Patent · US Expired

System and method for conference call consolidation

US6801612B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by

5References

21Claims

0Family size

Assignee

International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

Jerry Walter Malcolm · Austin, US
Cornell G. Wright, Jr. · Austin, US

Key dates

Filing date	Nov 21, 2002
Grant date	Oct 5, 2004
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 27, 2023

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04M3/42314
WIPO fieldTelecommunications
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Provided is a system and method for consolidating telephone calls from more than one individual to a single, remote conference call provider through a telephone switch such that the multiple calls utilize a single telephone connection between the individuals' location and the conference call provider. A private branch exchange (PBX) or other type of switch detects attempts by multiple local callers to reach a designated conference call number and multiplexes those calls. In one embodiment, at least one of the conference call participants is coupled to the switch via a network, such as the Internet, using an Internet protocol (IP) telephone connection.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.