Patent Publication Number: US-2009225970-A1

Title: Enlivening conference calls to make conference calls more interesting for participants

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to teleconference systems, and more particularly to enlivening conference calls, such as during periods of a long silence, so as to make the conference calls more interesting for the participants. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Teleconference systems, or simply “conference call systems,” bring multiple parties together from remote locations. Ideally, teleconference systems allow participants to communicate with each other as if they were seated in the same room. A teleconference system includes at least two stations (e.g., mobile telephone, landline telephone) set up in remote rooms or locations interconnected by a transmission system, such as a global network or a telephone system. 
     Participants at each of the stations communicate with each other through audio equipment. Audio equipment for each station typically includes one or more microphones, speakers, and the like. 
     Depending on the context of the conference call, the participants of the conference call may experience boredom. As a result, the conference call may exhibit a considerable amount of silence or “dead air” due to the lack of interest from the participants. If interjections (e.g., laugh, cheers, jingles), and the like, could be made during the conference call at times of boredom, the conference call may be enlivened and more interesting to the participants. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for enlivening conference calls comprises establishing a conference call among a plurality of participants. The method further comprises monitoring for a noise on a telephone line for each of the plurality of participants. Additionally, the method comprises generating a pre-selected stored sound in the conference call to enliven the conference call in response to detecting a lack of noise on one of the plurality of telephone lines for a duration of time that exceeds a threshold. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather generally the features and technical advantages of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the present invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be described hereinafter which may form the subject of the claims of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a teleconference system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for establishing a conference call in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection during a conference call when a lack of noise is detected on a phone line for a duration of time that exceeds a threshold in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection during a conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected individual in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection during a conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected phone line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection provided by a participant during a conference call in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a method, system and computer program product for enlivening conference calls. In one embodiment of the present invention, noise detectors are placed on the telephone lines for the participants to a conference call. These noise detectors are used to monitor for noise on the telephone lines. If there is a period of silence on one of the telephone lines that exceeds a threshold, then a pre-selected stored sound (e.g., an interjection such as a laugh) is generated. In one embodiment, if noise is detected on a telephone line associated with a pre-selected individual, then a pre-selected stored sound associated with the pre-selected individual is generated. In another embodiment, if noise is detected on a pre-selected telephone line, then a pre-selected stored sound associated with the pre-selected telephone line is generated. Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, a request is received from one of the participants of the conference call to play a provided interjection. The received interjection is later generated during the conference call. By including interjections during the conference call at appropriate times, the conference call may be enlivened and more interesting to the participants. 
     While the following discusses the present invention in connection with implementing a conference bridge, the principles of the present invention may be implemented in connection with live streaming or broadcasting over a computer network without the requirement of a conference bridge. A person of ordinary skill in the art would be capable of applying the principles of the present invention to such implementations. Further, embodiments applying the principles of the present invention to such implementations would fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details considering timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     FIG.  1 —Teleconference System 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention of a teleconference system  100 . Teleconference system  100  may include one or more mobile telephones  101 , one or more cordless telephones  102  and one or more landline telephones  103 . 
     Mobile telephone  101  may be connected to a conference bridge system  104  via a mobile telephone switching center  105  and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  106 . Mobile telephone switching center  105  connects the landline Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  106  to the mobile phone system. PSTN  106  may be connected to conference bridge system  104 . 
     Similarly, cordless telephone  102  may be connected to a conference bridge system  104  via a local exchange carrier  107 A and PSTN  106 . Local exchange carrier  107 A enables cordless telephone  102  to gain access to conference bridge system  104  via PSTN  106 . Further, landline telephone  103  may be connected to a conference bridge system  104  via a local exchange carrier  107 B and PSTN  106 . Local exchange carrier  107 B enables landline telephone  103  to gain access to conference bridge system  104  via PSTN  106 . Local exchange carriers  107 A-B may collectively or individually be referred to as local exchange carriers  107  or local exchange carrier  107 , respectively. 
     As stated above, teleconference system  100  may include a conference bridge system  104 . Conference bridge system  104  may include a conference bridge  108  configured to connect callers of mobile telephones  101 , cordless telephones  102  and landline telephones  103  together, such as on a conference call. Further, conference bridge  108  may be configured to monitor the conference call session as well as electronically balance the lines so that each caller can hear and speak to all the other callers no matter how many people hop on or off the call. 
     Conference bridge system  104  may further include noise detectors  109 A-C configured to monitor and detect noise on the telephone lines  110 A-C for mobile telephone  101 , cordless telephone  102  and land line telephone  103 , respectively. For example, noise detector  109 A may monitor and detect noise on telephone line  110 A for mobile telephone  101 . Noise detector  109 B may monitor and detect noise on telephone line  110 B for cordless telephone  102 . Further, noise detector  109 C may monitor and detect noise on telephone line  110 C for land line telephone  103 . Noise detectors  109 A-C may collectively or individually be referred to as noise detectors  109  or noise detector  109 , respectively. Further, telephone lines  110 A-C may collectively or individually be referred to as telephone lines  110  or telephone line  110 , respectively. 
