Abstract:
A teleconferencing system has a teleconference bridge provided by software executing on one or more computerized servers in a network, the bridge having an access telephone number or address, and a plurality of signal processing banks coupled to the teleconference bridge. The bridge answers incoming calls with an automated message asking for a conference code, assigns a specific bank of processors having a specific maximum call capacity for a teleconference associated with a first incoming call asserting a specific conference code, connects a second incoming call asserting the same conference code in live conference with the first incoming call asserting the same code, connects further incoming calls asserting the same conference code in conference with the first two, tracks the number of calls in a conference as further calls are connected, and connects further banks of processors one-at-a-time as maximum call capacity in already-connected banks is reached.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation application of copending case Ser. No. 12/100,844, filed on Apr. 10, 2008, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/922,525, filed on Apr. 10, 2007 and entitled “Diner Conferencing and Anonymous Telephony”, disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety at least by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the field of telecommunications and pertains particularly to a system and methods for facilitating teleconferencing. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0005]    In the field of telephony, more and more people are practicing teleconferencing in order to conduct business, learn subject matter, or to socially interact. A teleconferencing session is a group telephony connection or session typically hosted by a teleconferencing bridge capable of isolating users into a group of communicators over one or more channels reserved for the purpose. In typical application, a teleconference service provider allots one or more dial-in telephone numbers to a conference facility like a conference bridge for enabling a multi-party connection. Multi-party connection is generally defined as a group of more than three participants, therefore requiring a conference facility to connect them all in a single session. 
         [0006]    A teleconference may be initiated by an organizer who first reserves or schedules a facility from a service provider and obtains one or more conference numbers, access number(s) and pass codes from the provider for authenticating users and enabling them to participate. In a simple case, a conference number is dialed followed by a conference access code to identify a scheduled conference room and a pass code to authenticate the participants. The service provider or the organizer may notify participants of the scheduled event and may provide the dialup telephone number, room or session number (access code) and personal identification number (PIN), or pass code so that when the participants call in they may be registered at the bridge to join the conference. Often an electronic voice-enabled host greets the users and asks each user for the correct code or codes to gain access to the session often referred to as a conference room. Teleconferencing may include video, chat, texting and other functions as well due to the more recent melding of telephone and Internet Protocol (IP) capabilities. 
         [0007]    A service hosted teleconferencing facility employs typical security measures to protect sessions for security breach by unrelated third parties. Firstly, each participant must authenticate using a unique number or pass code in addition to dialing the access number to the bridge. Virtual Private Networking (VPN) protocols, Secure Socket Layering (SSL), data encryption, firewall, and other measures may also be a background part of the security for a meeting. In some respects these measures may be configurable or selectable from the viewpoint of the conferencing client based on security needs. 
         [0008]    One major drawback of existing services is that a conference client, typically a subscriber to the service, must reserve bridge services ahead of time. The service may require knowledge of the total number of participants ahead of the event. Another problem is that conference-bridging facilities comprise hard or soft switches that have stated capacities and limitations to the number of users that may participate in a given session. Another challenge is that some communication devices and software are not compatible with all services such as VPN access and the like. 
         [0009]    More recently, companies have developed systems and methods for making teleconferencing more of a publically accessible tool but failed to go far enough to make teleconferencing a truly practical solution for communicating. 
         [0010]    The inventor is aware of several attempts made in the art to make teleconferencing more user-friendly to the public such as by enhancing security, providing “free conferencing” based on shared revenue, and making access easier from a public network. However, none of these address the central issues of flexibility, usability, and security from the participant/client point of view. Reference is given to some of these applications described in the background section of the priority document incorporated in its entirety by reference in this specification. 
