Patent ID: 6418214
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A management and control unit for a network-based audio conferencing system, the unit comprising:i) an input interface to a data network, for receiving control signals from at least one first platform for providing a graphical user interface to a user, for use in controlling the network-based conferencing system; ii) an output interface for outputting control signals to a second platform for establishing audio connections across a telecommunications network for use in establishing audio conference connections between users; iii) an interface for providing access to a database for maintaining, including updating, management data relating to one or more existing conferences; and iv) control means, said control means being arranged in use: a) to respond to a control signal received at the input interface in respect of a conference, to output one or more control signals to establish a conference connection; b) to output management data to the database in respect of one or more existing conferences; c) to output management data from the database to the graphical user interface during said one or more existing conferences for use by a user in managing the conference; and d) to proactively determine a status of a user on the basis of time elapsed since receipt of a signal relating to that status and, in the event that the magnitude of the time elapsed satisfies a respective trigger criterion indicative of a change in that status, to include in said management data output to the database an update to a corresponding status data field associated with that user to indicate that change of status.