the conference bridge server under avoidance of the relay laptop computer.",
    "10. A computer program product for establishing a conference telephone call with a plurality of communication connections connecting conference terminals with a conference bridge server and distributing input signals from conference terminals to at least some of the remaining conference terminals, wherein the computer program product, when executed, performs the steps of: issuing a special address to be utilized, by one or more participants at a first location using a common conference phone, to connect one or more laptop computers as additional conference terminals; distributing, in said conference call, input signals from conference terminals connected via said special address to conference terminals assigned to other participants at one or more other locations; and redirecting output signals destined for conference terminals connected via said special address to said common conference phone."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention is based on a priority application EP 06 291 250.6 which is hereby incorporated by reference.\n\nThe present invention relates to a method of establishing telephone conference calls, and a conference bridge server and a computer program product to execute said method.\n\nConference calls play a significant role in today's business life. In conference calls, where some participants share a common conference room while other participants are at remote locations, the voice quality from participants speaking in the common conference room is often poor when using a standard conference phone with handsfree feature.\n\nProfessional conference rooms exist where each participant has their own input device, e.g., their own microphone, while audio output goes to a common room loudspeaker. In addition, conference systems are known that use desktop or laptop computers as audio and/or video terminals and that have a bridge server that can be configured to route output to a common output terminal such as a common conference phone.\n\nWO 94/24803 describes a telecommunications network architecture which facilitates the handling of multimedia communications between any number of conference participants, who may have varying media communications capabilities involving one or more of audio, video, and data. A calling party and a called party meet each other in a virtual meeting room generated by the system. The telecommunications network architecture further comprises bridging resources to effectuate a mediation between different types of media.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04M 3/56",
    "H04M 3/562",
    "H04M 7/006"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H04M 3/42",
    "H04M 3/56",
    "H04M 7/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Alcatel Lucent SAS"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jean-Francois Rey"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2007-05-23",
  "publication_date": "2008-02-07",
  "priority_date": "2006-08-01",
  "application_number": "US-75260707-A",
  "family_id": "37635816",
  "cited_by_count": 40,
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}