Patent ID: 6646997
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of large-scale fault-tolerant audio conferencing in a purely packet-switched audio conferencing system, said method comprising the steps of:placing a call from an endpoint to a conference gatekeeper, said call indicating an audio conference; querying a conference allocation and control system from said conference gatekeeper for routing instructions for said audio conference; determining in said conference allocation and control system whether said audio conference is active; selecting in said conference allocation and control system a multiple control unit to host said audio conference when said audio conference is inactive; selecting in said conference allocation and control system a multiple control unit hosting said audio conference when said audio conference is active; responding from said conference allocation and control system to said endpoint with said queried routing instructions, said queried routing instructions indicating said selected multiple control unit; connecting said endpoint to said selected multiple control unit; mixing input from all endpoints in said audio conference to form a voice stream; returning said voice stream to each endpoint in said audio conference; determining in said conference allocation and control system whether the call from said endpoint contains adequate information to establish said audio conference; responding from said conference allocation and control system to said endpoint with routing instructions to an interactive voice response server when there is other than said adequate information to establish said audio conference; connecting said endpoint to said interactive voice response server when there is inadequate information to route said call; gathering in said interactive voice response server, after connecting said endpoint to said interactive voice response server, adequate information to establish said audio conference; and transferring said endpoint from said interactive voice response server to said selected multiple control unit after said interactive voice response server gathers said adequate information.