Multi-party conferencing method

A multi-party conferencing method in a packet-switched radio telecommunications network in which a call-control server has established an on-going call between a first party and a second party, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving by the call-control server, a message from the first party that includes an indication that a multi-party conference is desired, and that identifies a third party to be joined in a multi-party conference call;
• providing by the call-control server, an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a Multipoint Processor (MP) to the first, second, and third parties;
• providing by the call-control server, an IP address of each of the first, second, and third parties to the MP;
• receiving in the MP, media payload from each of the first, second, and third parties;
• and
• mixing and forwarding media payload in the MP from each of the first, second, and third parties to establish a multi-party conference call.

A system for joining a third party in a multi-party conference call in a packet-switched radio telecommunications network in which a call-control server has established an on-going two-party call between a first party and a second party, said system comprising:

• a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) comprising:
• a Multipoint Processor (MP) for receiving media payload from the first, second, and third parties, mixing the payload, and forwarding the mixed payload to the first, second, and third parties;
• and
• a Multipoint Controller (MC) for setting up the multi-party conference call, said MC comprising:
• a control link to the MP for obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the MP, and providing an IP address of each of the first, second, and third parties to the MP;
• and
• means for negotiating media sessions with each of the first, second, and third parties;
• and
• a call-control server for controlling calls in the network, said call-control server comprising:
• a signaling mechanism that communicates with the first, second, and third parties, said mechanism receiving a message from the first party that includes an indication that a multi-party conference call is desired and a telephone number of the third party, and providing the IP address of the MP to the first, second, and third parties;
• and
• means for engaging the MCU in response to the message from the first party.

In a packet-switched radio telecommunications network, a combined Gatekeeper/Multipoint Control Unit (GK/MCU) for joining a third party in a multi-party conference call during an on-going two-party call between a first party and a second party, said GK/MCU comprising:

• a Gatekeeper portion comprising:
• a signaling mechanism that communicates with the first, second, and third parties, said mechanism receiving a message from the first party that includes an indication that a multi-party conference call is desired and a telephone number of the third party, and providing an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a Multipoint Processor (MP) portion to the first, second, and third parties;
• an MP portion for receiving media payload from the first, second, and third parties, mixing the payload, and forwarding the mixed payload to the first, second, and third parties;
• and
• an MC portion for controlling the setup of the multi-party conference call, said MC portion comprising:
• a control link to the MP portion for obtaining the IP address of the MP portion, and providing an IP address of each of the first, second, and third parties to the MP portion;
• and
• means for negotiating media sessions with each of the first, second, and third parties.