Seamless multimedia conferencing system using enhanced endpoint devices

A multimedia conferencing system comprising a first enhanced endpoint device and a second enhanced endpoint device, the first and second enhanced endpoint devices each adapted for coupling to a multimedia server and a third endpoint device, the first and second enhanced endpoint devices each comprising:

• point-to-point communications link establishment means adapted for establishing a point-to-point communications link between the enhanced endpoint device and another endpoint device;
• a data transceiver for transmitting and receiving electronic data signals;
• processing means for comprising a microprocessor, the processing means being coupled to the data transceiver and to the communications link establishment means;
• multipoint communications link establishment means, adapted for coupling to the multimedia server, for establishing a multipoint communications link between the first enhanced endpoint device, the second enhanced endpoint device, and the third endpoint device, such that the processing means after initial action by a user automatically transforms the point-to-point communications link into a multipoint communications link as a substantially continuous operation in the perception of the user wherein the third endpoint device is added to a preexisting conference between the first and second enhanced endpoint devices, and wherein, from a participant's viewpoint, the preexisting conference between the first and second enhanced endpoint devices is not substantially interrupted, thereby providing a seamless conference as perceived by participants between the first and second enhanced endpoint devices;
• memory means coupled to the processing means;
• and
• a user interface coupled to the processing means for accepting user input and converting the user input into electronic data signals.

A method of establishing a multimedia conference between a multimedia server and a plurality of endpoint devices including:

• (i) a first enhanced endpoint device having a memory adapted to store one or more telephone numbers, each telephone number corresponding to a respective endpoint device, and a user interface coupled to the memory for selecting a telephone number stored in the memory, (ii) a second enhanced endpoint device, and (iii) a third endpoint device;
• the method including the steps of:
• (a) the first enhanced endpoint device establishing a point-to-point communications link between the first enhanced endpoint device and the second enhanced endpoint device;
• (b) the user interface of the first enhanced endpoint device selecting a telephone number corresponding to the third endpoint device;
• (c) the first enhanced endpoint device establishing a communications link with the multimedia server;
• (d) the first enhanced endpoint device downloading a telephone number, network address, and/or LAN specification corresponding to the third endpoint device to the multimedia server;
• (e) in response to step (d), the multimedia server downloading a dial-in telephone number to the first enhanced endpoint device;
• (f) the first enhanced endpoint device downloading the dial-in telephone number to the second enhanced endpoint device;
• (g) the first enhanced endpoint device instructing the second enhanced endpoint device to terminate the point-to-point communications link, and instructing the second enhanced endpoint device to dial the dial-in number downloaded by the multimedia server;
• (h) the first enhanced endpoint device and the second enhanced endpoint device each dialing the dial-in number, thereby establishing a multimedia communications link between the first enhanced endpoint device, the second enhanced endpoint device, and the multimedia server;
• and
• (i) the multimedia server dialing the third endpoint device, thereby establishing a multimedia, multipoint communications link between the first enhanced endpoint device, the second enhanced endpoint device, and the third endpoint device;
• wherein steps (c)-(i) are performed as a substantially continuous operation in the perception of an enhanced endpoint device user, such that the third endpoint device is added to a preexisting conference between the first and second enhanced endpoint devices, and such that, from a participant's viewpoint, the preexisting conference between the first and second enhanced endpoint devices is not substantially interrupted, thereby providing a seamless conference, as perceived by participants, between the first and second enhanced endpoint devices.

A method of establishing a multimedia conference between a multimedia server and a plurality of endpoint devices including:

• (i) a first, enhanced endpoint device having a memory adapted to store one or more telephone numbers, each telephone number corresponding to a respective endpoint device, and a user interface coupled to the memory for selecting a telephone number stored in the memory, (ii) a second nonenhanced endpoint device, and (iii) a third endpoint device;
• the method including the steps of:
• (a) the first endpoint device establishing a point-to-point communications link between the first endpoint device and the second endpoint device, the point-to-point communications link including a voice channel;
• (b) the user interface of the first endpoint device selecting a telephone number corresponding to the third endpoint device;
• (c) the first endpoint device establishing a communications link with the multimedia server;
• (d) the first endpoint device downloading a telephone number, network address, and/or LAN specification corresponding to the third endpoint device to the multimedia server;
• (e) in response to step (d), the multimedia server downloading a dial-in telephone number to the first endpoint device;
• (f) the first endpoint device providing the dial-in telephone number to the second endpoint device over the voice channel;
• (g) the first endpoint device, over the voice channel, instructing the second endpoint device to terminate the point-to-point communications link, and instructing the second endpoint device, over the voice channel, to dial the dial-in number;
• (h) the first endpoint device and the second endpoint device each dialing the dial-in number, thereby establishing a multimedia communications link between the first endpoint device, the second enhanced endpoint device, and the multimedia server;
• and
• (i) the multimedia server dialing the third endpoint device, thereby establishing a multimedia, multipoint communications link between the first endpoint device, the second endpoint device, and the third endpoint device;
• wherein steps (c)-(i) are performed by the first enhanced endpoint device and the multimedia server as a substantially continuous operation in the perception of an enhanced endpoint device user, such that the third endpoint device is added to a preexisting conference occurring between the first and second endpoint devices, and such that, from a participant's viewpoint, the preexisting conference is not substantially interrupted at the first endpoint device, thereby providing a seamless conference, as perceived by participants, at the first endpoint device.