Conference Call Bridge Inversion for Participant Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional conference call systems require participants to call a predetermined number and enter a passcode, which can be costly and cumbersome, limiting flexibility in location and phone number changes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a conference call bridge is established by calling each participant using a multiport conference unit, eliminating the need for participants to call a phone number and remember it, allowing phone numbers to be submitted at any time, and enabling flexible location changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If participants call a predetermined conference call number to establish a connection, then the conference call can be set up, but participants incur call charges and must remember the phone number and passcode
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having participants call the conference bridge (traditional approach), the system inverts the approach by having the conference bridge call the participants. The conference host provides a unique identifier, and the conference bridge automatically dials the participant's phone number, eliminating the need for participants to initiate calls and incur charges.
Solution Approach 2:
The conference bridge system performs the connection establishment autonomously by automatically calling participants based on their provided contact information. The system manages the entire connection process without requiring participant intervention in the dialing process, making the service self-organizing.
2Device complexity
If participants must remember a predetermined conference call number and passcode, then the system can be simple to implement, but it becomes cumbersome for participants to use
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a web-based interface as an intermediary between the conference bridge and participants. Instead of requiring participants to remember phone numbers and passcodes, they simply visit a web page, enter their contact information once, and receive automatic dialing instructions. The web interface mediates the complexity of the underlying telephony system.
3Reliability
If the conference is configured days in advance with a fixed phone number, then the setup is complete, but participants cannot change their location or phone number
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static pre-configured phone number to a dynamic contact information collection process. Participants can provide their current phone numbers at the time of registration, and the system automatically updates the conference bridge with this information. This allows participants to change locations and phone numbers dynamically without affecting the conference setup.
Data Source
AI summary
A conference call system comprising at least a gateway, a conference reservation agent and a multiport conference unit, can establish conference calls by calling conference call participants at a phone number specified by the conference call participants. When a user initiates a conference, an identifier is assigned to the conference and a URL referencing this identifier is transmitted to each conference participant. Upon clicking the URL, conference participants are presented with a web-form within which the participants can entered a preferred phone number and further join the conference. The multiport conference unit receives each participant phone number and calls the participants at that phone number. Upon establishing a telecommunication connection with each participant, the multiport conference unit bridges the multiple call legs to establish the conference call.