Automatic control of participation in telemeetings

A system for use in implementing an automated telemeeting session in a system comprising a plurality of service nodes, each one of said plurality of service nodes connected to at least a telecommunications network and having control of a plurality of communications nodes, said system comprising:

• means for inputting definition information to one of said plurality of service nodes to define the telemeeting session;
• means for outputting from said one of said pluralitv of service nodes at least one identifier associated with the telemeeting session;
• means for distributing said at least one identifier as an invitation message to a plurality of intended session participants;
• means for receiving at a first of said plurality of communications nodes associated with said at least one identifier, a response from at least one of said plurality of intended session participants, said response further including at least one user preference;
• means for distributing from said one of said plurality of service nodes a personal reference to said at least one of said plurality of intended session participants, said personal reference associated with a second of said plurality of communications nodes, said second of said plurality of communications nodes associated with said at least one user preference;
• means for receiving at said second of said plurality of communications nodes a request to participate in said telemeeting session from said at least one of said plurality of intended session participants;
• and
• means for facilitating communication at said second of said plurality of communications nodes associated with said at least one user preference.

A method for implementing an automated telemeeting session, comprising the steps of:

• inputting definition information to a service node to define the telemeeting session;
• responsive to said definition information, outputting from said service node a first identifier associated with the telemeeting session;
• distributing said first identifier in an invitation message to an intended session participant;
• receiving a response to the invitation message from the intended session participant, said response further including at least one user preference;
• responsive to said response, selecting a personal reference based on a current location of the intended session participant and said at least one user preference;
• distributing the personal reference to the intended session participant, said personal reference associated with one of a plurality of meeting places, said one of a plurality of meeting places associated with said at least one user preference;
• and
• the intended session participant participating in the telemeeting session at said one of a plurality of meeting places associated with the personal reference and said user preference.

A system for implementing an automated telemeeting session, comprising:

• means for inputting definition information to a service node to define the telemeeting session;
• means, responsive to said definition information, for outputting from said service node a first identifier associated with the telemeeting session;
• means for distributing said first identifier in an invitation message to an intended session participant;
• means for receiving a response to the invitation message from the intended session participant, said response including at least one user preference;
• means, responsive to the said response, for selecting a personal reference based on a current location of the intended session participant and said at least one user preference;
• means for distributing the personal reference to the intended session participant, said personal reference associated with one of a plurality of meeting places, said one of a plurality of meeting places associated with said at least one user preference;
• and
• means for permitting the intended session participant to participate in the telemeeting session at said one of a plurality of meeting places associated with the personal reference and said user preference.