Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) location based conferencing

Abstract

A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device uses its location to narrow down known and unknown potential VoIP third parties meeting the user's criteria, based on their physical proximity to the initial caller and other pre-determined characteristics, to join in a phone conference. A VoIP soft switch includes conference bridges that eliminate the conventional requirement that they dial digits for a direct link with another specific VoIP communications device. Instead, location information relating to the initial VoIP user is passed to the VoIP conference bridge, either from the user's VoIP communication device or from their respective location server. The location information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch against other VoIP devices to find potential VoIP users within a defined geographic region surrounding the initial VoIP user. Those VoIP users matching the criteria are sent an Invite message to join the conference, which they may or may not accept.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server, comprising:
 a conference bridge established pursuant to receipt of a conference request from a conference-requesting VoIP device;   a user position module to receive a geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device;   a location-based conference participant filtering module to determine a plurality of inviteable VoIP devices that are both within a given geographic boundary, and satisfy a user customized VoIP conference participation criteria portion included in said conference request; and   a conference invitation module to transmit a conference invitation to each of said inviteable VoIP devices.   
   
   
       15 . The Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said given geographic boundary is centered about said geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device.   
   
   
       16 . The Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device is obtained from a physical location server.   
   
   
       17 . The Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device is obtained from said conference-requesting VoIP device itself.   
   
   
       18 . The Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of inviteable VoIP devices comprise:
 a plurality of mobile VoIP phones.   
   
   
       19 . A method of establishing a conference with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server, comprising:
 establishing a conference bridge pursuant to receipt of a conference request from a conference-requesting VoIP device;   receiving a geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device;   determining a plurality of inviteable VoIP devices that are both within a given geographic boundary, and satisfy a user customized VoIP conference participation criteria portion included in said conference request; and   transmitting a conference invitation to each of said inviteable VoIP devices.   
   
   
       20 . The method of establishing a conference with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said given geographic boundary is centered about said geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device.   
   
   
       21 . The method of establishing a conference with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device is obtained from a physical location server.   
   
   
       22 . The method of establishing a conference with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said geographic position of said conference-requesting VoIP device is obtained from said conference-requesting VoIP device itself.   
   
   
       23 . The method of establishing a conference with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server according to  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of inviteable VoIP devices comprise:
 a plurality of mobile VoIP phones.