         [0011]    As described above, all of the existing systems still require at least some pre-knowledge of parameters of a scheduled or impending conference at the service host and equipment provided for connecting participants. Therefore, what is needed in the art is a system and methods for facilitating teleconferencing on the fly without requiring any service/host or equipment pre-notification of the event. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In an embodiment of the present invention a teleconferencing system is provided, comprising a teleconference bridge provided by software executing on one or more computerized servers in a network, the bridge having an access telephone number or address, and a plurality of signal processing banks coupled to the teleconference bridge and providing digital resources for managing teleconferences. The bridge answers incoming calls with an automated message asking for a conference code, assigns a specific bank of processors having a specific maximum call capacity for a teleconference associated with a first incoming call asserting a specific conference code, connects a second incoming call asserting the same conference code in live conference with the first incoming call asserting the same code, connects further incoming calls asserting the same conference code in conference with the first two, tracks the number of calls in a conference as further calls are connected, and connects further banks of processors one-at-a-time as maximum call capacity in already-connected banks is reached. In one embodiment the bridge, as calls are terminated, reduces the number of connected banks of processors to handle the total number of calls in a conference. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the invention a teleconferencing method is provided, comprising the steps of: (a) automatically requesting a conference code from a first incoming call by a teleconference bridge provided by software executing on one or more computerized servers in a network, the bridge having an access telephone number or address; (b) assigning a first bank of processors having a specific maximum call capacity to a conference associated with the conference code asserted; (c) connecting a second incoming call asserting the same conference code in live conference with the first incoming call; (d) connecting further incoming calls asserting the same conference code in live conference with the first two; (e) tracking the number of calls in a conference as further calls are connected; and (f) connecting further banks of processors one-at-a-time as maximum call capacity in already-connected banks is reached. In one embodiment the bridge, as calls are terminated, reduces the number of connected banks of processors to handle the total number of calls in a conference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is and architectural overview of a telecommunications network that supports teleconferencing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a message or media containing participant instruction for joining a teleconference according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for inviting participants to teleconference. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for managing conferencing groups in real time according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for notification of new participants in a conference according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The inventor provides a system and architecture for facilitating voice teleconferencing in a manner that does not require any pre-knowledge of a pending session at the teleconferencing facility and whereby there is no strict channel or switching limitation on the number of participants that may join a single session. The system and methods of the invention are described below according to the following embodiments. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an architectural overview of a telecommunications network  100  that supports teleconferencing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Network  100  includes a public-switched-telephone-network (PSTN)  101  connected to a wireless telephone network (WTN)  102 , both networks having connection to a data packet network (DPN)  103 , which may be the Internet network. One with skill in the art of telephony will appreciate and recognizes recent advances in communications technology allowing for the seamless bridging of otherwise disparate communications networks for the purpose of enhancing network communication in the art. 
         [0021]    Network  100  is supported by bridging facilities between the sub-networks. The term bridge shall mean any bridging facility provided for transferring communication between two networks and may include components such as routers, gateways, and other types of network bridges adapted for the purpose. A bridge  111  serves as a communications gateway between WTN  102  and DPN  103 . A bridge  112  serves as a communications gateway between WTN  102  and PSTN  101 . A bridge  113  serves as a communications gateway between PSTN  101  and DPN  103 . 
         [0022]    DPN  103  is further illustrated by a network backbone  125  that represents all of the lines, equipment and access points making up the network as a whole. In a case of Internet network  103  there are no geographic limitations to the practice of the present invention. DPN  103  may be referred to as Internet  103  in this example. DPN  103  may also be a local area network (LAN) or some other wide area network (WAN) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]    A network server  110  is illustrated within Internet  103  and connected to backbone  125 . Server  110  may represent a contact server, a messaging server, an advertisement server, or the like that may be leveraged in the practice of the invention. Generic server  110  may refer to all of the variances of network server. A user  108  is illustrated in this example having a computer  107  connected to Internet backbone  125  by any Internet access line. There are many known methods for network access including direct line, dial-up, cable modem, broadband, and so on. The exact connection procedure that is used to enable computer  107  to enjoy access to Internet  103  is not relevant to the present invention. 
         [0024]    User  108  is wearing a generic telephony headset that is connected by cable to computer  107  for the purpose of enabling the user to practice telephony. It may be assumed that computer  107  has a telephony application and dialer installed thereon and that computer  107  and headset  108  comprise a telephony communications device in one embodiment. 
         [0025]    In this example, user  108  has generated a message (Msg.)  109  that will be sent over DPN  103  to potential teleconference participants. User  108  is therefore a teleconference event organizer in this example. A user may organize a teleconference from any point in any of the illustrated networks. User  108  is illustrated as an organizer for discussion purposes only. 