     Teleconference system  100  may include any number of mobile telephones  101 , cordless telephones  102  and land line telephones  103  and therefore may include any number of noise detectors  109  to monitor and detect noise for each phone line.  FIG. 1  is illustrative of an embodiment of teleconference system  100  and  FIG. 1  is not to be limited in scope to any one particular embodiment. For example, other mobile devices, such as a personal digital assistant, may also be used by a caller to connect with a conference call session. Teleconference system  100  may include any device with the capability of connecting to conference bridge system  104  whether via wire or wirelessly. Each of these devices may be referred to herein as “stations.” 
     Additionally, conference bridge system  104  may include a controller  111  coupled to conference bridge  108  and to each noise detector  109 . Controller  111  is configured to enliven conference calls as discussed herein. Controller  111  may include a processor  112  coupled to a memory  113 . Processor  112  may be configured to execute the instructions of the program stored in memory  113 . In one embodiment, the program for enlivening conference calls, as discussed further below in connection with  FIGS. 2-6 , may reside in memory  113 . Further, memory  113  may include a program for performing voice analysis to determine if the voice being spoken during the conference call matches a voice profile stored in a database  114  (discussed further below). Additionally, memory  113  may include a program for performing voice recording so as to record an interjection provided by the participant. 
     The various aspects, features, embodiments or implementations of the invention described herein can be used alone or in various combinations. The methods of the present invention can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random access memory, CD-ROMs, flash memory cards, DVDs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , conference bridge system  104  may further include a database  114  coupled to controller  111 . Database  114  may be used to store interjections (e.g., laugh, music, jingles, cheers, jeers, applause, explosion, fireworks, echo, reverberation, voice pitch alteration, repeating, etc.,) that are used to enliven a conference call as discussed further below. Further, database  114  may be used to store voice profiles of individuals which are used by controller  111  to determine if a particular individual is speaking during the conference call. 
     As discussed in the Background section, the participants of a conference call may experience boredom. As a result, the conference call may exhibit a considerable amount of silence or “dead air” due to the lack of interest from the participants. If interjections (e.g., laugh, cheers, jingles), and the like, could be made during the conference call at times of boredom, the conference call may be enlivened and more interesting to the participants. 
     Interjections may be generated during the conference call to enliven the conference call as discussed below in connection with  FIGS. 2-6 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for setting up a conference call among the participants.  FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection during the conference call when a lack of noise is detected on a phone line for a duration of time that exceeds a threshold.  FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection during the conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected individual (e.g., particular participant).  FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection during the conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected phone line (e.g., caller on a particular line starts speaking).  FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for generating an interjection provided by a participant (e.g., moderator) during the conference call. 
     FIG.  2 —Method for Establishing Conference Call 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method  200  for establishing a conference call in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , in step  201 , controller  111  receives a request from a participant (e.g., user of mobile phone  101 ) to access a conference call service. For example, the participant may dial a particular “800” number to gain access to the conference call service. 
     In step  202 , controller  111  requests authorization information from the requestor. For example, controller  111  may request a pass code to be entered by the participant on the telephone keypad in order to obtain access to the conference call service. The pass code may have been previously provided to those participants that are authorized to join the conference call by the moderator of the conference call. 
     In step  203 , controller  111  receives the authorization information from the requestor. 
     In step  204 , controller determines whether there are any other participants to join the conference call. If there are other participants to join the conference call, then, controller  111  waits to receive a request from the next participant to join the conference call session in step  201 . 
     If, however, there are no other participants to join the conference call, then, in step  205 , controller  111  terminates the conference call set-up. 
     In step  206 , noise detectors  109  monitors for noise on each of the telephone lines (e.g., telephone lines  109 A-C) for each participant (e.g., user of mobile phone  101 , user of cordless telephone  102 , user of landline telephone  103 ) to the conference call. 
     It is noted that the conference call may begin prior to each participant joining the conference call and that noise detectors  109  may begin monitoring for noise on phone lines  110  for those participants that have joined the conference call prior to each participant joining the conference call. In one embodiment, the conference call may begin upon the moderator joining the conference call. 
     Method  200  may include other and/or additional steps that, for clarity, are not depicted. Further, method  200  may be executed in a different order presented and that the order presented in the discussion of  FIG. 2  is illustrative. Additionally, certain steps in method  200  may be executed in a substantially simultaneous manner or may be omitted. 
