Teleforum apparatus and method

A method of providing a teleforum comprising:

• generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls from two or more geographically separate clusters of voice response units (VRUs) to multiple invitees;
• transmitting a message to each invitee receiving one of the invitation calls inviting the invitee to become a teleforum participant;
• accepting calls from persons who self-initiate their own inbound calls requesting to become a teleforum participant;
• connecting at least one invitee from the one invitation call to the teleforum by sending audio from the teleforum to the at least one connected invitee through the one invitation call;
• and
• connecting at least one self-initiated caller from one of the inbound calls to the teleforum;
• and
• switching at least one of the invitee or the at least one self-initiated caller into a full-duplex screening sub-conference, wherein the at least one of the invitee or the at least one self-initiated caller is screened for active participation in the teleforum responsive to selection of a screen button in a control interface.

A virtual conferencing bridge for providing a teleforum, comprising:

• a first voice response unit (VRU) and a second VRU in communication with multiple communication pathways to multiple invitees, wherein the VRUs are geographically separate and configured to generate simultaneous outbound invitation calls to the invitees and transmit a message to each invitee receiving one of the invitation calls inviting the invitee to become a teleforum participant, wherein the first VRU is associated with a first cluster of VRUs and the second VRU is associated with a second cluster of VRUs;
• a teleforum bridge in communication with each VRU, wherein the first cluster of VRUs and the second cluster of VRUs are located in geographically separate regions;
• and
• a control interface in communication with the VRUs and the teleforum bridge, wherein the control interface is configured to:
• connect the teleforum participant from the one invitation call to the teleforum bridge using the VRUs in a listen only mode by sending audio from the teleforum to the teleforum participant through the one invitation call;
• receive input from the connected teleforum participant requesting active participation;
• switch the requesting teleforum participant into a full-duplex screening sub-conference, wherein the requesting teleforum participant is screened for active participation in the teleforum responsive to selection of a screen button in the control interface;
• and
• allow the connected teleforum participant to actively participate in the teleforum.

A method of providing a teleforum comprising:

• generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls from two or more geographically separate clusters of voice response units (VRUs) to multiple invitees;
• transmitting a message to each invitee receiving one of the invitation calls inviting the invitee to become a teleforum participant;
• accepting calls from persons who self-initiate their own inbound calls requesting to become a teleforum participant;
• connecting the teleforum participant from the one invitation call to the teleforum in a listen only mode by sending audio from the teleforum to the teleforum participant through the one invitation call;
• connecting a self-initiated caller from the inbound call to the teleforum in a listen only mode;
• receiving input from the connected invitee or self-initiated caller requesting active participation;
• disconnecting the connected invitee or self-initiated caller from listen only mode;
• connecting the requesting teleforum participant into a full-duplex screening sub-conference, wherein the connected teleforum participant is screened for active participation in the teleforum responsive to selection of a screen button in a control interface;
• and
• connecting the screened teleforum participant to the teleforum in a full-duplex mode, wherein the screened teleforum participant may actively participate in the teleforum.