Communication system having conference server

A communication system comprising a conference server device, a conference control unit, a plurality of moderator units, and a plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein:

• the conference server provides at least one conference for the plurality of telecommunication devices,
• each of the plurality of telecommunication devices has a message generation unit for generating a communication request message and a transmission device for transmitting the communication request message to the conference server device,
• the conference server device has a receiver device for receiving the communication request messages, a message generation unit for generating a notification message if a communication request message has been received, and a transmission device for transmitting notification messages to all of the moderator units,
• each of the plurality of moderator units has a receiver device for receiving the notification messages, a message generation unit for generating a communication right decision message based on all of the notification messages, and a transmission device for transmitting the communication right decision message to the conference server device,
• the plurality of moderator units each decide, independently of one another, which telecommunication device is to be granted a communication right and informs the conference server device of these communication right individual decisions,
• the conference control unit automatically combines the communication right individual decisions of the plurality of moderator units to form an overall decision which specifies which telecommunication device is granted a communication right, and
• the communication right is granted to only a single telecommunication device within a conference as the right to transmit a data stream for a chosen communication medium.

A method of controlling a conference in a communication system having a conference server device, a conference control unit, a plurality of moderator units, and a plurality of telecommunication devices, the method comprising:

• the conference server device providing at least one conference for the plurality of telecommunication devices;
• each of the plurality of telecommunication devices generating a communication request message and transmitting the communication request message to the conference server device;
• the conference server device receiving the communication request messages, generating a notification message if a communication request message has been received, and transmitting notification messages to all of the moderator units;
• each of the plurality of moderator units receiving notification messages, generating a communication right decision message based on all of the notification messages, and transmitting the communication right decision message to the conference server device;
• the plurality of moderator units each deciding, independently of one another, which telecommunication device is to be granted a communication right and informing the conference server device of these communication right individual decisions;
• the conference control unit automatically combining the communication right individual decisions of the plurality of moderator units to form an overall decision which specifies which telecommunication device is granted a communication right;
• and
• the communication right only ever being granted to one single telecommunication device within a conference as the right to transmit a data stream for a chosen communication medium.

A telecommunication conference control unit comprising:

• a reception unit receiving communication right individual decision messages from a plurality of moderator units, each of which messages contains a proposal for an allocation of a communication right;
• a decision unit that automatically makes an overall decision on the allocation of a communication right to a telecommunication device based on the communication right individual decision messages;
• and
• a message generation unit that generates an overall decision message in accordance with the overall decision,
• wherein the communication right is granted to only one single telecommunication device within a conference as a right to transmit a data stream for a chosen communication medium.

A method of controlling the allocation of communication rights, the method comprising:

• receiving communication right individual decision messages from a plurality of moderator units, each of which messages contains a proposal for the allocation of a communication right;
• automatically making an overall decision on the allocation of a communication right to a telecommunication device based on the communication right individual decision messages;
• and
• a message generation unit generating an overall decision message in accordance with the overall decision,
• wherein the communication right is granted to only one single telecommunication device within a conference as a right to transmit a data stream for a chosen communication medium.

A telecommunication conference control unit comprising:

• means for receiving communication right individual decision messages from a plurality of moderator units, each of which messages contains a proposal for the allocation of a communication right;
• means for automatically making an overall decision on the allocation of a communication right to a telecommunication device based on the communication right individual decision messages;
• and
• a message generation means for generating an overall decision message in accordance with the overall decision,
• wherein the communication right is granted to only one single telecommunication device within a conference as a right to transmit a data stream for a chosen communication medium.