Abstract:
A method that allows a user to have his or her telecommunications terminal automatically monitor one or more teleconferences so that he or she participates in the relevant portions of a teleconference without the disadvantages associated with the prior art is described. The illustrative embodiment teaches a method that can monitor one or more teleconferences and determines when there is a discussion that is relevant to the user. At that point, the user is automatically joined to the teleconference bridge where the teleconference is taking place.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to teleconferencing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Teleconferencing is a meeting between two or more participants that are not at the same place at the same time. Teleconferencing is a low-cost alternative to getting large groups of people in a single place at the same time for the purpose of having a meeting. The best known example of a teleconference is a conference call with more than two people participating in the call. These teleconferences can have upwards of several hundred people and can last for several hours. Getting these several hundred people in the same place at the same time is simply cost prohibitive. 
     Often, only a portion of a teleconference is useful to a user. Because teleconferences can last for hours at a time, it is wasteful for a user to wait for the small portion of the teleconference that applies to him or her. 
     Very often there are many teleconferences happening simultaneously, and a user may wish to participate in a portion of more than one. For instance, with reference to  FIG. 2 , a user may be interested in Bananas and X-Ray technology. Participating in two conferences simultaneously is not practical, as a user can only listen to one teleconference at a time. Having two conferences open is wasteful of bandwidth on a network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention allows a user to have his or her telecommunications terminal automatically monitor one or more teleconferences so that he or she participates in the relevant portions of a teleconference without the disadvantages associated with the prior art. 
     The present invention is a method that can automatically monitor one or more teleconferences and determines when there is a discussion that may be relevant to the user. At that point, the user is alerted to join or automatically joined to the teleconference bridge where the teleconference is taking place. 
     Again, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the illustrative embodiment of the present invention automatically alerts the user, who is interested in Bananas and X-Ray, to teleconference bridge  103 - 1  at 2:03 and then to teleconference bridge  103 - 2  at 4:09. Alternatively, the user is automatically joined to joined teleconference bridge  103 - 1  at 2:03 and then to teleconference bridge  103 - 2  at 4:09. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  100  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the contents of teleconference bridge  103 - 1  and teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of task  301  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of task  302 - 1  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of task  303 - 1  and task  303 - 2  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  100  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Telecommunications system  100  comprises: telecommunications network  101 , teleconference manager, teleconference bridge  103 - 1 , teleconference bridge  103 - 2 , telecommunications terminal  104 - 1  through  104 - 6 , telecommunications terminal  105 , and user  106 . Although the illustrative embodiment comprises one user, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise any number of users. 
     Although the illustrative embodiment comprises seven telecommunications terminals, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise any number of telecommunications terminals. 
     Although the illustrative embodiment comprises one teleconference manager, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise any number of teleconference managers. 
     Although the illustrative embodiment comprises two teleconference bridges, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise any number of teleconference bridges. 
     In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, telecommunications network  101  is the Public Switched Telephone Network, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which telecommunication network  102  is another network or combination of networks, for example and without limitation, the Internet, a private data network, a private branch exchange, a satellite network, etc. 
     Teleconference manager  102  is hardware and software for receiving and coordinating multiple teleconferences between telecommunications terminals  104 - 1  through  104 - 6 , telecommunications terminal  105  and their associated users, including user  106 . In particular, teleconference manager  102  is capable of performing the functionality described below and with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
     Teleconference bridge  103 - 1  and teleconference bridge  103 - 2  hardware and software associated with teleconference manager  102 . Teleconference bridge  103 - 1  and teleconference bridge  103 - 2  are where multiple telecommunications terminals connect with one another through telecommunications network  101  in order to communicate with one another without having to travel distances. At designated times, teleconference manager  102  can set up one or more teleconference bridges to allow multiple telecommunications terminals to connect to one another. These teleconference bridges can host teleconferences with as few as three people and there is no pre-set upper limit on the number of participants in a conference. 
     It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use teleconference bridge  103 - 1  and teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . 
     In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, telecommunications terminal  104 - 1  through telecommunications terminal  104 - 6  and telecommunications terminal  105  are telephones, it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use telecommunications system  100  utilizing, for example and without limitation, mobile telecommunications terminals such as mobile telephones, private branch exchange extensions, personal computers, or any device capable of connecting to telecommunications network  101 . 
