IP Telephony System for Automatic Conference Call Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conference call systems require pre-configuration with participant telephone numbers and rely on the conference call bridge's ability to make outgoing calls, limiting user autonomy and administrative burden, especially when the bridge lacks this capability.
Innovation Solution
An IP telephony system that automates conference call connections by extracting scheduled call information from an individual's electronic calendar, allowing users to be notified and automatically connected to calls without relying on administrators or the bridge's outgoing call capabilities, using a voice interface and communication channel setup units to bridge calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conference call bridge is pre-configured with participant telephone numbers and uses outgoing call capability to connect participants, then participants can be automatically connected without manual dialing, but the system complexity increases and requires administrative configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (separate from the conference call bridge) that automatically dials participants and coordinates their connection to the conference call. This intermediary acts as a mediator between the participant's telephone and the conference call bridge, handling the automatic dialing and connection setup without requiring the bridge itself to have outgoing call capability or be pre-configured with participant numbers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the automatic connection function into separate components: the conference call bridge remains focused on hosting the conference, while a separate automatic dialing system handles participant notification and connection. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function without requiring the bridge to have both conference hosting and outgoing calling capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conference call bridge has outgoing call capability to automatically connect participants, then user autonomy increases, but administrative burden increases due to pre-configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system serves as an autonomous agent that automatically manages participant connections without requiring administrator intervention for configuration. It retrieves participant information from existing sources (email contacts, calendar systems) and handles the entire automatic dialing process independently, eliminating the need for administrators to pre-configure participant numbers in the bridge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables participants to autonomously join conference calls through automated processes. The intermediary system automatically identifies participants, dials their numbers, and connects them to the conference call without requiring manual intervention from either administrators or participants, making the system self-sufficient in managing connections.
3Device complexity
If manual dialing is required for conference call access, then system simplicity is maintained, but user time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system performs preliminary actions by automatically dialing participants and establishing connections before the conference call begins. It proactively notifies participants and initiates the connection process in advance, eliminating the need for participants to manually dial at the last minute and reducing their time commitment.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods notify an individual when the start time of a scheduled conference call is approaching. The systems and methods may also automatically connect the individual to the conference call. The systems and methods may obtain information about one or more scheduled conference calls directly from the individual's electronic calendar. The systems and methods may also receive a request from an individual to be connected to a conference call, and then act to automatically connect the individual to the conference call using information obtained from the individual's electronic calendar.