System and method for providing reservationless conferencing

A method for automatically terminating a conference, comprising the steps of:

• setting a first timer to a first timer duration at the beginning of the conference;
• if the first timer expires prior to at least two participants joining into the conference, terminating the conference;
• after all participants exit the conference, initialize setting a second timer to a second timer duration;
• starting the second timer;
• and
• if the second timer expires prior to any participants joining into the conference, terminating the conference.

A method for automatically terminating a conference, comprising the steps of:

• setting a first timer to a first timer duration at the beginning of the conference;
• if the first timer expires prior to any participants joining into the conference, terminating the conference;
• after all participants exit the conference, initialize setting a second timer to a second timer duration;
• starting the second timer;
• and
• if the second timer expires prior to any participants joining into the conference, terminating the conference.

A method for automatically extending the duration of a conference, comprising the steps of:

• setting a first timer to a first timer duration at the beginning of the conference;
• setting a second timer to a second timer duration at the beginning of the conference;
• if the second timer expires and sufficient resources are available to continue the conference, resetting the first timer to a third timer duration and resetting the second timer to a fourth timer duration;
• and
• if the first timer expires, terminating the conference.

A system for reservationless conferencing, comprising:

• a plurality of multimedia terminals, each terminal being operated by at least one of the plurality of participants;
• and
• a conference control entity in communication with the plurality of multimedia terminals for:
• automatically detecting a call from a requesting participant to a conference;
• determining if sufficient resources for the participant are available;
• and
• connecting the requesting participant into a reservationless conference.

A system for providing reservationless conferencing to a plurality of participants, the system comprising;

• a plurality of multimedia terminals, each terminal being operated by at least one of the plurality of participants;
• a conference control entity;
• a customer administrator including a communication program and being communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of terminals;
• and
• a web server communicatively coupled to the conference control entity through a first connection and communicatively coupled to the customer administrator through a second connection;
• the web server being operative to:
• receive a request from a participant to initiate the conference;
• determine if sufficient resources for the participant are available;
• and
• connect the participant into a reservationless conference.