Abstract:
A conferencing system is disclosed in which a participant to a conference call can program the embodiment to listen for one or more “keywords” in the conference call. The keywords might be a participant&#39;s name or words associated with him or her or words associated with his or her area of knowledge. The embodiments uses speech recognition technology to listen for those words. When the embodiments detects that those words have been spoken, the embodiment alerts the participant—using audible, visual, and/or tactile signals—that the participant&#39;s attention to the call is warranted. When the keywords are chosen wisely, the benefit can be great.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to new features of telecommunications systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conference calls are a mainstay of modern business life, and, therefore, the need exists for inventions that improve the quality and usability of conference calls. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One of the principal disadvantages of conference calls in the prior art is that they often waste the participants&#39; time. For example, a conference call can comprise long intervals that are not relevant to many of the participants, which leads many participants mute their microphone and attend to other tasks. To the extent that those intervals are not relevant, this is a good thing because, as a practical matter, those people can use the time for more profitable work. 
         [0004]    The problem is, of course, that when a participant&#39;s active participation becomes necessary, he or she has been pre-occupied and have not been paying attention. This is especially true when the timing of the participation is unpredictable or unexpected. Some embodiments of the present invention seek to address this problem. 
         [0005]    In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a participant to a conference call can program the embodiment to listen for one or more “keywords” in the conference call. The keywords might be a participant&#39;s name or words associated with his or her area of knowledge. The embodiments of the present invention use speech recognition technology to listen for those words. When the embodiments detects that those words have been spoken, the embodiment alerts the participant—using audible, visual, and/or tactile signals—that the participant&#39;s attention to the call is warranted. When the keywords are chosen wisely, the benefit of the present invention can be great. 
         [0006]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprise: establishing a call comprising a first telecommunications terminal, a second telecommunications terminal, and a third telecommunications terminal; receiving a first directive signal to transmit a first alert signal to the second telecommunications terminal when a first keyword is spoken in the call; detecting that the first keyword is spoken in the call; and transmitting the first alert signal to the second telecommunications signal because the first keyword has been spoken in the call. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  100  in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  300  in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  100  in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Telecommunications system  100  comprises: telecommunications terminals  101 - 1 ,  101 - 2 ,  101 - 3 ,  101 - 4 ,  101 - 5 ,  101 - 6 ,  101 - 7 ,  101 - 8 , telecommunications switch  102 , and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  110 , interconnected as shown. 
         [0012]    The first illustrative embodiment is switch “centric” in the sense that all of the salient signaling to and from the various telecommunications terminals involves telecommunications switch  102 . This is contrast to the second illustrative embodiment, which is described in detail below, in which the salient signaling between the telecommunications terminals is peer-to-peer and does not require a single centralized entity. 
         [0013]    Although the first illustrative embodiment comprises four telecommunications terminals connected directly to telecommunications switch  102  and four telecommunications terminals connected to telecommunications switch  102  via Public Switched Telephone Network  110 , it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention that comprise:
       i. any number of telecommunications terminals that are connected directly to telecommunications switch  102 , or   ii. any number of telecommunications terminals that are connected to telecommunications switch  102  via Public Switched Telephone Network  110 , or   iii. any combination of i and ii.       
 
         [0017]    In accordance with the first illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  101 - i , wherein i ε {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, is a device (e.g. a cell-phone, wireless terminal, personal digital assistant, wireline telephone, etc.) that is capable of performing the functionality described below and in the accompanying figure. For example, telecommunications terminal  101 - i  provides bi-directional audio communications service to a user. Although the first illustrative embodiment comprises identical telecommunications terminals, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention in which some or all of the telecommunications terminals are not identical. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use telecommunications terminal  101 - i.    
         [0018]    Telecommunications switch  102  is a switch that is capable of performing the functionality described below and the accompanying figures. 
         [0019]    Public Switched Telephone Network  110  is the Public Switched Telephone Network as is well known to those skilled in the art. Although the first illustrative embodiment uses the Public Switched Telephone Network, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention that use a different network (e.g., the Internet, etc.). 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The first illustrative embodiment comprises four telecommunications terminals  101 - w ,  101 - x ,  101 - y ,  101 - z , and switch  102 , wherein w, x, y, and z ε {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} and w≠x≠y≠z. 
         [0021]    At task  201 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  transmits and switch  102  receives a request to establish a call comprising telecommunications terminal  101 - w ,  101 - x , and  101 - y , in well-known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which:
       i. telecommunications terminal  101 - w , or   ii. telecommunications terminal  101 - x , or   iii. telecommunications terminal  101 - y , or   iv. any combination of i, ii, and iii
 
request the establishment of the call comprising telecommunications terminal  101 - w ,  101 - x , and  101 - y.  
       
