# US 9,883,044 B2 · Techniques for a mixed audio conference > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,883,044 B2 - Document ID: US9883044B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/046,552 - Filed: 2016-02-18 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-29 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Pulin Thakkar; Bimal Mehta; Dhigha Sekaran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883044B2 ## CPC - H04M 7/1205: {where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks} - H04L 12/66: Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways - H04M 3/567: {Multimedia conference systems} - H04M 7/006: {Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer (H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42)} - H04N 7/15: Conference systems - H04N 7/152: {Multipoint control units therefor} - H04M 7/123: {where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network} - H04M 2207/20: hybrid systems - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Techniques for a mixed audio conference are described. An apparatus may comprise an audio video multipoint control unit to mix call information from multiple call connections established over a packet-switched network for a conference call. The apparatus may comprise a telephony gateway communicatively coupled to the audio video multipoint control unit. The telephony gateway may establish a bridge connection with a conference bridge servicing a call connection over a circuit-switched network, the telephony gateway to translate call information from the call connection for use by the audio video multipoint control unit. Other embodiments are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a logic circuit; and an audio video multipoint control unit (AVMCU) executed on the logic circuit, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to process a new link-Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) request message corresponding to bridging operations for a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conference and an Audio Conference Provider (ACP) conference, designate a time to initiate the bridging operations based upon conference state data, and create a bridge connection between a network for the VoIP conference and a network for the ACP conference. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to mix converted call information from a telephony gateway with call information received from client nodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to initiate the bridging operations when both the VoIP conference and the ACP conference are activated and are mixing voice. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to extract conference bridge connection information included in the link-PSTN request. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to reset the VoIP/ACP bridge connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to receive an unlink-PSTN request. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to determine the time to create the bridge connection based upon other conference state data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to determine the time to create the bridge connection based upon whether an ACP conference is active. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to determine the time to create the bridge connection based upon whether the audio video multipoint control unit is mixing audio, and an AVMCU conference is active and has at least one participant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to query a conference shared state for conference bridge connection information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to send a request to a conference focus on receiving the link-PSTN request. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to subscribe for conference notifications on a conference bootstrap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to send a request to a conference focus on receiving the link-PSTN request. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the audio video multipoint control unit operative to signal with the telephony gateway to cause a telephony gateway to dial into the ACP conference based on conference bridge connection information. ### Claim 15 A computer-implemented method, comprising processing, via processor hardware, a new link-Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) request message corresponding to bridging operations for a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conference and an Audio Conference Provider (ACP) conference; designating, via the processor hardware, a time to initiate the bridging operations based upon conference state data; and creating, via the processor hardware, a bridge connection between a network for the VoIP conference and a network for the ACP conference. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising mixing via the processor hardware, translated call information from a telephony gateway with call information received from client nodes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising bridging, via the processor hardware, a call connection from a circuit-switched network for the ACP conference to a conference call over a packet-switched network using the bridge connection. ### Claim 18 An article of manufacture comprising a computer hardware storage medium containing instructions that if executed by processor hardware enable a system to: process a new link-Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) request message corresponding to bridging operations for a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conference and an Audio Conference Provider (ACP) conference; designate a time to initiate the bridging operations based upon conference state data; and create a bridge connection between a network for the VoIP conference and a network for the ACP conference. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article of claim 18, further comprising instructions that if executed by the processor hardware enable the system to receive conference bridge connection information comprising a conference bridge number to directly establish the bridge connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The article of claim 18, further comprising instructions that if executed by the processor hardware enable the system to initiate the bridging operations when both the VoIP conference and the ACP conference are activated and are mixing voice.