Telecommunications System Integrating Remote Devices for Conference Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing mobility of individuals and the lack of integrated communication solutions across multiple devices and networks complicate communication, particularly in business settings, where call forwarding and conference calls become cumbersome and often result in loss of enhanced services and inconvenient logistics.
Innovation Solution
A telecommunications system that integrates remote devices into a standard office telephone network, allowing for selective establishment of communications, automatic routing of calls based on user preferences, and the ability to schedule conference calls through an email client using calendar features, enabling seamless communication across multiple devices and networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If call forwarding is used to route calls to multiple devices, then communication reachability is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that manages call routing between the corporate network and remote devices. This intermediary handles the complexity of multi-device forwarding by acting as a central coordinator, allowing calls to be seamlessly routed to multiple devices without requiring complex configuration on each individual device or telephone system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides universal call routing capabilities that work across multiple device types and networks. By creating a unified routing mechanism that can handle various scenarios (single device, multiple devices, sequential routing, simultaneous routing), the system eliminates the need for separate forwarding schemes for each device configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If call forwarding is configured to route calls through multiple devices, then communication flexibility is improved, but loss of enhanced services occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system preserves enhanced services by maintaining the call connection to the corporate network PBX throughout the forwarding process. Unlike traditional forwarding that terminates the call on the final device, this intermediary keeps the call anchored to the corporate network, allowing voicemail, operator assist, and other enhanced services to remain accessible regardless of which remote device ultimately receives the call.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional conference call arrangement methods are used, then conference calling capability is provided, but time consumption and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating and distributing conference call information to all participants before the conference begins. The intermediary system pre-configures the conference call details, sends invitations with connection information to all invitees, and prepares the conference infrastructure in advance, eliminating the need for manual coordination and reducing arrangement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The conference call system provides self-service capabilities where the intermediary automatically manages conference setup, participant invitation, and connection coordination without requiring manual intervention from the conference organizer. The system handles logistics automatically, allowing participants to simply join using provided information rather than requiring complex manual arrangement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If wireless devices are used for mobile communication, then mobility is improved, but loss of enhanced services and increased communication cost occur
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system bridges wireless devices and the corporate network, allowing mobile users to access enhanced services while maintaining mobility. By routing calls through the intermediary rather than directly terminating them on wireless devices, the system preserves access to corporate network services like voicemail and operator assist while enabling communication from any location using wireless devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
An email client method (605) and server (30) that allow a conference organizer to schedule a conference (e.g., conference call) using a calendar feature (700) found in today's email applications. When the email client (700) is installed to work with the user's email application, an option (723) becomes available to allow access to a conferencing scheduling feature. The server (30) is adapted to receive an incoming conference request (600a) via a data message (e.g., email message) and coordinate acceptances (600c) to the request. At the time of the conference, the server (30) retrieves a list of conference participants/attendees and their contact information (620). The server (30) determines whether or not each participant/attendee is a server participant (630). If the participant/attendee is a server participant, the server will initiate the conference by calling the multiple contact numbers associated with the participant/attendee (650). Otherwise, the server will call one contact number associated with the participant/attendee (640).