Method and Conference Server for Initializing Scheduled Conferences

A communication system comprising:

• a first conference server associated with a first site;
• a second conference server associated with a second site that is at a different geographical location than the first site;
• the second conference server being communicatively connectable to the first conference server;
• the first conference server configured to receive a selection of conference participants for a conference, the conference participants comprising at least one first conference participant located in a first geographical location associated with the first site in a first geographical area and at least one second conference participant located in a second geographical location associated with the second site in a second geographical area;
• the first conference server configured to determine a geographical location area for each of the at least one first conference participant and the at least one second conference participant;
• the first conference server configured to communicate with the second conference server to determine conference resources in the first and second geographical areas for use by the conference participants based on the determined geographical location areas;
• the first conference server configured to determine whether a first conference resource in the determined geographical location area of the at least one first conference participant is available for use for the at least one first conference participant for the conference and assign the first conference resource to the conference between the at least one first conference participant and at least one second conference participant if the first conference resource is available;
• the second conference server configured to determine whether a second conference resource in the determined geographical location area of the at least one second conference participant is available for use for the at least one second conference participant for the conference and assign the second conference resource to the conference between the at least one first conference participant and at least one second conference participant if the second conference resource is available;
• the first conference server configured to send a notification message to the at least one first conference participant that identifies the first conference resource and provides scheduling information about the conference between the at least one first conference participant and the at least one second conference participant;
• and
• the second conference server configured to send a notification message to the at least one second conference participant that identifies the second conference resource and provides scheduling information about the conference between the at least one first conference participant and the at least one second conference participant.