     Although the illustrative embodiment is directed at audio teleconferences, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the medium is another medium of combination of media, for example and without limitation, video or text. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the contents of teleconference bridge  103 - 1  and teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . Teleconference bridge  103 - 1  comprises four subjects at four times, namely Apples at 1:01, Bananas at 2:03, Cranberries at 3:58, and Dates at 4:07. Teleconference bridge  103 - 2  comprises four subjects at four times, namely Quasars at 1:15, Radar at 2:31, X-Ray at 4:09, and Satellite at 5:15. 
     Although the illustrative embodiment comprises four subjects and four times in each teleconference bridge, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise any number of subjects and times. In any case, it will be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use teleconference bridge  103 - 1  and teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . 
     It will also be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which user  106  will switch back and forth between teleconference bridge  103 - 1  and teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     At task  301 , the system is initialized and telecommunications terminal  105  receives information from user  106  and from teleconference manager  102 . 
     At task  302 - 1  telecommunications terminal  105  determines whether or not user  106  should be connected to teleconference bridge  103 - 1 . 
     At task  302 - 2  telecommunications terminal  105  determines whether or not user  106  should be connected to teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . 
     At task  303 - 1  telecommunications terminal  105  connects to teleconference bridge  103 - 1 . 
     At task  303 - 2  telecommunications terminal  105  connects to teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . 
     It will be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use other implementations of the present invention in which the steps are performed by teleconference manager  102  instead of telecommunications terminal  105 . 
     It will be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use other implementations of the present invention in which one or more of the steps are omitted or are performed in a different order than the one presented or simultaneously. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of task  301  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     At task  401 , telecommunications terminal  105  receives, from a teleconference bridge  103 - 1 , an indicium of a first subject and a first calendrical time associated with the first subject. 
     At task  402 , telecommunications terminal  105  receives, from user  106 , a first keyword. 
     At task  403 , telecommunications terminal  105  receives, from a teleconference bridge  103 - 2 , an indicium of a second subject and a second calendrical time associated with the second subject. 
     At task  404 , telecommunications terminal  105  receives, from user  106 , a second keyword. 
     It will be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use other implementations of the present invention in which one or more of the steps are omitted or are performed in a different order than the one presented or simultaneously. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of task  302 - 1  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     At task  501 , telecommunications terminal  105  determines, whether the first keyword matches the indicium of the first subject or whether the first keyword been spoken at the teleconference bridge  103 - 1 . 
     At task  502 , telecommunications terminal  105  determines, whether the current time the same as the first calendrical time. 
     At task  503 , telecommunications terminal  105  sets the value of a flag to: TRUE. 
     At task  504 , telecommunications terminal  105  determines, whether user  106  desires to connect to teleconference bridge  103 - 1 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, task  504  can be accomplished by, for example and without limitation, receiving input from the user indicating a desire to connect to teleconference bridge  103 - 1 . 
     It will be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use other implementations of the present invention in which the steps are performed by teleconference manager  102  instead of telecommunications terminal  105 . 
     It will be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use other implementations of the present invention in which one or more of the steps are omitted or are performed in a different order than the one presented or simultaneously. 
     It will also be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, that the tasks associated with  302 - 1  are fundamentally the same as those associated with task  302 - 2 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with the operation of task  303 - 1  and task  303 - 2  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     At task  601  (in  303 - 1 ), telecommunications terminal  105 , determines if user  106  is connected to teleconference bridge  103 - 2 , and will disconnect user  106  if necessary. 
     At task  602  (in  303 - 1 ), telecommunications terminal  105  connects user  106  to teleconference bridge  103 - 1 . 
     At task  601  (in  303 - 2 ), telecommunications terminal  105 , determines if user  106  is connected to teleconference bridge  103 - 1 , and will disconnect user  106  if necessary. 
     At task  602  (in  303 - 1 ), telecommunications terminal  105  connects user  106  to teleconference bridge  103 - 2 . 
     It will be clear to one skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure how to make and use other implementations of the present invention in which one or more of the steps are omitted or are performed in a different order than the one presented or simultaneously. 
     It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just one example of the illustrative embodiment and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.