     A discussion of generating an interjection during the conference call when a lack of noise is detected on a phone line for a duration of time that exceeds a threshold is provided below in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG.  3 —Method for Generating an Interjection During Conference Call when Lack of Noise is Detected for a Duration of Time that Exceeds Threshold 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method  300  for generating an interjection during a conference call when a lack of noise is detected on a phone line for a duration of time that exceeds a threshold in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , in step  301 , noise detectors  109  monitor for noise on each telephone line  110  for each of the participants of the conference call. For example, noise detectors  109  may monitor for noise on telephone lines  110 A-C. 
     In step  302 , controller  111  determines whether noise detector  109  detected a lack of noise (“dead air”) on one of the telephone lines  110  for the participants of the conference call that exceeds a threshold (e.g., five minutes). 
     If noise detectors  109  do not detect a lack of noise on one of the telephone lines  110  for the participants of the conference call that exceeds a threshold, then, in step  301 , noise detectors  109  continue to monitor for noise on each telephone line  110  for each of the participants of the conference call. 
     If, however, noise detector  109  detects a lack of noise on one of the telephone lines  110  for the participants of the conference call that exceeds a threshold, then, in step  303 , controller  111  instructs conference bridge  108  to generate a pre-selected stored sound to enliven the conference call. Interjections, such as a laugh, music, jingles, cheers, jeers, applause, explosion, fireworks, echo, reverberation, voice pitch alteration, repeating, etc., may be stored in database  114 . The moderator of the conference call may pre-select which interjection to play when dead air is detected on a phone line that exceeds a threshold. For example, the moderator may be prompted by controller  111  (via conference bridge  108 ) upon joining the conference call to select a particular interjection which may be identified by a particular number entered by the moderator on the telephone keypad. Further, in one embodiment, the threshold is pre-selected by the moderator. For example, the moderator may be prompted by controller  111  (via conference bridge  108 ) upon joining the conference call to select a threshold, such as by selecting number(s) on the telephone keypad. 
     In step  304 , conference bridge  108  generates the pre-selected stored sound to enliven the conference call. 
     Method  300  may include other and/or additional steps that, for clarity, are not depicted. Further, method  300  may be executed in a different order presented and that the order presented in the discussion of  FIG. 3  is illustrative. Additionally, certain steps in method  300  may be executed in a substantially simultaneous manner or may be omitted. 
     A discussion of generating an interjection during the conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected individual (e.g., particular participant of the conference call) is provided below in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG.  4 —Method for Generating an Interjection During Conference Call when Noise is Detected for a Pre-Selected Individual 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method  400  for generating an interjection during a conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected individual (e.g., particular participant of the conference call) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , in step  401 , noise detectors  109  monitor for noise on each telephone line  110  for each of the participants of the conference call. For example, noise detectors  109  may monitor for noise on telephone lines  110 A-C. 
     In step  402 , controller  111  determines whether a noise is detected from a pre-selected individual (e.g., participant of the conference call). In one embodiment, a voice profile of an indicated individual, along with contact information for that individual (e.g., name, phone number), may be provided to controller  111  from a participant of the conference call (e.g., moderator). For example, the moderator may provide to controller  111  a voice profile of a particular individual (e.g., one of the participants of the conference call). Further, the moderator may provide contact information, such as name and phone number, for that individual. The voice profile of an individual along with the associated contact information may be stored in database  114  of controller  111 . For example, database  114  may store an array of voice profiles and associated contact information. Controller  111  may include a program stored in memory  113  configured to perform voice analysis to determine if the voice being spoken during the conference call matches a voice profile stored in database  114 . In one embodiment, the voice analysis software in controller  111  may compare the voice detected by noise detector  109  with the voice profiles stored in database  114 . 
     If controller  111  does not detect a noise of a pre-selected individual, then, in step  401 , noise detectors  109  continue to monitor for noise on each telephone line  110  for each of the participants of the conference call. 
     If, however, controller  111  detects a noise of a pre-selected individual, then, in step  403 , controller  111  instructs conference bridge  108  to generate a pre-selected stored sound associated with the identified individual to enliven the conference call. Interjections, such as a laugh, music, jingles, cheers, jeers, applause, explosion, fireworks, echo, reverberation, voice pitch alteration, repeating, etc., may be stored in database  114 . For example, the moderator may be prompted by controller  111  (via conference bridge  108 ) upon joining the conference call to select a particular interjection to play upon detecting the voice of an identified participant. The moderator may identify the particular interjection to be played by entering an appropriate number on the telephone keypad. Further, upon joining the conference call, the participant (e.g., moderator) may identify the participant, of whose voice profile should be used, by entering an appropriate number on the telephone keypad. For example, the moderator may enter the phone number of the participant, whose voice profile should be used, on the telephone keypad. Controller  111  may match that phone number with one of the phone numbers stored in database  114  that is associated with a particular voice profile. Upon finding a match, controller  111  will then know the interjection to be played upon identifying the voice that matches that voice profile. 
