Method and apparatus for on-demand teleconferencing

An on-demand conferencing method for setting up a conference call in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with System Signaling 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning a unique number for an on-demand conference call to an on-demand subscriber, said assigned unique number identifying the on-demand subscriber and a maximum conference size;
• dialing into the PSTN the assigned unique number;
• identifying in the PSTN that the dialed unique number requires handling by the SS7;
• routing the identified unique number through the PTSN to the SS7;
• linking in the SS7 the routed number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) connected to the plurality of bridge servers, the CACS and the plurality of bridge servers located externally from said PSTN, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a plurality of ports, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a sufficient number of ports to support a plurality of on-demand conference calls;
• determining in the CACS the maximum conference size assigned to the linked unique number;
• selecting in the CACS available ports on one of said plurality of bridge servers wherein said one bridge server has enough available ports to support the maximum size of the conference call;
• reserving in the CACS said available ports on said one of the plurality bridge servers for the conference call;
• and
• setting up the on-demand conference call through the PSTN on the one selected bridge server under control of the CACS.

An on-demand conferencing method for setting up a conference call between a subscriber and a plurality of participants in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having the Advanced Information Network (AIN) architecture with System Signaling 7 (SS7) and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning a unique number for an on-demand conference call to a subscriber, said assigned unique number identifying the subscriber and the maximum conference size;
• dialing by the subscriber or the plurality of participants the assigned unique number into the PSTN;
• identifying in the PSTN that the dialed unique number requires handling by the SS7;
• routing the identified unique number through the PTSN to the SS7;
• linking in the SS7 the routed unique number to a conference allocation and control system (CACS) connected to the plurality of bridge servers, the CACS and the plurality of bridge servers located externally from said PSTN, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a plurality of ports, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a sufficient number of ports to support a plurality of on-demand conference calls;
• determining in the CACS the maximum conference size assigned to the linked unique number;
• selecting in the CACS available ports on one of said plurality of bridge servers wherein said one server has enough available ports to support the maximum size of the conference call;
• obtaining a translation number for one of the selected bridge servers in the CACS;
• delivering the obtained translation number to the SS7 from the CACS;
• and
• setting up the on-demand conference call through the PSTN on the one selected bridge server under control of the CACS when the subscriber dials the assigned unique number into the PSTN.

A method for connecting a subscriber and a participant in an on-demand conference call in a telecommunications system, said telecommunications system having a conference allocation and control system (CACS) controlling ports on a conferencing bridge, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a sufficient number of ports to support a plurality of on-demand conference calls, the CACS and the conferencing bridge located externally from said Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), said method comprising:

• assigning a unique on-demand conference number to the subscriber;
• and
• storing the assigned unique number,
• the subscriber selecting a PIN for the conference call and delivering the assigned unique number and the PIN to the plurality of participants,
• the CACS setting up the conference call on the ports of the conferencing bridge when the subscriber dials the assigned unique number in the telecommunications system, the subscriber entering the PIN to the CACS in response to the step of setting up,
• the CACS adding a participant to the set-up conference call on a port in the conferencing bridge when one of the plurality of participants dials the assigned unique number in the telecommunications system and enters the PIN to the CACS.

A method for connecting a subscriber and a participant in an on-demand conference call in a telecommunications system, said telecommunications system having a conference allocation and control system (CACS) controlling a plurality of ports on a plurality of conferencing bridges, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a sufficient number of ports to support a plurality of on-demand conference calls, the CACS and the conferencing bridge located externally from said Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), said method comprising:

• assigning a unique on-demand conference number and a maximum conference size to the subscriber;
• and
• storing the assigned unique number and maximum conference size,
• the subscriber selecting a PIN for the conference call and delivering the assigned unique number and the PIN to the plurality of participants,
• the CACS selecting ports on one conferencing bridge from said plurality of conferencing bridges wherein said one conferencing bridge has enough capacity to handle the maximum conference size,
• the CACS setting up the conference call on the selected ports of the one conferencing bridge when the subscriber dials the assigned unique number in the telecommunications system and enters the PIN to the CACS,
• the CACS adding a participant to the set-up conference call on the selected ports in the one conferencing bridge when one of the plurality of participants dials the assigned unique number in the telecommunications system and enters the PIN to the CACS.

An on-demand conferencing system for making a conference call between a subscriber and a plurality of participants, said on-demand conferencing system comprising:

• a database;
• a unique number, a single passcode, and a maximum conference size assigned to said subscriber, said unique number, single passcode and maximum conference size stored in said database;
• a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), said PSTN having service points for said subscriber, said service points receiving said unique number from said subscriber or from said plurality of participants for routing said unique number;
• a conference allocation and control system (CACS);
• an SS7 receiving the routed unique number from said service points for delivering the routed unique number to said CACS;
• and
• a plurality of bridge servers having a plurality of ports connected to said CACS, said CACS and said plurality of bridge servers located externally from said PSTN, each of said plurality of bridge servers having a sufficient number of ports to support a plurality of on-demand conference calls, said CACS accessing said database based upon said delivered unique number for obtaining said maximum conference size, for selecting available ports on said one bridge server from said plurality of bridge servers, said one bridge server having enough available ports for handling said maximum size conference, said CACS returning to said SS7 routing information identifying the selected ports at the at least one bridge server,
• said SS7 delivering said routing information to said PSTN, said PSTN linking said subscriber to said selected ports of said one bridge server, said CACS setting up said conference call in said selected ports of said one bridge server of said plurality of bridge servers when said subscriber delivers said single passcode to said CACS over said link, said CACS adding said plurality of participants to said conference call.