Patent ID: 7505574
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for providing and utilizing an improved communications channel for establishing and maintaining a telephone conference, the method comprising: receiving at a client computer a request to initiate a telephone conference, said request identifying two or more participants for the telephone conference; in response to the request, transmitting an instant message including data for establishing the telephone conference between the participants to an instant messaging server computer; receiving the instant message at the instant messaging server computer; forwarding the instant message to a telephone conference gateway computer; receiving the instant message at the telephone conference gateway computer, extracting from the instant message the data for establishing the telephone conference, creating a web services request based on the data, and executing the web services request in order to establish the telephone conference; and receiving at the telephone conference gateway computer an indication that a telephone call has been placed to one of the participants and that the telephone call is in a ringing state.