# US 7,466,812 B1 · Connecting an endpoint to a conference call

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- Number: US 7,466,812 B1
- Document ID: US7466812B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 10/691,369
- Filed: 2003-10-22
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2003-10-22
- Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Rohan W. Mahy; Cullen F. Jennings
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466812B1

## CPC

- H04M 3/56: Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities (video conference systems H04N7/15)
- H04M 3/42059: {Making use of the calling party identifier}
- H04M 2203/2088: Call or conference reconnect, e.g. resulting from isdn terminal portability
- H04M 2242/22: Automatic class or number identification arrangements
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

Connecting an endpoint to a conference call includes associating a caller identifier with a conference call identifier, where the caller identifier corresponds to an endpoint and the conference call identifier corresponds to a conference call. A call is received from the endpoint, and the caller identifier is determined to be associated with the conference call identifier. Connection of the endpoint to the conference call is initiated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for connecting an endpoint to a conference call, comprising:
associating a caller identifier with a conference call identifier by mapping the caller identifier to the conference call identifier, the caller identifier corresponding to an endpoint, the conference call identifier corresponding to a conference call;
receiving a call from the endpoint associated with the caller identifier;
determining from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call;
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call;
after a disconnection with the endpoint, receiving another call from the endpoint;
determining from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call; and
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to reconnect the endpoint to the conference call.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier further comprises:
receiving an initial call from the endpoint;
associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier in response to receiving the initial call; and
providing the endpoint an initial connection to the conference call.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier further comprises:
receiving conference call information comprising the caller identifier and the conference call identifier; and
associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier further comprises storing the conference call identifier associated with the caller identifier in a conference call table.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call further comprises:
determining whether the conference call is in session; and
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call if the conference call is in session.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call further comprises:
determining if there is a request for connection, the request associated with the endpoint; and
connecting the endpoint with the conference call if there is the request for connection.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call further comprises:
determining if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call; and
connecting the endpoint with the conference call if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call further comprises announcing a caller associated with the caller identifier prior to connecting the endpoint with the conference call.

### Claim 9

A system for connecting an endpoint to a conference call, comprising:
a memory operable to store data; and
control logic coupled to the memory and operable to:
associate a caller identifier with a conference call identifier by mapping the caller identifier to the conference call identifier, the caller identifier corresponding to an endpoint, the conference call identifier corresponding to a conference call;
receive a call from the endpoint associated with the caller identifier;
determine from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call;
initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call;
after a disconnection with the endpoint, receive another call from the endpoint;
determine from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call; and
initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to reconnect the endpoint to the conference call.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, the control logic operable to associate the caller identifier with the conference call identifier by:
receiving an initial call from the endpoint;
associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier in response to receiving the initial call; and
providing the endpoint an initial connection to the conference call.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, the control logic operable to associate the caller identifier with the conference call identifier by:
receiving conference call information comprising the caller identifier and the conference call identifier; and
associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, the control logic operable to associate the caller identifier with the conference call identifier by storing the conference call identifier associated with the caller identifier in a conference call table.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, the control logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by:
determining whether the conference call is in session; and
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call if the conference call is in session.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, the control logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by:
determining if there is a request for connection, the request associated with the endpoint; and
connecting the endpoint with the conference call if there is the request for connection.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, the control logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by:
determining if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call; and
connecting the endpoint with the conference call if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, the control logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by announcing a caller associated with the caller identifier prior to connecting the endpoint with the conference call.

### Claim 17

A tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with logic for connecting an endpoint to a conference call, the logic operable to:
associate a caller identifier with a conference call identifier by mapping the caller identifier to the conference call identifier, the caller identifier corresponding to an endpoint, the conference call identifier corresponding to a conference call;
receive a call from the endpoint associated with the caller identifier;
determine from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call;
initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call;
after a disconnection with the endpoint, receive another call from the endpoint;
determine from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call; and
initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to reconnect the endpoint to the conference call.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with the logic of claim 17, the logic operable to associate the caller identifier with the conference call identifier by:
receiving an initial call from the endpoint;
associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier in response to receiving the initial call; and
providing the endpoint an initial connection to the conference call.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with the logic of claim 17, the logic operable to associate the caller identifier with the conference call identifier by:
receiving conference call information comprising the caller identifier and the conference call identifier; and
associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with the logic of claim 17, the logic operable to associate the caller identifier with the conference call identifier by storing the conference call identifier associated with the caller identifier in a conference call table.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with the logic of claim 17, the logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by:
determining whether the conference call is in session; and
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call if the conference call is in session.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with the logic of claim 17, the logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by:
determining if there is a request for connection, the request associated with the endpoint; and
connecting the endpoint with the conference call if there is the request for connection.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with the logic of claim 17, the logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by:
determining if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call; and
connecting the endpoint with the conference call if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The tangible, physical computer-readable medium encoded with the logic of claim 17, the logic operable to initiate connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by announcing a caller associated with the caller identifier prior to connecting the endpoint with the conference call.

### Claim 25

A system for connecting an endpoint to a conference call, comprising:
means for associating a caller identifier with a conference call identifier by mapping the caller identifier to the conference call, the caller identifier corresponding to an endpoint, the conference call identifier corresponding to a conference call;
means for receiving a call from the endpoint associated with the caller identifier;
means for determining from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call;
means for initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call;
means for, after a disconnection with the endpoint receiving another call from the endpoint;
means for determining from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call; and
means for initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to reconnect the endpoint to the conference call.

### Claim 26

A method for connecting an endpoint to a conference call, comprising:
receiving an initial call from an endpoint having a caller identifier;
connecting the endpoint to a conference call having a conference call identifier;
associating the caller identifier with the conference call identifier by mapping the caller identifier to the conference call identifier and by storing the conference call identifier associated with the caller identifier in a conference call table;
receiving a next call from the endpoint associated with the caller identifier;
determining from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call; and
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to connect the endpoint to the conference call by:
determining whether the conference call is in session;
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call if the conference call is in session;
determining if there is a request for connection, the request associated with the endpoint;
initiating connection the endpoint with the conference call if there is the request for connection;
determining if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call;
connecting the endpoint with the conference call if the endpoint is authorized to connect with the conference call;
announcing a caller associated with the caller identifier prior to connecting the endpoint with the conference call;
after a disconnection with the endpoint, receiving another call from the endpoint;
determining from the mapping and independent of any conference identifier information sent by the endpoint that the caller identifier is associated with the conference call identifier of the conference call; and
initiating connection of the endpoint to the conference call in order to reconnect the endpoint to the conference call.