Patent ID: 8611521
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a user interface hosted by a computer configured to receive a request from a first user for establishment of an audio conference call, the user interface configured to receive a plurality of participant information from the first user, the participant information including audio contact information for each one of the participants; transmitting an electronic notification message from the computer to the first user and to at least one of the participants indicating the audio conference call; transmitting a command from the computer to a conference bridge controller to establish an audio telephone call to a phone device associated with the first user that is separate from the computer and to a phone device associated with the at least one of the participants that is separate from the computer, based at least in part on a response to the electronic notification message provided by the at least one of the participants; receiving an indication at the computer from the conference bridge controller that the audio telephone call to the first user and to the at least one of the participants is answered; and providing an indication on the user interface to the first user and to the at least one of the participants of the real-time status of each participant of the audio telephone call wherein the real-time status of each participant is controlled at least in part by the first user, wherein the first user has control capabilities comprising locking the audio telephone call, selectively muting one or more participants and selectively disconnecting one or more participants; wherein the first user communicates informational data via the user interface to one or more of the participants during the audio telephone call wherein the first user controls the informational data viewable by each of the one or more participants, wherein the informational data includes at least one of figures, text, or images provided by the first user.