Abstract:
A method and system are provided in which teleconference calls are scheduled in advance and, at an appropriate predetermined time, calls are automatically made to the designated participants of the conference calls thereby avoiding the need for the participants to call into a teleconference center. In a preferred embodiment, when teconferences are scheduled, the telecon participants are designated and their phone numbers are input or otherwise determined, for example, through access to a centralized database. A calendar is monitored and at a predetermined time relative to the scheduled start of the telecon, a server system application initiates the calling of the participants for connection to the telecon. The system may be configured to require participants to enter a password before the connection is completed. The status of the called participants is determined and displayed on individual display devices of the other participants in the telecon. In one example, designated participants are called back at selected intervals if the initial automated call is unanswered.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to information processing systems and more particularly to a system and methodology for enabling automatic calling of participants for scheduled conference calls. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Because the workday is often hectic, people rush from one activity to another. Consequently, they are often late dialing into teleconferences or “telecons”. This problem is aggravated when they need to find the phone number within a calendar entry for the telecon to dial in. In their haste, it is not unusual for simple mistakes to be made, such as looking at the wrong calendar entry, mis-dialing the phone number, neglecting to dial a leading digit for external calls, misreading and entering the wrong passcode, etc. 
         [0003]    These types of problems can exist no matter what type of communications devices are being utilized. For example, even utilizing a combination of teleconferencing and Instant Messaging through Voice over Internet Protocol or “VoIP”, teleconference participants will continue to experience the difficulties described above. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need for an improved teleconferencing system and methodology for enabling automatic set-up of teleconference calls to participants in scheduled teleconferences. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A method and system are provided in which teleconference calls are scheduled in advance and, at an appropriate predetermined time, calls are automatically made to the designated participants of the conference calls thereby avoiding the need for the participants to call into a teleconference center. In a preferred embodiment, when teconferences are scheduled, telecon participants are designated and their phone numbers are input or otherwise determined, for example, through access to a centralized database. A calendar is monitored and at a predetermined time relative to the scheduled start of the telecon, a server system application initiates the calling of the participants for connection to the telecon. The status of the called participants is determined and displayed on individual display devices of the other participants in the telecon. In one example, designated participants are called back at selected intervals if the initial automated call is unanswered. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an overall system schematic illustrating an exemplary arrangement in which the present invention may be implemented; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of several of the components of a user terminal device which may be used by a participant; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an example of an input display screen which may be used in scheduling teleconferences in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an example of a status display screen which may be used in association with the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary functional sequence in one implementation of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    It is noted that circuits and devices which are shown in block form in the drawings are generally known to those skilled in the art, and are not specified to any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention. 
         [0013]    As herein disclosed, the present invention enables users to configure their VoIP support to provide automated ‘dialing’ to connect all participants to a telecon. VoIP support would connect to all participants based on information contained in an application calendar entry and the connection number information contained in centralized profiles, for example. The task of dialing into a telecon would be relegated to a centralized dial-in system. This functions by having the central system attempt to connect to all users rather than have the users dial in to a central number. This will not only be a valuable usability aid, it will also reduce the chance of user error. The person who schedules the VoIP teleconference would setup and send the meeting notice. In the meeting notice would be the names of the participants and a central number (e.g., 1-877-IBM-CONF) that continues to act as the focal point to the meeting. Normally, each user dials into a telecon by initially dialing into the telecon number and giving a passcode. The invention would move the tasks of dialing into a VoIP telecon away from each user and have the system call out to participants. Instead of each VoIP telecon participant manually dialing into the telecon, the system would use individual profiles of participants from one or more central directories or databases to determine or confirm the connection number of each participant and initiate a call to each participant. In an exemplary implementation, when the system first initiates the telecon call-out procedure, a popup would appear listing the names of each of the invited participants in a ‘gray-out’ format. As participants answered the call, their popup entry would changed from grayed to black (or some other configurable color) for a quick indication of their connected status. The status of those who have not answered (still grayed out) would be available in more detail by right clicking over the invitee&#39;s name. Doing so would present more detailed information concerning the called participant&#39;s status. 
         [0014]    The system can be configured to continue attempting to connect. For example, retries can be configured to repeat continuously until the meeting is scheduled to end, retry  5  (more or less) times, retry every  6  minutes for  3  additional attempts, etc. Participants that could not respond at their profiled number could still call-in themselves using conventional methods. Passcodes could still be used to verify the identity of respondents. 
         [0015]    With specific reference to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a system in which the present invention may be implemented. As shown, a teleconference server or call center  101  is arranged to include or have access to a conference calendar application  115  which, in turn, is designed to receive and store input regarding a scheduled telecon and to initiate the conference call to the designated participants at the scheduled time. The server  101  also has access to one or more databases  113  for retrieving and/or confirming information, including phone numbers, of the designated participants. As is hereinafter explained in greater detail, the conference server is enabled to initiate a scheduled conference call to designated participants through an interconnection network  103  such as, for example, the Internet. In accordance with the present invention, calls are automatically placed to participants A  105 , B  107 , C  109  and D  111  in the illustration. The devices used to participate in the teleconference may be personal computers, cell phones or any other device which has voice capabilities and is VoIP enabled. In one embodiment of the present invention, display capabilities are also utilized to enhance the functional features of the teleconferencing system disclosed herein. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , an exemplary user teleconferencing device, e.g.  105 , includes, inter alia, a processor  201  which is coupled to a main bus  203 . Other components that are connected to the main bus  203  include a cache memory  205 , and a system memory  207  which may be implemented with flash memory. The system also may include a CD drive  209  for example in a PC embodiment, and a modem or wireless communication system  210  capable of connecting to the conference server  101  through the interconnection network  103 . The user device  105  also includes an input interface  211  for enabling user input from a keyboard or keypad  213 , a mouse or pointer device  215  and/or a voice system  216  including a microphone for receiving voice input from the user. A network interface  217  is also connected to the main bus  203  along with a storage device  218  a sound subsystem  224  and a video subsystem  225  and associated display device  226 . Other components and/or subsystems may also be connected to the main bus  203  as indicated by the extended bus sections. 