         [0026]    PSTN  101  may instead be a private telephone network without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The inventor prefers to illustrate PSTN  101  as a preferred network because of its high public access characteristic and familiarity to most users, which is an advantage of the present invention. PSTN  101  contains a service control point (SCP)  106  representing a telephone switch adapted to route incoming calls represented generally by an arrow to a computer-telephony-integrated (CTI) telephone switch  114 . Incoming calls may also arrive directly to switch  114  bypassing any SCP. 
         [0027]    Switch  114  may be a private branch exchange (PBX). Switch  114  is enhanced for intelligent call processing by a CTI processor  117  illustrated logically as an external processor connected to switch  114  by CTI link. CTI processor  117  is also connected to an integrated digital voice platform (IDVP) interface  115  known to the inventor. IDVP  115  is adapted to receive calls routed thereto by switch  114 . IDVP  115  may have one or more access numbers recognized by switch  114  as destination numbers. Callers arriving at switch  114  may be routed to IDVP  115  by recognition of the number called. In this example, IDVP  115  serves as a teleconferencing facility. IDVP  115 , switch  114 , and CTI processor or server  117  may all be contained on one piece of equipment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The representation made here is logical only and does not imply any exact connection architecture. 
         [0028]    A single service provider  105  that provides telephony-based teleconferencing services may host switch  114 , CTI server or router  117 , and IDVP  115 . In this example, IDVP  115  includes several digital signal processing (DSP) banks  116  that are adapted to host teleconferencing sessions. Other known types of teleconferencing equipment such as switch-based or software-based teleconferencing bridges may be used to practice the invention in part, however IDVP  115  represents a unique approach to flexible teleconference session management that does not exist in current practice. In one embodiment IDVP  115  a digital voice communications controller including a handler for handling incoming events from the network arriving through a port connected to a voice interface coupled to a network. 
         [0029]    A user location  104  is illustrated in this example and represents any physical location of a user that may participate in teleconferencing according to embodiments of the invention. Location  104  may be any home or office location or a publicly accessible location. A user operating from location  104  has access to a computer  118  capable of accessing network  103  and a telephone  123 . Telephone  123  is connected to switch  114  in PSTN  101  via telephone service line. Computer  118  has access to network  103  through PSTN using a telephone line such as using a dial-up modem and an Internet service provider (ISP). Other methods for connecting computer  118  to DPN  103  are available and known to the inventor. 
         [0030]    WTN  102  represents any wireless carrier network through which the PSTN network and the Internet network may be accessed. Network  102  includes standard components such as a cell tower  120  a transceiver  122  connected to a wireless service provider  124 . It is duly noted herein that service provider  105  is not limited to providing teleconferencing services based in PSTN  101 . Such services may be based in network  103  or in network  102  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. A cellular telephone  121  is illustrated in communication on WTN  102  and may be assumed capable of accessing network  103  using an Internet or network access service that may be provided by WSP  124 . 
         [0031]    The architecture of communications network  100  should be construed as illustrative for discussion purposes only as one skilled in the art will agree that variances in the architecture and methods for connecting devices may vary widely. The inventor intends to illustrate the flexibility of access and notification relative to organizing and accessing digital teleconference sessions according to various embodiments of the invention, one of which includes the unique teleconference facility  115  (IDVP). 
         [0032]    In practice of the invention, organizer  108  may decide to schedule a teleconference opportunity to occur at some future date and time. Any teleconference facility may participate by hosting the teleconference. A unique aspect of scheduling a teleconference according to an aspect of the invention is that user  108  is not required to notify or coordinate with any teleconferencing facility or service in order to schedule a teleconference session. 
         [0033]    In one aspect user  108  may create a conference code for use in establishing a teleconference in a facility and for locating the teleconference for users who dial in to the facility. User  108  may also create a pass code used to authenticate any users who dial into a facility and punch in or speak the conference code into an interactive interface at the facility. The only parameter that is provided by the teleconference facility is the access number enabling callers to connect to the facility for service. In this regard, the facility has no idea of when any teleconferences are scheduled or how many participants will be involved in teleconference sessions. 
