Identity-based conferencing systems and methods

Abstract

Described in this paper are systems and methods of providing conferencing services where a conference participant is identified by the conferencing system when calling into the system. The system and methods focus on individual users instead of groups of participants. Instead of using a conference identity as the driver, embodiments herein invoke a user identity, and services are personalized for each user. The user has far fewer codes to juggle and all participants enjoy a quicker, richer, and more secure experience.

1 ) A method of conferencing comprising:
 receiving by a conferencing system configured to concurrently host a plurality of conferences one or more user identities, wherein said user identity includes one or more data items that identify a user;   receiving by said conferencing system conference information, wherein said conference information includes at least one of said data items for each conference participant and an anticipated start time;   receiving by said conferencing system a call from a prospective conference participant and determining a caller identifier for the prospective conference participant from call data and a call time for said call;   comparing the caller identifier to the data items in each said user identity to identify said prospective conference participant;   comparing the caller identifier or the data items of an identified prospective conference participant to the conference data to determine one or more of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate; and   if there is only one conference having said anticipated start time proximate to said call time in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate, then placing said identified prospective conference participant in said conference or giving said identified prospective conference participant an option to enter said conference, else if there is more than one conference having start times proximate to said call time in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate then;
 allowing said identified prospective conference participant to selectively choose any of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate. 
   
   
   
       2 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data items that identify a user comprise one or more E-mail addresses or one or more telephone numbers. 
   
   
       3 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving by said conferencing system conference information of at least one of said data items for each conference participant comprises receiving at least one E-mail address for each conference participant. 
   
   
       4 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving by said conferencing system conference information, wherein said conference information includes at least one of said data items for each conference participant and an anticipated start time, comprises receiving said conference information via E-mail. 
   
   
       5 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the caller identifier to the data items in each said user identity to identify said prospective conference participant further comprises receiving a user identity from said prospective conference participant that includes one or more data items that identify the prospective conference participant if said caller identifier is not found in the data items of each said user identity. 
   
   
       6 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the caller identifier is determined by caller ID or ANI. 
   
   
       7 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the caller identifier or the data items of an identified prospective conference participant to the conference data to determine one or more of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate further comprises determining that said identified prospective conference participant is not invited to participate in any schedule conference and allowing said prospective conference participant into a conference by receiving a conference code from said prospective conference participant. 
   
   
       8 ) A system for providing conferencing services comprising:
 a memory configured for storing data related to a plurality of users and a plurality of conferences;   a processor, coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured for performing the steps comprising:
 receiving by a conferencing system configured to concurrently host a plurality of conferences one or more user identities, wherein said user identity includes one or more data items that identify a user; 
 receiving by said conferencing system conference information, wherein said conference information includes at least one of said data items for each conference participant and an anticipated start time; 
 receiving by said conferencing system a call from a prospective conference participant and determining a caller identifier for the prospective conference participant from call data and a call time for said call; 
 comparing the caller identifier to the data items in each said user identity to identify said prospective conference participant; 
 comparing the caller identifier or the data items of an identified prospective conference participant to the conference data to determine one or more of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate; and 
 if there is only one conference having said anticipated start time proximate to said call time in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate, then placing said identified prospective conference participant in said conference or giving said identified prospective conference participant an option to enter said conference, else if there is more than one conference having start times proximate to said call time in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate, then; 
 allowing said identified prospective conference participant to selectively choose any of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate. 
   
   
   
       9 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein said data items that identify a user comprise one or more E-mail addresses or one or more telephone numbers. 
   
   
       10 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein receiving by said conferencing system conference information of at least one of said data items for each conference participant comprises receiving at least one E-mail address for each conference participant. 
   
   
       11 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein receiving by said conferencing system conference information, wherein said conference information includes at least one of said data items for each conference participant and an anticipated start time, comprises receiving said conference information via E-mail. 
   
   
       12 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein comparing the caller identifier to the data items in each said user identity to identify said prospective conference participant further comprises receiving a user identity from said prospective conference participant that includes one or more data items that identify the prospective conference participant if said caller identifier is not found in the data items of each said user identity. 
   
   
       13 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein the caller identifier is determined by caller ID or ANI. 
   
   
       14 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein comparing the caller identifier or the data items of an identified prospective conference participant to the conference data to determine one or more of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate further comprises determining that said identified prospective conference participant is not invited to participate in any schedule conference and allowing said prospective conference participant into a conference by receiving a conference code from said prospective conference participant. 
   
   
       15 . A computer program product for providing conference services, wherein the computer program product comprises at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
 a first executable portion for receiving by a conferencing system configured to concurrently host a plurality of conferences one or more user identities, wherein said user identity includes one or more data items that identify a user;
 a second executable portion for receiving by said conferencing system conference information, wherein said conference information includes at least one of said data items for each conference participant and an anticipated end time; 
 a third executable portion for receiving by said conferencing system a call from a prospective conference participant and determining a caller identifier for the prospective conference participant from call data and a call time for said call; comparing the caller identifier to the data items in each said user identity to identify said prospective conference participant, comparing the caller identifier or the data items of an identified prospective conference participant to the conference data to determine one or more of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate; and 
 a fourth executable portion for determining if there is only one conference having said anticipated start time proximate to said call time in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate, then placing said identified prospective conference participant in said conference or giving said identified prospective conference participant an option to enter said conference, else if there is more than one conference having start times proximate to said call time in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate then;
 allowing said identified prospective conference participant to selectively choose any of said plurality of conferences in which the identified prospective conference participant is invited to participate. 
 
   
   
   
       16 ) The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said data items that identify a user comprise one or more E-mail addresses or one or more telephone numbers. 
   
   
       17 ) The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein receiving by said conferencing system conference information of at least one of said data items for each conference participant comprises receiving at least one E-mail address for each conference participant. 
   
   
       18 ) The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein receiving by said conferencing system conference information, wherein said conference information includes at least one of said data items for each conference participant and an anticipated start time, comprises receiving said conference information via E-mail. 
   
   
       19 ) The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein comparing the caller identifier to the data items in each said user identity to identify said prospective conference participant further comprises receiving a user identity from said prospective conference participant that includes one or more data items that identify the prospective conference participant if said caller identifier is not found in the data items of each said user identity. 
   
   
       20 ) The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the caller identifier is determined by caller ID or ANI.