Conferencing System Having a User Interface Compatible with a Variety of Communication Devices

A method of providing conferencing services to at least one IP-telephony client connected to a first network and at least one telephony device connected to a second network, said services provided by a conferencing system having a conference service, a web-based service and an IP-telephony service, the method comprising:

• providing a communications interface to an IP-telephony client, said communications interface including a means for sending a session request to an IP telephony service;
• providing a session reply to said IP-telephony client upon receiving said session request from said first IP-telephony client;
• creating a communication path between the conference service and said IP-telephony client, said communication path including a network address received in said session response;
• extending said communication path to at least one telephony device logged onto the conference service;
• and
• generating a menu navigation command in response to a menu item selection made in reference to a screen menu displayed by a Web page provided by the Web-based service to said IP-telephony client.

A conferencing system having a selection menu compatible with different communication devices, which includes an IP telephony-enabled device, the system comprising:

• a conference means having an IP-telephony application and a first network interface for connecting to a first network;
• a web service means for providing a communications interface to the IP telephony-enabled device in response to receiving a request from the IP telephony-enabled device, said web service means for connecting to said first network, and said communications interface including a means for causing said communications interface to send a session request in response to a selected event;
• an IP-telephony service means for connecting to said first network and for generating a session reply in response to receiving said session request;
• wherein the IP telephony-enabled device uses information from said session response to initiate a communication path between the IP telephony-enabled device and said conference means and to transmit conferencing information to said conference means;
• wherein in response to receiving said conferencing information, said conference means extends said communication path to a first communication device that is logged onto said conference means via said telephone network;
• wherein said communications interface includes a means for displaying a screen menu on the IP telephony-enabled device and a means for sending a menu item selection command or a menu navigation command, said screen menu having a plurality of menu items;
• and
• wherein the conferencing system provides communication functions to the IP telephony-enabled device in response to said menu item selection command.