 
         [0026]    At task  202 , switch  102  establishes a call comprising telecommunications terminal  101 - w ,  101 - x , and  101 - y , in well-known fashion. 
         [0027]    At task  203 , telecommunications terminal  101 - x  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the first alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. For the purposes of this specification, an “alert condition” is defined as:
       i. the speaking of a first keyword, or   ii. the speaking of a first keyword N times within a time interval to, or   iii. the speaking of a first Boolean expression of keywords (e.g., “John” and (“dog” or “cat” or “fish”), “John” and “cat” but excluding those occurrences that also contain “food”, etc.) within a time interval t 1  
 
in a call by:
   i. any one participant to the call (e.g., “Sue” but not “Steve” or “John”, etc.), or   ii. any combination of participants to the call (e.g., “Sue” and “Steve” but not “John”, etc.).
 
As part of task  203 , the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - x  specifies the exact parameters of the first alert condition (i.e., the keyword or keywords and who must speak them). Upon the completion of task  203 , the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - x  puts telecommunications terminal  101 - x  on mute and goes about other business than focusing on the call.
       
 
         [0033]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - y , rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - x , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the first alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0034]    At task  204 , telecommunications terminal  101 - x  transmits and switch  102  receives (i) the directive to transmit the first alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the first alert condition has been satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the first alert condition. In those alternative embodiments where it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - y , rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - x , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the first alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call, it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - y , respectively, rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - x , that transmits the directive to switch  102  that directs switch  102  to transmit the first alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the first alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0035]    At task  205 , switch  102  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the first alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, switch  102  uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the first alert condition. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use a switch that can monitor a call for the satisfaction of any alert condition. 
         [0036]    At task  206 , switch  102  detects the satisfaction of the first alert condition, and, as a result, transmits, so that telecommunications terminal  101 - x  receives, the first alert signal. As part of task  206 , telecommunications terminal  101 - x  alerts its user to the fact that the first alert condition was satisfied. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual, audible, and tactile stimulants. 
         [0037]    At task  207 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when a second alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. As part of task  207 , the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  specifies the exact parameters of the second alert condition. Upon the completion of task  207 , the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  puts telecommunications terminal  101 - y  on mute and goes about other business than focusing on the call. 
         [0038]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - x , rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the second alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0039]    At task  208 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  transmits and switch  102  receives (i) the directive to transmit the second alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the second alert condition has been satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the second alert condition. In those alternative embodiments where it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - x , rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the second alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call, it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - x , respectively, rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y , that transmits the directive to switch  102  that directs switch  102  to transmit the second alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the second alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0040]    At task  209 , switch  102  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the second alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, switch  102  uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the second alert condition. 
         [0041]    At task  210 , switch  102  detects the satisfaction of the second alert condition, and, as a result, transmits, so that telecommunications terminal  101 - y  receives, the second alert signal. As part of task  206 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  alerts its user to the fact that the second alert condition was satisfied. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual, audible, and tactile stimulants. 
         [0042]    At task  211 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  receives from its user a directive to add the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - z  when a third alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. As part of task  211 , the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  specifies the exact parameters of the third alert condition. 
         [0043]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - x , rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y , that receives from its user the directive to add the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - z  when the third alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0044]    At task  212 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  transmits and switch  102  receives (i) the directive to transmit the third alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the third alert condition has been satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the third alert condition. In those alternative embodiments where it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - x , rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the third alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call, it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - x , respectively, rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y , that transmits the directive to switch  102  that directs switch  102  to transmit the third alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the third alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0045]    At task  213 , switch  102  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the third alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, switch  102  uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the third alert condition. 
         [0046]    At task  214 , switch  102  detects the satisfaction of the third alert condition, and, as a result, adds telecommunications terminal  101 - z  to the call. As part of task  214 , telecommunications terminal  101 - z  alerts its user to the fact that switch  102  is attempting to add telecommunications terminal  101 - z  to the call, the user responds, and telecommunications terminal  101 - z  is added to the call. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual, audible, and tactile stimulants. 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  300  in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Telecommunications system  300  comprises: telecommunications terminals  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 ,  301 - 3 ,  301 - 4 , and telecommunications network  310 , interconnected as shown. 
         [0048]    In accordance with the second illustrative embodiment, the salient signaling between the telecommunications terminals is peer-to-peer and does not involve a single centralized entity, in contrast to the signaling in the first illustrative embodiment, which is switch “centric” in the sense that all of the signaling to and from the various telecommunications terminals involves telecommunications switch  102 . 
         [0049]    Although the illustrative embodiment comprises four telecommunications terminals connected directly to telecommunications network  310 , it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention that comprise any number of telecommunications terminals. 
