System and method for effecting conference calling

#The present invention is directed to a system and method for effecting conference calling in a telecommunication network. In particular, the present invention provides a network-based conferencing controller, preferably embodied in a server apparatus that supports and controls conferencing services and participation among a plurality of subscriber or calling units. Representative conferencing services contemplated for control and support using the system of the present invention include text chat, file transfer, shared whiteboard, shared application or presentation, and other conferencing services.

#Prior art conferencing devices or systems use significant amounts of transport bandwidth, memory and computing capacity resident at respective subscriber units, or calling units, for supporting conferencing functions involved in a given conference session. There is a need for a more efficient conferencing system that centrally supports operation of and participation in conferencing. This is especially true for subscriber units with wireless access. Such centralized control and support permits less-capable calling units (e.g., calling units having lesser memory capacity or lesser computing capacity) to participate more fully in conferencing than can be effected using presently available conferencing systems. By way of example, wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) calling units may enjoy fuller participation in conferencing when conferencing is centrally supported and controlled.

#There is a need for improved efficiency in conferencing operations in order that lesser-capable calling units may participate more fully in conferencing operations. The invention advantageously reduces bandwidth utilization as compared with prior art conferencing services or systems and provides improved efficiency sufficient to permit improved participation by lesser-capable calling units over participation that has been heretofore available.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a prior art implementation of conference calling.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating implementation of conference calling according to the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a prior art implementation of conference calling. In FIG. 1, a conference calling system 10 includes a plurality of wireless users 20, 22, 24. Wireless users 20, 22, 24 are also designated Wireless User 1 (20), Wireless User 2 (22) and Wireless User m (24). The indicator “m” is employed to signify that there is no particular limit to the number of wireless users that may be included in conference calling system 10. Conference calling system 10 also includes a plurality of wireline users 30, 32, 34. Wireline users 30, 32, 34 are also designated Wireline User 1 (30), Wireline User 2 (32) and Wireline User n (34). The indicator “n” is employed to signify that there is no particular limit to the number of wireline users that may be included in conference calling system 10.

#Wireline users 30, 32, 34 are communicatingly coupled with a telecommunication network 40 via wireline connections 60, 62, 64. Wireless users 20, 22, 24 are communicatingly coupled with telecommunication network 40 via wireless connections 50, 52, 54 with a wireless communication access tower 26. Wireless communication access tower 26 is coupled with network 40 via a wireline connection 51. Each wireless user may access the network by a different wireless communication access tower. For the sake of simplicity only one communication access tower is shown in FIG. 1. Each of wireless users 20, 22, 24 and wireline users 30, 32, 34 are equipped with a conferencing capability, generally in the form of software, and perhaps also including hardware, computing capability and memory capacity. Thus, wireless user 20 has a conferencing capability 21. Wireless user 22 has a conferencing capability 23. Wireless user 24 has a conferencing capability 25. Wireline user 30 has a conferencing capability 31. Wireline user 32 has a conferencing capability 33. Wireline user 34 has a conferencing capability 35. One of the subscribing units among wireless users 20, 22, 24 and wireline users 30, 32, 34 acts to host the conference call arrangement. In the exemplary arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, wireless user 20 is host. However, each other subscriber unit participating in a conference calling arrangement must also have conferencing capability; it is the respective conferencing capabilities 21, 23, 25, 31, 33, 35 that carry out the conferencing function in conference calling system 10.

#The host (wireless user 20 in FIG. 1) controls entry to a conference calling arrangement. A server 15 is commonly required to provide contact information for the host to add parties to the conference. Server 15 is not involved with the handling of payload in the data streams involved with a conference. Server 15 is coupled with network 40 via a wireline connection 70. Various data conferencing functions may be carried out in conference calling system 10, but they require participation by and among the various conferencing capabilities 21, 23, 25, 31, 33, 35. Such a requirement for a respective conferencing capability 21, 23, 25, 31, 33, 35 among the various subscriber units 20, 22, 24, 30, 32, 34 contributes to the cost and complexity of each subscriber unit 20, 22, 24, 30. 32, 34 because significant memory capacity and computing capacity are required to support conferencing activities. Moreover, the complexity of connection with and data transfer required among respective conferencing capabilities 21, 23, 25, 31, 33, 35 during conferencing operations contributes to a less robust connections and consequent increased susceptibility to interruption of calls, especially with respect to wireless users 20, 22, 24. The traffic load associated with various wireline users 20, 22, 24 and wireline users 30, 32, 34 during conferencing operations is indicated for each wireless connection 50, 52, 54 and wireline connection 51, 60, 62, 64. Wireline connection 70 carries zero bearer streams. That is, server 15 provides only addressing information or similar “overhead” information for establishing conferencing calls; no payload is associated with or included in traffic borne by wireline connection 51. Thus, during conferencing operations, each of wireless connections 50, 52, 54 and wireline connection 51 carries (m+n) bearer streams. A bearer stream is a stream of traffic that includes or bears information, sometimes referred to as payload, among the information in the traffic. Thus, in the exemplary prior art conference calling system 10 (FIG. 1), there are (m+n−1) data streams sent from host wireless user 20 in controlling a conference application in order that all other conference participants may receive a copy of the data. Also, there are (m+n−1) data streams received at each conference participant for any conference application that allows data to be sent from each user, such as a shared whiteboard application.