         [0034]    In one aspect of the invention, the teleconferencing facility has conference bridging equipment that has certain limitations on how many participants may engage in a session. This limit may be somewhat flexible patching chaining conference bridge switches together if need be to provide more channels for users. In another aspect, there are no limitations other than bandwidth for processing the communication channels. This is the case with IDVP  115  and processor banks  116 . In either case, callers are treated “on the fly” and are not expected by the service provider before they call in. Therefore, resources at the bridging facility are allotted based on the current demand of callers. 
         [0035]    Organizer  108  may send a message, create an advertisement, post a schedule, or create a semi-permanent invitation containing all of the required parameters that users may need to connect to and access the teleconference. In this example organizer  108  sends message  109  to an operator of location  104  and to cellular telephone  121 , the message appearing as message  119  on computer  118  at location  104  and not illustrated on cellular telephone  121 . The message may be an email message, a voice message, an instant message, a shot message service (SMS) message or some other form. For example, computer  118  may receive an email message while phone  121  receives a voice message. 
         [0036]    Electronic messaging, publishing, advertising, telephone, flyer, mailing, or electronic posting or a combination thereof may be preferred methods of notification of an upcoming teleconference for especially large teleconferences like board meetings, lectures, sales meetings, and the like. The exact form of notification chosen may also depend on the rules of the teleconference. For example, if pass codes are used to authenticate invitees then a more private notification method may be preferred. If a teleconference is open to anyone, then public posting or public advertising may be used to convey the invite. 
         [0037]    The user operating computer  118  may use telephone  123  to dial the facility access number. The user operating cell phone  121  may dial the access number using the same or a different telephone. Other devices that are enabled for telephony may also be used to practice the invention. Callers may also access facility  115  from Internet  103  by using computer telephony applications and headsets. Internet protocol (IP) telephony can be used to reach any access number. On one embodiment, server  110  is a contact server having a page therein that displays a contact number posted for a teleconference. On with a computer such as computer  107  may access facility  115  through server  110  or directly. 
         [0038]    In this embodiment, switch  114  first processes all calls destined to one or more numbers assigned to facility  115 . In one aspect, direct inward dialing (DID) is used to route calls to the teleconference facility  115 . Other standard telephony information gathering services might also apply. For example, organizer  108  may publish one access number to a facility that is hosting several simultaneous teleconferences. IVR presentation might be made to callers dialing that access number so that they may select which conference to join. An example of such as service might be speed dating by telephone. 
         [0039]    Greater security can be enforced by using more than one pass code per participant or by lengthening the conference codes and or pass codes with the concept that more digits are harder to guess for one who does not have the code and is attempting to join a teleconference. Encrypted codes may also be used wherein the facility decrypts the code and provides the correct conference and pass code. The concept is somewhat like a diner hence the term diner conferencing used and explained in the priority document incorporated herein at least by reference and identified in the cross-reference to related documents section of this specification. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a message or media  200  containing participant instruction for joining a teleconference according to an embodiment of the present invention. Message  200  is analogous to message  109  and  119  described above. In this example, the message contains a to, from, and subject line and a message body like that of an email message or SMS message. In this case, the message notifies a participant that they are invited to a teleconference giving the date and time. 
         [0041]    The message contains all of the information required to join the conference. An access number  201  is the only piece of information obtained from a service provider and it is the telephone number or address of the conference facility. The facility might have a universal resource locator in the case of a facility accessible through Web services. The conference organizer provides a conference code and a pass code included in the instructions. At the time of a teleconference, the organizer may be the first to register at a facility and may provide the conference code and pass code at that time if the facility will thereafter perform authentication. At any rate, the facility will allot processing resources according to conference code (conference nomenclature). In this way, the facility may associate subsequent callers to the correct teleconference. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, message  200  is an advertisement or some other form of visible media that can be distributed or published. There are many possible avenues for notification. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a process flow chart illustrating steps  300  for inviting participants to teleconference. At step  301 , an organizer initiates a teleconference. At this stage in the process a conference facility is unaware of the undertaking. At step  302  the organizer determines if notification will be made through messaging. If yes at step  302  the organizer identifies participants. Selecting participants from an address list directory, or book is typical for messaging. 
