Internet-enabled conferencing system and method accommodating PSTN and IP traffic

A method implemented in computer software associated with an Internet Protocol (IP) user, comprising:

• providing at least one page to the IP user using conference scheduling software, the page comprising scheduling one or more scheduling input fields for a requested conference involving at least one public switched telephone network (PSTN) caller and at least one IP caller;
• receiving scheduling input from the IP user for the requested conference, according to the scheduling input fields, for communication to a server complex associated with a conference bridge;
• and
• in response to the IP user being provided with current state information for a conference in progress involving at least one public switched telephone network (PSTN) caller and at least one IP caller, receiving conference control input from the IP user using control software for communication to the conference bridge, the conference control input for controlling selected aspects of the conference.

A system for conferencing callers, comprising:

• a database operable to store current state information for one or more conferences, at least one of the conferences involving at least one public switched telephone network (PSTN) caller and at least one Internet Protocol (IP) caller;
• a conference bridge node coupled to the database and operable to:
• generate conference traffic for communication to the callers;
• generate current state information for each conference for communication to IP users associated with the conferences;
• and
• in addition, periodically communicate current state information for each conference to the database for storage;
• and
• a server complex coupled to the database and to the conference bridge node, the server complex operable to:
• periodically access the stored current state information for at least one conference associated with an IP user;
• and
• communicate at least some of that stored current state information to the IP user.

A method for conferencing callers, comprising:

• storing in a database current state information for one or more conferences, at least one of the conferences involving at least one public switched telephone network (PSTN) caller and at least one Internet Protocol (IP) caller;
• generating conference traffic using a conference bridge node for communication to the callers;
• generating current state information for each conference using the conference bridge node for communication to IP users associated with the conferences;
• periodically communicating current state information for the conferences from the conference bridge node to the database for storage;
• using a server complex, periodically accessing the stored current state information for at least one conference associated with an IP user;
• and
• communicating at least some of that stored current state information from the server complex to the IP user.