Establishing a Conference Call from a Call-Log

Abstract

A method for automatically establishing a conference call. The method includes viewing numbers associated with a call log feature of a communication device, selecting desired invitees from the call log using a select key, and conferencing desired invitees together by activating a key. Conference call set-up and connect information may be provisioned in a variety of ways, including via a menu-based dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) mechanism and via a form or formatted file sent from a subscriber. The present method queries a profile database and will connect invitees to a conference based on the directory number associated with the call-log. A method for aiding a subscriber in establishing an automatic conference call that is easy to use and does not require invitee action to connect to a conference bridge.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A telecommunications system for automatically establishing a conference call, comprising:
 a service node operative to
 receive an indication of at least one conference call participant selected from a call-log associated with a communication device, wherein the at least one conference call participant is selectable by a user of the communication device; 
 capture a directory number associated with the at least one conference call participant and create a conference record; 
 maintain conference containers indicative of how the conference record will be processed; 
   a data store operative to
 receive conference logistics; 
   a profile database operative to
 receive participant profile data; and 
   the service node further operative to
 allocate a conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant in accordance with the received conference logistics; and 
 connect a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant to establish the conference call. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the participant profile data includes a current address of the participant, and wherein the service node is further operative to allocate a conference bridge port in accordance with the address of the participant. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the service node is further operative to connect a communication switch port to the allocated conference bridge port in accordance with the conference logistics. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the service node is further operative to determine if there is at least one conference record stored in an immediate conference container and to take immediate steps toward establishing a conference call corresponding to said at least one conference record if determined to be stored in the immediate conference container. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the service node is further operative to examine a conference record stored in a conference container to store conference records corresponding to non-immediate conference calls to determine if the conference record indicates that the time has been reached for establishing the conference call corresponding to the conference record. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the service node is further operative to store said conference record in at least one delayed conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established at a later time or in an immediate conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established immediately. 
     
     
         23 . A method for automatically establishing a conference call, comprising:
 receiving an indication of at least one conference call participant selected from a call-log associated with a communication device, wherein the at least one conference call participant is selectable by a user of the communication device;   capturing a directory number associated with the at least one conference call participant and create a conference record;   maintaining conference containers indicative of how the conference record will be processed;   allocating a conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant in accordance with received conference logistics; and   connecting a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant to establish the conference call.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the participant profile data includes a current address of the participant, and wherein said allocating comprises allocating a conference bridge port in accordance with the address of the participant. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said connecting a communications switch port is performed in accordance with the conference logistics. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 determining if there is at least one conference record stored in an immediate conference container; and   taking immediate steps toward establishing a conference call corresponding to said at least one conference record if at least one conference record is determined to be stored in the immediate conference container.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 examining a conference record stored in a conference container to store conference records corresponding to non-immediate conference calls to determine if the conference record indicates that the time has been reached for establishing the conference call corresponding to the conference record.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 storing said conference record in a delayed conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established at a later time or in an immediate conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established immediately.   
     
     
         29 . A method for automatically establishing a conference call, comprising:
 receiving at least one conference call participant selected from a call-log associated with a communication device;   capturing a directory number associated with the at least one conference call participant and creating a conference record;   maintaining conference containers indicative of how the conference record will be processed, wherein there are at least two said conference containers to contain, respectively, conference records for conferences to be established immediately and conference records for conferences to be established at a later time;   allocating a conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant in accordance with received conference logistics; and   connecting a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant to establish the conference call.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said connecting a communications switch port is performed in accordance with the conference logistics. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 determining if there is at least one conference record stored in an immediate conference container; and   taking immediate steps toward establishing a conference call corresponding to said at least one conference record if at least one conference record is determined to be stored in the immediate conference container.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 examining a conference record stored in a conference container to store conference records corresponding to non-immediate conference calls to determine if the conference record indicates that the time has been reached for establishing the conference call corresponding to the conference record.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 storing said conference record in a delayed conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established at a later time or in an immediate conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established immediately.   
     
     
         34 . A network node comprising:
 an integrated services digital network (ISDN) interface;   a conference bridge; and   a control processor coupled to said ISDN interface and to said conference bridge, and further coupled to a storage medium containing software that, when executed by the control processor, causes the control processor to implement a method of establishing a conference call, the method comprising:   receiving at said ISDN interface at least one conference call participant selected from a call-log associated with a communication device;   capturing a directory number associated with the at least one conference call participant and creating a conference record;   maintaining conference containers indicative of how the conference record will be processed, wherein there are at least two said conference containers to contain, respectively, conference records for conferences to be established immediately and conference records for conferences to be established at a later time;   allocating a port of said conference bridge for the at least one conference call participant in accordance with received conference logistics; and   connecting a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant to establish the conference call.   
     
     
         35 . The node of  claim 34 , wherein said connecting a communications switch port is performed in accordance with the conference logistics. 
     
     
         36 . The node of  claim 34 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 determining if there is at least one conference record stored in an immediate conference container; and   taking immediate steps toward establishing a conference call corresponding to said at least one conference record if at least one conference record is determined to be stored in the immediate conference container.   
     
     
         37 . The node of  claim 34 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 examining a conference record stored in a conference container to store conference records corresponding to non-immediate conference calls to determine if the conference record indicates that the time has been reached for establishing the conference call corresponding to the conference record.   
     
     
         38 . The node of  claim 34 , said method further comprising:
 storing said conference record in a delayed conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established at a later time or in an immediate conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established immediately.   
     
     
         39 . A network node comprising:
 an integrated services digital network (ISDN) interface;   a conference bridge; and   a control processor coupled to said ISDN interface and to said conference bridge, and further coupled to a storage medium containing software that, when executed by the control processor, causes the control processor to implement a method of establishing a conference call, the method comprising:   receiving an indication of at least one conference call participant selected from a call-log associated with a communication device, wherein the at least one conference call participant is selectable by a user of the communication device;   capturing a directory number associated with the at least one conference call participant and create a conference record;   maintaining conference containers indicative of how the conference record will be processed;   allocating a conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant in accordance with received conference logistics; and   connecting a communications switch port to the allocated conference bridge port for the at least one conference call participant to establish the conference call.   
     
     
         40 . The node of  claim 39 , wherein said connecting a communications switch port is performed in accordance with the conference logistics. 
     
     
         41 . The node of  claim 39 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 determining if there is at least one conference record stored in an immediate conference container; and   taking immediate steps toward establishing a conference call corresponding to said at least one conference record if at least one conference record is determined to be stored in the immediate conference container.   
     
     
         42 . The node of  claim 39 , wherein said maintaining comprises:
 examining a conference record stored in a conference container to store conference records corresponding to non-immediate conference calls to determine if the conference record indicates that the time has been reached for establishing the conference call corresponding to the conference record.   
     
     
         43 . The node of  claim 39 , said method further comprising:
 storing said conference record in a delayed conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established at a later time or in an immediate conference container if the conference call corresponding to the conference record is to be established immediately.