         [0017]    In  FIG. 3 , there is shown an exemplary input display screen by which a user may schedule a teleconference to be set-up at the conference server  101 . As shown, a display screen  301  is presented to a user and the user is enabled to input the date  303  of the proposed teleconference, the time  305  of the telecon, as well as the names of the participants  307  whom the user wishes to have participate in the scheduled telecon. The user is enabled to input specific names  309  as well as the participant&#39;s phone number  311 . If a phone number is not known to the user or scheduler, the input line is left blank  313  and the system will access an appropriate database with the input name to determine the appropriate phone number and fill-in the phone number. The system may also be configured to present as a pop-up window on the scheduling screen, a listing of individuals names and numbers if the database check determines that there are more than one person with the input name, in order to enable the scheduler to positively select the desired participant. Also presented on the scheduling screen is the conference number  315  to be known by the designated participants. In one example, a password feature may also be included. With the password feature, the system will dial and connect to the participants, but will not allow a voice connection until the correct password is entered and verified. The conference number should be known to the participants in case they will not be at their designated phone at the time of the scheduled call. Participant call-back options  319  are also presented to the scheduler for use in designating further actions in the event the designated participant does not respond to the automated teleconference set-up call. The scheduler may point-and-click  317  on the CALL BACK OPTIONS text  319  to have a pop-up window  321  appear. The scheduler may then select from several options which may be presented including an option  323  to continuously call back a designated participant for the full duration of the scheduled conference call if the scheduled participant does not respond to the conference set-up call from the server  101 . Another option  325  would designate that the un-responding participant is to be called-back every  5  minutes for three times, for example. When the scheduler has made his selections, an ENTER button  327  will input the call-back selections made by the scheduler. A subsequent selection of an ENTER text  329  will enter all of the information input by the scheduler for subsequent automatic implementation at the time the conference call is to occur. The system may be configured to begin to make the conference call connections a certain number of minutes prior to the scheduled time of the conference so that all of the participants will be on line or connected when the telecon is to begin. 
         [0018]    At the designated date  303  and time  305 , the server is programmed to make the calls to the designated teleconference participants  309 . At that time, a status screen  401 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is displayed to all connected participants as they are connected to the call. The status screen  401 , in the example, includes the date  403 , time  405  and designated participants  407  to the call in name, number and status columns  409 ,  411  and  413 . As shown, the missing phone number  313  in the set-screen  301  has been located in the database  113  by the program and filled-into the status screen  412 . In the  FIG. 4  example, Galvin  415  and James  417  are not yet connected and their names are displayed in light text as well as being noted as “NOT CONNECTED”  419  and  421 , respectively. Also in the example, since Jones and Smith have been connected, the status column corresponding to their names shows a “CONNECTED” status and their names are emboldened on the status screen. A user is enable to point-and-click  423  on the “NON-CONNECTED” text  421  in order to have a pop-up screen  425  appear to present more information regarding the reason for the unconnected status of the designated participant. As shown, possible reasons include that there was no answer  427 , or the line was busy  429  or that the call was connected but later dropped for some reason  431 . The connected participants are also enabled to change the call back options  433  from the status screen by pointing-and-clicking on the CALL BACK OPTIONS text  433  as discussed in connection with  FIG. 3 . Once a designated participant has been connected, the corresponding light text will become emboldened to visually indicate the connected status of the participant. 
         [0019]    A functional sequence of the methodology of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown, when it is determined by the conference server  101  and conference calendar application  115  that a scheduled teleconference is to begin  501 , the server  101  retrieves the conference information  503  and initiates calls  505  to the designated participants. If a called participant does not connect  507 , the reason for the non-connect is determined and saved  509  and all active status displays are updated  511  to indicate that a connection has not been made. The next uncalled participant is then called  505 . When a participant is connected  507 , the status information is updated  513  and if the participant has a display, the updated status information screen  401  is displayed on the connected participant&#39;s display screen. If there are more uncalled participants  515  the next participant is called  505  by the server  101  until all of the designated participants have been called. When there are no more uncalled designated participants  515 , the process goes to implement the input call-back programming  517  as determined by default or by the scheduler, e.g.  321 . 
         [0020]    The method and apparatus of the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment as disclosed herein. The disclosed methodology may be implemented in a wide range of sequences, menus and screen designs to accomplish the desired results as herein illustrated. Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art, and even included or integrated into a processor or CPU or other larger system integrated circuit or chip. The disclosed methodology may also be implemented solely or partially in program code stored on a CD, disk or diskette (portable or fixed), memory stick or other memory device, from which it may be loaded into memory and executed to achieve the beneficial results as described herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.