Methods and systems for computer enhanced conference calling

A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

• detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• initiating contact with one or more conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;
• initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;
• receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;
• determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information identifying a first device and a second device associated with the first conference user, the calendar information reflecting that the first device is preferred by the first conference user for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a first time period and the second device is preferred for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a second time period;
• determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users to establish a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users, wherein at least one of the calls is forwarded to the first conference user at the preferred device;
• establishing the collaboration to share the data interactively among the initiating user and a subset of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration, the subset being based on the first information, the data being shared interactively by the first conference user during the computer-enhanced conference call;
• sending notifications of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the conference users;
• and
• processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call request by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the request and records a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the request and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call, comprising:

• receiving information pertaining to a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of conference users, including an initiating user, that was setup by the initiating user, comprising first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• initiating a process of connecting a call with the plurality of conference users at a device associated with each of the plurality of conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;
• receiving call information for each of the plurality of conference users in response to the interception of the call;
• determining a preferred device for each of the plurality of conference users based on the call information;
• determining whether each of the plurality of conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the plurality of conference users;
• receiving a response to the notification;
• establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users based on the response;
• establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user, comprising:

• means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by the initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call associated with information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• means for initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;
• means for initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;
• means for receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;
• means for determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information;
• means for determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• means for providing a notification of the computer-enhanced conference call to the first conference user at the preferred device;
• means for receiving at least one response from the conference users to accept the computer-enhanced conference call;
• means for establishing the computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users based on the at least one received response;
• means for establishing the collaboration to share data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, the data being shared interactively during the computer-enhanced conference call;
• wherein the means for connecting calls comprises means for providing the initiating user with notification of any conference user that declined the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• wherein the means for connecting calls allows users to decline the call, by performing at least one of:
• setting an alternate contact telephone number;
• or
• setting a period of time in which the conference user declining the call is to be contacted again.

An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

• means for detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• means for initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;
• means for initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;
• means for receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;
• means for determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information identifying a first device and a second device associated with the first conference user, the calendar information reflecting that the first device is preferred by the first conference user for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a first time period and the second device is preferred for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a second time period;
• means for determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• means for bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users to establish a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users, wherein at least one of he calls is forwarded to the first conference user at the preferred device;
• means for establishing the collaboration to share the data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, the data being shared interactively by the first user during the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• means for sending notifications of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the conference users, the conference users able to decline the call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the request, and recording a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the request, and setting a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call, comprising:

• means for receiving information pertaining to a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of conference users, including an initiating user, that was setup by the initiating user, comprising first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• means for initiating a process of connecting a call with the plurality of conference users at a device associated with each of the plurality of conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;
• means for receiving call information for each of the plurality of conference users in response to the interception of the call;
• means for determining a preferred device for each of the plurality of conference users based on the call information;
• means for determining whether each of the plurality of conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• means for sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the plurality of conference users;
• means for receiving a response to the notification;
• means for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and conference users based on the response;
• means for establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• means for sending notifications of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the conference users, the conference users able to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call, and setting an alternate contact telephone number, or
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call, and setting a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

• detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with the first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;
• initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;
• receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;
• determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information;
• determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• providing a notification of the computer-enhanced conference call to the first conference user at the preferred device;
• receiving at least one response from the conference users to accept the computer-enhanced conference call;
• establishing the computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the accepting conference users based on the at least one received response;
• establishing the collaboration to share second data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, and the second data being shared interactively during the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

• detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• initiating contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;
• initiating a process of connecting the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;
• receiving call information in response to the interception of the call;
• determining a preferred device for the first conference user based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information identifying a first device and a second device associated with a first conference user, the calendar information reflecting that the first device is preferred by the first conference user for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a first time period and the second device is preferred for sharing data interactively in computer-enhanced conference calls during a second time period;
• determining whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users to establish a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users, wherein at least one of the calls is forwarded to the first conference user at the preferred device based on the determination that the computer-enhanced conference call falls within the first time period;
• establishing the collaboration to share the data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, the data being shared interactively by the first conference user during the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users declining the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and records a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call, the method comprising:

• receiving information pertaining to a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of conference users, including an initiating user, that was setup by the initiating user, comprising first information about one or more conference users authorized to participate in a collaboration;
• initiating a process of connecting a call with the plurality of conference users at a device associated with each of the plurality of conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;
• receiving call information for each of the plurality of conference users in response to the interception of the call;
• determining a preferred device for each of the plurality of conference users based on the call information;
• determining whether each of the plurality of conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the plurality of conference users;
• receiving a response to the notification;
• establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the plurality of conference users based on the response;
• establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the response based on the first information concerning authorization, the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

An apparatus for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

• a first server operable to detect a computer-enhanced conference call event that was configured by an initiating user to initiate a computer-enhanced conference call at a designated time, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• a second server operable to initiate contact with conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event, including initiating a call with a first conference user at a device associated with the first conference user;
• a third server operable to initiate a process of connect the call, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with the first conference user;
• a fourth server operable to receive call information in response to the interception of the call;
• and
• a conference bridge operable to bridge calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users based on responses from the conference users,
• wherein:
• a collaboration is established to share data interactively among the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information concerning authorization, and;
• one of the calls is bridged to the first conference user at a preferred device for the first conference user;
• the preferred device for the first conference user is determined based on the call information and calendar information, the calendar information reflecting that the computer-enhanced conference call occurs during a time period when the first conference user prefers to use the preferred device to share the data interactively during the computer-enhanced conference call;
• a determination of whether the first conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration is made based on the first information;
• and
• processing a request from one conference user of the one or more conference users to decline the computer-enhanced conference call is done by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the on conference user which declines the call and records a message for subsequent play back to the initiating user, or
• receiving a communication from the one conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

• detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event set up by an initiating user, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• initiating a process of connecting a call with conference users at a device associated with each of the conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the conference users;
• receiving call information for each of the conference users in response to the interception of the call;
• determining a preferred device for each of the conference users based on the call information;
• determining whether each of the conference users is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the conference users;
• receiving at least one response from the conference users;
• establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between the initiating user and the conference users based on the at least one received response;
• establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, and the collaboration excluding at least one conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• processing a conference user declining the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.

A method for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, comprising:

• detecting a computer-enhanced conference call event set up by an initiating user, the conference call being associated with first information concerning authorization for one or more conference users to participate in a collaboration;
• initiating a process of connecting a call with conference users at a device associated with each of the conference users, wherein the call is intercepted before being connected to the device associated with each of the plurality of conference users;
• receiving call information for each of the conference users in response to the interception of the call;
• determining a preferred device for each of the conference users based on the call information;
• determining whether each of the conference user is authorized to participate in the collaboration, based on the first information;
• sending a notification of a computer-enhanced conference call request to the preferred device associated with one of the conference users;
• receiving at least one response from the conference users;
• bridging calls to devices of the initiating user and the conference users;
• establishing the collaboration between the initiating user and one or more of the conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration based on the first information, the collaboration excluding at least one unauthorized conference user that is not authorized to participate in the collaboration but participates in the computer-enhanced conference call;
• and
• processing a conference user declining the computer-enhanced conference call by at least one of:
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets an alternate contact telephone number, or
• receiving a communication from the conference user which declines the call and sets a period of time in which the conference user declining the request is to be contacted again.