Enhancing conference bridge muting to save network resources

Non-transitory computer readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for reducing the use of network resources during a conference call, the method comprising:

• determining that the conference call is currently active between a conference bridge service and one or more mobile communications devices in a wireless communications network;
• in an existing voice link between a base station controller in the wireless communications network and the conference bridge service, receiving a mute request from the conference bridge service to mute the one or more mobile communications devices participating on the conference call;
• using an identification associated with each of the one or more mobile communications devices, identifying a base transceiver station associated with the each of the one or more mobile communications devices;
• at a network component, requesting that each of the base transceiver stations notify the associated one or more mobile communications devices to stop transmitting a traffic portion of a reverse link from the one or more mobile communications devices to the wireless communications network but continue transmitting a signaling portion of the reverse link to save network resources;
• altering a timer associated with the reverse link between the wireless communications network and the one or more mobile communications devices such that the one or more mobile communications devices are not disconnected from the conference call when the wireless communications network detects that data is not being transmitted over the reverse link for a predetermined amount of time;
• receiving an unmute request with respect to the one or more mobile communications devices;
• and in response to the unmute request, requesting that the base transceiver stations notify their associated one or more mobile communications devices to resume transmitting the traffic portion of the reverse link.

A system for reducing the use of network resources during a conference call, the system comprising:

• a base station controller that receives a mute request from a conference bridge service in relation to the conference call between a conference leader and one or more mobile communications devices, the mute request requesting that each of the one or more mobile communications devices not provide any audio to the conference call, wherein the base station controller alters a timer associated with a reverse link between a wireless communications network and the one or more mobile communications devices such that the conference call is not terminated when the wireless communications network detects that data is not being transmitted over the reverse link;
• at least one base transceiver station that receives the mute request from the base station controller and notifies at least one of the one or more mobile communications devices with which it is associated to stop transmitting a traffic portion of a reverse link from the at least one of the one or more mobile communications devices to the wireless communications network but continue transmitting a signaling portion of the reverse link to save network resources;
• and
• one or more mobile communications devices that, upon receiving a notification from the associated base transceiver station to stop transmitting the traffic portion of the reverse link, refrain from transmitting any data associated with the traffic portion of the reverse link but continue transmitting a signaling portion of the reverse link until the associated base transceiver station provides a notification to resume transmitting the traffic portion of the reverse link.