         [0044]    If the organizer determines not to use messaging art step  302 , then at step  304  the organizer may notify potential participants through media including advertising and other forms. The determination will depend on the nature of the teleconference and participants desired. In either case the organizer creates one or more conference codes at step  305 . A conference code identifies the group of participants to the teleconference and the conference itself. There are no limitations for the code other than that the facility will have to recognize it when punched into a touch-tone telephone or spoken into a voice interface. The length and complexity of the code may depend on security scheme. 
         [0045]    At step  306 , the organizer may create one or more pass codes or authentication codes. These may be PINs, or other numerical and character codes given to participants to use to authenticate themselves after they have accessed the facility and identified the conference they wish to join by giving the conference code. It is noted that the first user to reach the facility and give a conference code is counted as a group. Subsequent callers will be added to the group only if they give the same conference code. 
         [0046]    The facility may allot a certain period of time for the teleconference to fill to prevent fraud. For example, a user may simply dial the access number and say provide any random number and the facility will count the caller as entering a conference and will, at least temporarily, allot a processing resource. The conference number and pass code might be fraudulent meaning that it is not a real teleconference that was advertised. The first user may be summarily disconnected if in subsequent minutes a second caller is not found that inputs the same conference code lending credibility to the probability of a real teleconference. However, is some applications, such activity may be encouraged where a caller just “logs in” with a simple code and hope some other callers will guess the code and join into an impromptu teleconference. A teleconference on soccer for soccer players may be started by an individual who just made up the term soccer and was allotted some resources. The next caller who says “soccer” will wind up teleconferencing with the first user and so on. There are many possibilities and applications. 
         [0047]    At step  307  the organizer will select the facility access number, which is required for callers to dial into the network facility hosting the teleconferencing resources. At this point the process branches depending on the type of notification where the organizer inputs the data into the message or media, steps  308  and  309 . For a message, at step  310  the organizer sends the message. For a media like an advertisement, the organizer distributes the advertisement at step  311 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart illustrating steps  400  for managing conferencing groups in real time according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step  401 , a facility analogous to facility  115  picks up calls to the access point number. These may be calls that are routed from a telephone switch to the facility. The facility may have a voice interface for answering calls via automated attendant. At step  402 , the facility via the auto attendant creates teleconference groups by associating same conference codes. For example, caller 3 and caller 7 have input the same code and will therefore be assigned together in one session. Pass codes may or may not be required at this step. 
         [0049]    At step  403 , the facility selects a processor bank for the purpose of hosting created teleconference sessions. A processor bank is a bank of digital signal processors that provide the capability to connect many users into a same voice session. Each DSP is limited by bandwidth and processing power but not specifically to a number of hard channels. At step  404  the facility routes calls to the correct processor bank selected for hosting teleconference sessions. At step  405 , teleconference attendance tables are updated periodically or in real time. Steps  401 - 405  may form a continuous loop as callers are registered at the facility and are allotted resources. As long as there are available resources on a selected processor bank, the system may register all callers to the same processor bank. 
         [0050]    At step  407  the system makes a determination of status of the selected processor bank relative to available resources on the bank. Step  404  may be performed periodically as the loop adding callers and updating tables continues. In one embodiment each processor bank maintains a table of used resources and reports to the facility periodically or when the processor bank is nearing full capacity as defined by a pre-arranged threshold. 
         [0051]    At step  406  if the selected processor bank is nearing maximum capacity (Maxed), then the facility selects another processor bank to serve as overflow protection. Both callers belonging to groups registered on the processor bank originally selected and new callers having new conference codes may be routed to the overflow processor bank. The process resolves to step  405  where the tables are updated to include the addition of the overflow processor including the processor address in the group of processor banks managed by the facility. 
         [0052]    If the originally selected processor bank is found to have available unused resources then the process resolves back to step  404 . At step  408  the facility routes all overflow calls that cannot be hosted on the first processor bank to the selected overflow processor bank. At step  409  the facility registers overflow callers to the overflow processor bank reserved at step  407 . At step  409  also checks the existing use tables to identify overflow callers that belong to a group (teleconference) started on the previous processor bank. This is evident to the facility when a caller on the overflow bank has a same conference code of a teleconference in process that is using resources on the original processor bank selected. 
