# US 2008/0186879 A1 · Conferencing System Having a User Interface Compatible with a Variety of Communication Devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186879 A1 - Document ID: US20080186879A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/670,957 - Filed: 2007-02-02 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Ripple Communications, Inc. - Inventors: Lindsey Cochran Bowman; Michael Robert Malter; Joshua David Wynd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186879A1 ## CPC - H04L 12/66: Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Described is a conferencing system having a conference service, a Web-based service and an IP-telephony service, which enable the conferencing system to provide communication functions, such as conferencing and chat-room functionality, in response to at least one menu selection or menu navigation command received by a user interface. This user interface is comprised of components that render it compatible with a communications device that generates DTMF signals, such as a telephone or IP telephony-enabled client. These components may include an interactive voice response (IVR) module and a menu navigation module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conferencing system having a selection menu compatible with different communication devices, which includes an IP telephony-enabled device, the system comprising: a conference service having an IP-telephony application and a first network interface for connecting to a first network; a web service 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 for connecting to said first network, and said communications interface including a session module for causing said communications interface to send a session request in response to a selected event; an IP-telephony service 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 service and to transmit conferencing information to said conference service; wherein, in response to receiving said conferencing information, said conference service extends said communication path to a first communication device that is logged onto said conference service 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said menu navigation command includes a sequence of menu item selections, said menu navigation command including at least two alphabetical DTMF keys. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said alphabetical DTMF keys includes an “A” DTMF key. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said alphabetical DTMF keys includes a “D” DTMF key. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said alphabetical DTMF keys is used as a prefix; and said means for displaying a screen menu and said means for sending are implemented using program code and at least one Web page. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said conference service includes a computer telephony environment that includes a user interface, said user interface including a menu navigation module that interprets a sequence of DTMF keys as a menu navigation command if said sequence begins with a prefix and ends with a suffix. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein said prefix represents a DTMF key “A” and said suffix represents a DTMF key “D”. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein: said computer telephony environment further includes an IVR module; said user interface informs said computer telephony environment that said sequence of DTMF keys represent a sequence of menu item selections if said user interface interprets said sequence as a menu navigation command; and said computer telephony environment uses said sequence to navigate through a menu structure defined for said IVR module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: said conference service further includes a telephony application and a second network interface for connecting to said telephone network; and said conference service receives said telephone number from a Dialed Number Information Service if said communication device is a telephone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: said IP telephony-enabled device includes a host having a user agent, said user agent having IP telephony functionality; and said means for sending sends said menu navigation command through a second communication path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said IP telephony functionality is provided by an IP telephony softphone application that is compatible with at least one voice over IP protocol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said voice over IP protocol, includes any one protocol from of a comprising SIP and H.323. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said first network includes a TCP/IP network and said second network includes a telephone network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said communication path is implemented using RTP and said means for sending sends said menu navigation command through said communication path. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said providing a communications interface includes providing at least one Web page for enabling a user of said IP-telephony to select a menu item from said screen menu. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including: establishing a second communication path; and sending said menu navigation command sequence through said second communication path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said menu navigation command includes a selection sequence bounded by a prefix and a suffix. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including determining whether said menu item selection made from said screen menu is said menu navigation command or a menu item selection command. The method of claim 15, further including determining whether said menu item selection made from said screen menu is said menu navigation command or a menu item selection command by determining whether said conference service receives a selection sequence that includes a predetermined prefix and suffix. ### Claim 20 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said menu navigation command includes a sequence of menu item selections, said menu navigation command including at least two alphabetical DTMF keys. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said alphabetical DTMF keys includes an “A” DTMF key. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said alphabetical DTMF keys includes a “D” DTMF key. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein: at least one of said alphabetical DTMF keys is used as a prefix; and said means for displaying a screen menu and said means for sending are implemented using program code and at least one Web page. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said conference means includes a computer telephony environment that includes a user interface means, said user interface means including a means for interpreting a sequence of DTMF keys as a menu navigation command if said sequence begins with a prefix and ends with a suffix. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein said prefix represents a DTMF key “A” and said suffix represents a DTMF key “D”. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein: said computer telephony environment further includes a means for providing an interactive voice response; said user interface means for informing said computer telephony environment that said sequence of DTMF keys represent a sequence of menu item selections if said user interface interprets said sequence as a menu navigation command; and said computer telephony environment uses said sequence to navigate through a menu structure defined for said means for providing an interactive voice response. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein: said conference means further includes a telephony application and a second network interface for connecting to said telephone network; and said conference means for receiving said telephone number from a Dialed Number Information Service if said communication device is a telephone. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein: said IP telephony-enabled device includes a host having a user agent, said user agent having IP telephony functionality; and said means for sending sends said menu navigation command through a second communication path. ### Claim 30 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said IP telephony functionality is provided by an IP telephony softphone application that is compatible with at least one voice over IP protocol. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The system of claim 30, wherein said voice over IP protocol, includes any one protocol from of a comprising SIP and H.323. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said first network includes a TCP/IP network and said second network includes a telephone network. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said communication path is implemented using RTP and said means for sending sends said menu navigation command through said communication path.