         [0050]    In accordance with the second illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  301 - i , wherein i ε {1, 2, 3, 4}, is a device (e.g. a wireless, hands-free telephone headset, desk telephone, etc.) that is capable of performing the functionality described below and in the accompanying figure. For example, telecommunications terminal  301 - i  provides bi-directional audio communications service to one or more users. Although the second illustrative embodiment comprises identical telecommunications terminals, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention in which some or all of the telecommunications terminals are identical. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use telecommunications terminal  301 - i.    
         [0051]    Telecommunications network  310  is the a TCP/IP network as is well known to those skilled in the art. Although the second illustrative embodiment uses TCP/IP, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention that use a different protocols. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the second illustrative embodiment, all of the relevant signaling is among four telecommunications terminals  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 ,  301 - 3 ,  301 - 4 . 
         [0053]    At task  401 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  receives from its user a directive to establish a call comprising telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 , and  301 - 3 , in well-known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which any combination of telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 , and  301 - 3  receives a directive to establish a call comprising telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 , and  301 - 3 . 
         [0054]    At task  402 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  establishes a call comprising telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 , and  301 - 3 , in well-known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which any combination of telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 , and  301 - 3  establish the call comprising telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 , and  301 - 3 . 
         [0055]    At task  403 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  when the first alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. As part of task  403 , the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  specifies the exact parameters of the first alert condition. Upon the completion of task  403 , the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  puts telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  on mute and goes about other business than focusing on the call. 
         [0056]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which it is telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  or  301 - 3 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 2 , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  when the first alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0057]    At task  404 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the first alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the first alert condition. 
         [0058]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which one telecommunications terminal receives (i) the directive to transmit the first alert signal to telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  when the first alert condition has been satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the first alert condition, but forwards the directive and parameters to another telecommunications terminal for monitoring. 
         [0059]    At task  405 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  detects the satisfaction of the first alert condition, and, as a result, alerts its user to the fact that the first alert condition was satisfied. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual, audible, and tactile stimulants. 
         [0060]    In the alternative embodiments in which a telecommunications terminal other than telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the first alert condition, that terminal, upon detecting the satisfaction of the first alert condition, transmits, so that telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  receives, the first alert signal. 
         [0061]    At task  406 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  when the second alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. As part of task  406 , the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  specifies the exact parameters of the second alert condition. Upon the completion of task  406 , the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  puts telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  on mute and goes about other business than focusing on the call. 
         [0062]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which it is telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  or  301 - 2 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 3 , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  when the second alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0063]    At task  407 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the second alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the second alert condition. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use a switch that can monitor a call for the satisfaction of any alert condition. 
         [0064]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which one telecommunications terminal receives (i) the directive to transmit the second alert signal to telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  when the second alert condition has been satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the second alert condition, but forwards the directive and parameters to another telecommunications terminal for monitoring. 
         [0065]    At task  408 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  detects the satisfaction of the second alert condition, and, as a result, alerts its user to the fact that the second alert condition was satisfied. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the alert is any combination of visual, audible, and tactile stimulants. 
         [0066]    In the alternative embodiments in which a telecommunications terminal other than telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the second alert condition, that terminal, upon detecting the satisfaction of the second alert condition, transmits, so that telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  receives, the second alert signal. 
         [0067]    At task  409 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  receives from its user a directive to add the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the call when the third alert condition has been satisfied with respect to the call. As part of task  409 , the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  specifies the exact parameters of the third alert condition. 
         [0068]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which it is telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  or  301 - 2 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 3 , that receives from its user the directive to add the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the call when the third alert condition is satisfied. 
         [0069]    At task  410 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the third alert condition. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  uses speech recognition technology, in well-known fashion, to monitor the call and detect the keyword or keywords in the third alert condition. 
         [0070]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which one telecommunications terminal receives (i) the directive to add telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the call when the third alert condition has been satisfied, and (ii) the exact parameters of the third alert condition, but forwards the directive and parameters to another telecommunications terminal for monitoring and execution. 
         [0071]    At task  411 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  detects the satisfaction of the third alert condition, and, as a result, adds the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  to the call. 
         [0072]    In the alternative embodiments in which a telecommunications terminal other than telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  monitors the call for the satisfaction of the third alert condition, that terminal, upon detecting the satisfaction of the third alert condition, adds the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  to the call. 
         [0073]    It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just two illustrative embodiments of the present invention 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.