         [0053]    It is noted herein that processor banks and overflow banks do not have to be sequentially selected. A random selection may be made such as to any processor having resources available that listed below the max threshold common to all of the banks. At step  410  callers having a same conference code as a teleconference running on another processor are linked for communication across the processor banks using H.100 logical bus linking. Such links are dynamically created and can also be torn down when not needed. 
         [0054]    At step  411  the system monitors to determine if the original processor bank has fallen below the maximum utilization. Use statistics are dynamic and as callers drop off of the system resources again become available. If the system determines that the original processor is not below the maximum threshold, the process moves back to step  408 . If at step  411  the system determines that the original processor bank now has available resources due to sufficient drop off of callers the system may determine if overflow callers, defined as callers on another processor bank that are bussed to the original processor bank and teleconference are still present on the overflow processing bank. 
         [0055]    If the system determines that overflow is still present at step  412 , at step  413  the system may absorb overflow callers back into the processor bank supporting their base group. Step  412  may be performed periodically until there are no more overflow callers. If there is no overflow present on the overflow processor bank the overflow bank may be released at step  414 . 
         [0056]    One with skill in the art of processor management will appreciate that process  400  is dynamic with continually looping processes occurring simultaneously with other process steps such as checking processor use status or updating tables. Bussing communications between overflow callers and base callers between processors enable the system to scale up to handle very large teleconferences. Any number of processing banks may be involved in hosting numerous teleconferences at any given time. As demand increases, so does resource allotment as demand decreases resources become available again without constraints relative to channels or switching capacities. 
         [0057]      FIG. 5  is a process flow chart illustrating steps  500  for notification of new participants in a teleconference according to an embodiment of the invention. A Hyde Park type feature is provided for notifying participants or an organizer of a teleconference to newly arriving participants. At step  501  a teleconference is in session. At step  502  a new caller with a same conference code and perhaps pass code is registered with a teleconferencing group in progress. 
         [0058]    At step  503 , it is determined whether or not the caller was expected to enter the conference. For example, was the caller invited personally and expected to attend by the conference organizer? Or, was the caller not expected to attend, as might be the case with a low security teleconference open to the public. The feature enables the group or organizer or an assigned individual such as a monitor to enable or deny participation for a caller. At step  503  if the caller was expected then the process skips to step  509  where the caller is enabled automatically to participate. 
         [0059]    If at step  503  the caller was not expected, then at step  504  the system may generate an audible alert such as a repetitive door knock, for example. Beeps or other tones may also be used. At step  505  the system may determine if there id=s a responsible mediator or another participant that is charged with monitoring the teleconference for new arrivals. 
         [0060]    If at step  505  the system determines that there is a participant responsible for monitoring late arrivals then the audible alert may be sent to that participant and may be heard in the participant&#39;s headset, for example. If the participant also has a visible screen or display, then the new arrival may be noticed. If not, the caller may be found by pressing a button on the telephony dial pad that opens a private 1 to 1 channel between the organizer, monitor, or mediator and the caller. 
         [0061]    At step  508  the mediator may talk to the caller and may make a decision whether to enable the caller as a full participant or to deny participation to the caller. Options may exist for partial or limited participation as well. If the mediator, organizer, or monitor decides to enable the caller, the caller is thus enabled at step  509 . If at step  508  the organizer decides not to enable the caller, then the caller is denied participation at step  510 . 
         [0062]    Back at step  505  if the system determines there is no mediator, then the audible alert may be sent to all of the participants where they may hear a knock-knock-knock on their headsets or handset speakers. The process may still move to step  508  were the group may determine by vote if the participant should be enabled or not. In one aspect if there is no one participant in charge of the teleconference determined at step  505  then the process may skip to step  509  and the participant may be automatically included. 
         [0063]    Other features may be included with a service offering dynamic teleconference building without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Revenue sharing models may be created between teleconference service providers and teleconference hosts. Security may be set by creating conference codes and pass codes that via complexity, reflect the security level. For example a conference code may be a single digit and no pass code is required to practice the present invention. Many varying applications may be created and practiced over a same set of processor banks. Much work typically performed by a teleconference host is eliminated. 
         [0064]    It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the teleconferencing system of the invention may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of a single broader invention, which may have greater scope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.