     In step  404 , conference bridge  108  generates the pre-selected stored sound to enliven the conference call. 
     Method  400  may include other and/or additional steps that, for clarity, are not depicted. Further, method  400  may be executed in a different order presented and that the order presented in the discussion of  FIG. 4  is illustrative. Additionally, certain steps in method  400  may be executed in a substantially simultaneous manner or may be omitted. 
     A discussion of generating an interjection during the conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected phone line (e.g., caller on a particular line starts speaking) is provided below in connection with  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG.  5 —Method for Generating an Interjection During Conference Call when Noise is Detected for a Pre-Selected Phone Line 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method  500  for generating an interjection during a conference call when noise is detected for a pre-selected phone line (e.g., caller on a particular line starts speaking) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , in step  501 , noise detectors  109  monitor for noise on each telephone line  110  for each of the participants of the conference call. For example, noise detectors  109  may monitor for noise on telephone lines  110 A-C. 
     In step  502 , controller  111  determines whether a noise is detected from a pre-selected phone line (e.g., participant of mobile telephone  101 ). 
     If controller  111  does not detect a noise on a pre-selected phone line, then, in step  501 , noise detectors  109  continue to monitor for noise on each telephone line  110  for each of the participants of the conference call. 
     If, however, controller  111  detects a noise on a pre-selected phone line, then, in step  403 , controller  111  instructs conference bridge  108  to generate a pre-selected stored sound associated with that phone line to enliven the conference call. Interjections, such as a laugh, music, jingles, cheers, jeers, applause, explosion, fireworks, echo, reverberation, voice pitch alteration, repeating, etc., may be stored in database  114 . For example, the moderator may be prompted by controller  111  (via conference bridge  108 ) upon joining the conference call to select a particular interjection to play upon detecting noise on an identified phone line. The moderator may identify the particular interjection to be played by entering an appropriate number on the telephone keypad. Further, upon joining the conference call, the participant (e.g., moderator) may identify the phone line to be used. For example, the moderator may enter the phone number of the participant whose phone line is to be used on the telephone keypad. 
     In step  504 , conference bridge  108  generates the pre-selected stored sound to enliven the conference call. 
     Method  500  may include other and/or additional steps that, for clarity, are not depicted. Further, method  500  may be executed in a different order presented and that the order presented in the discussion of  FIG. 5  is illustrative. Additionally, certain steps in method  500  may be executed in a substantially simultaneous manner or may be omitted. 
     A discussion of generating an interjection provided by a participant (e.g., moderator) during the conference call is provided below in connection with  FIG. 6 . An interjection may be provided by a participant at any time during the conference call, even without there being dead air. The interjection may then be played during the conference call upon an indication from the participant. For example, the participant may indicate to play laughter, which it previously provided to controller  111 , after telling a joke. 
     FIG.  6 —Method for Generating an Interjection Provided by a Participant During Conference Call 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method  600  for generating an interjection provided by a participant (e.g., moderator) during a conference call in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , in step  601 , controller  111  receives a request from a participant (e.g., moderator) of the conference call to play a provided interjection. In one embodiment, the participant may be prompted by controller  111  (via conference bridge  108 ) as to whether it wishes to provide an interjection to be played during the conference call. The participant may indicate, via the telephone keypad, the desire to input an interjection that is to be played during the conference call. In one embodiment, the participant may play the interjection (e.g., laugh) over the telephone and have it recorded by controller  111 . In one embodiment, controller  111  may include a program stored in memory  113  configured to record sound. Controller  111  may record the interjection provided by the participant and store it in database  114 . It is noted that the sound provided by the participant to be played during a conference call may be added by the participant at any time before or during the conference call. 
     In step  602 , controller  111  receives a sound from the participant. As discussed above, in one embodiment, the participant may play an interjection to be recorded by controller  111 . In step  603 , controller  111  stores the received sound in database  114  as discussed above. 
     In step  604 , controller  111  receives an instruction from the participant, such as during the conference call, to play the stored received sound. For example, in one embodiment, the participant selects a button the telephone keypad indicating the participant&#39;s desire to play the stored received sound. For instance, the participant may select a button to play the stored sound of laughter after telling a joke. 
     In step  605 , controller  111  instructs conference bridge  108  to generate the stored received sound. 
     In step  606 , conference bridge  108  generates the sound provided by the participant to enliven the conference call. 
     Method  600  may include other and/or additional steps that, for clarity, are not depicted. Further, method  600  may be executed in a different order presented and that the order presented in the discussion of  FIG. 6  is illustrative. Additionally, certain steps in method  600  may be executed in a substantially simultaneous manner or may be omitted. 
     Although the method, system and computer program product are described in connection with several embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific forms 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 as defined by the appended claims. It is noted that the headings are used only for organizational purposes and not meant to limit the scope of the description or claims.