Patent Publication Number: US-2007116225-A1

Title: Systems and methods for efficient hybrid conferencing

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION  
      A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.  
     BACKGROUND  
      The exemplary embodiments relate to conferencing over telecommunications and/or data networks and, more particularly, to efficient management of distributed conference ports.  
      Bandwidth is a problem when conferencing. Video and/or desktop conferencing, such as conference sessions, training sessions, and distributed presentations, require available conferencing ports with bandwidth to support communications among the participants and may also include bandwidth to support streaming of any presentation materials. If the participants are few in number, and/or if the file size of the presentation materials is manageable, then current conferencing technology may provide adequate communications and adequate quality of the presentation materials. If, however, there are a large number of host participants, a large number of participants, and/or if the file size of the materials is quite large, then communications and data streaming pose problems. As the number of participants (including host participants) increases and/or as the file size of the presentation materials increases, the required bandwidth also increases. Fifty (50) participants, for example, require fifty (50) conference ports, and, if there are presentation materials, then also require fifty data streams fanning out from a host computer. As the number of participants increases, the host communications system (e.g., communications device, computer, conferencing system, etc.) is also taxed to manage communications with all the participants. All the participants to the conference, then, may eventually suffer from unavailability, from network congestion, and/or from degradation in processor performance of the communications system. Consequently, availability and/or the quality of the conference may be reduced, and the participants to the conference may have a less-than-desirable experience.  
      Conventional conferencing systems include reservation-based conferencing and on-demand conferencing. Reservation based conferencing provides a guaranteed number of reserved ports and allocates these guaranteed ports regardless if all of the ports are needed. On-demand conferencing provides a conferencing bridge and attempts to allocate ports as participants call in; however, on-demand conferencing does not guarantee any available ports such that all participants may not be able to connect to a conference bridge and participate in the conference.  
      There is, accordingly, a need in the art for methods, systems, and products for improved conferencing among participants. There is also a need for efficient management of bandwidth required when conferencing.  
     SUMMARY  
      According to exemplary embodiments, the needs described above and other needs are met by methods, systems, computer programs, and computer program products that improve conferencing among participants including the host participant and other conference participants. According to some of the embodiments, conference communications assets are dynamically allocated and managed to add in one or more new participants in real-time using a hybrid conferencing system. The hybrid conferencing system leverages both reservation-based conferencing features and on-demand (ad-hoc) conferencing features as well as dynamic conferencing features to access, allocate, and/or otherwise manage ports of one or more conference bridges interfacing with a conference gateway. Still further exemplary embodiments include one or more bridge gateways that communicate with the one or more bridges and with the conferencing gateway. The conference bridge(s), bridge gateway(s), and the conferencing gateway are managed and controlled by a Hybrid Conferencing Module implemented as computer product code (e.g., software) that may reside on a conferencing server, a host participant&#39;s communications device, and/or another processing system.  
      According to exemplary embodiments, the hybrid conferencing system allocates a conferencing bridge (or a shared conferencing bridge resource) to each host user of a communications network. Each host user (or, alternatively a group of host users) is allocated a telephone number and an authentication code to connect to the conference bridge that has a default maximum number of conferencing ports that are “always” available—that is, scheduling and/or operator interaction is not required to set up the conference call. The host user may participate in a conference call as a host participant by dialing a conference telephone number and entering the authentication code to access his/her conference bridge. Other participants connect to the conference bridge by dialing the conference telephone number and entering a conference code (e.g., a PIN). Alternatively, the other participants may connect to the conference bridge by dialing the host participant&#39;s phone number, enter the conference code, and automatically be routed to the conference bridge (since the host participant&#39;s phone number is associated with the conference bridge). The conference code may be selected by the host participant, or alternatively, the conference code may be selected by the Hybrid Conferencing Module and distributed to the host participant. When the number of conferencing ports for the participants exceeds the default maximum number of conferencing ports allocated to the host participant, the Hybrid Conferencing Module routes each of the excess participants to the conference gateway.  
      According to some of the exemplary embodiments, the conference gateway communicates with a plurality of conference bridges to identify one or more available ports needed for the excess participants and then automatically assigns each of the excess participants to an available port, configures the available port to access the host participant&#39;s conference bridge, and connects the participant to the conference call. The hybrid conferencing system may automatically access available port(s) assigned to another host user (e.g., another host user that is not using his/her conference bridge) and/or another host participant (e.g., another host participant that is not using all of his/her ports allocated to his/her bridge), or, alternatively, the hybrid conferencing system may include a plurality of unassigned ports that are available for configuration and allocation to any of the bridges in the hybrid conferencing system. According to other exemplary embodiments, the Hybrid Conferencing Module may identify an available port(s) allocated to another host user and/or another host participant and then prompt the host user and/or host participant to “share” one or more of his/her available ports. The host user and/or host participant having the available port may agree to “share” and then the Hybrid Conferencing Module will automatically access, configure, and connect the excess participant to the conference call via the “shared” port. Alternatively, the other host user and/or the other host participant may respond to the prompt by requesting additional information (e.g., approximately how long will the conference call last, will the “borrowing” host participant pay a fee and/or provide another incentive to share, and other information) before agreeing to “share” his/her port(s). Still, another alternate exemplary embodiment enables the “borrowing” host user or host participant to specifically select another host participant (e.g., by selecting a name, a phone number, a geographic area, a business group, a host user (or host participant) that identifies available ports to “share” (e.g., a host user that is on vacation and not using his/her bridge), and other identifying information for selecting another host participant). The “borrowing” host user may request the “shared” port(s) prior to the conference call, and the Hybrid Conferencing Module will access, configure, and allocate the “shared” port(s) to the conference call. Similarly, the “borrowing” host participant may request the “shared” port(s) during the conference call, and the Hybrid Conferencing Module will access, configure, and connect the excess participant to the conference call.  
      Other exemplary embodiments may include features for analyzing communications connections of conference participants and of excess participants to determine optimal assignment of the allocated ports and the “shared” ports. Still other exemplary embodiments may include conference management features including a user interface for the host participant to manage conference resources (including administrative features, a profile of the host participant, a participant profile, “sharing features” such as a request to “borrow” an available port, an offer to “share” an available port, an incentive to “share” an available port, a request for an unassigned port, features to control connections with his/her ports including “shared” ports, and other management features) and to communicate and distribute conference materials. For example, the host participant can execute commands and/or instructions that delay presentment of the conference and/or presentment of conference materials until all participants (including excess participants) are connected with the conference call, modify one or more communications connection with and/or among participants, and/or other features. The communications connection may utilize a variety of communications networks, such as, for example, a telecommunications network (e.g., Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a data communications network (e.g., an Internet Protocol (IP) communications network), and/or a satellite network. Further exemplary embodiments provide a variety of host participant interfaces for the Hybrid Conferencing Module that include, for example, dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signals, web-based interfaces (e.g., Internet), e-mail interfaces, interactive voice response interfaces, and others. Accordingly, the hybrid conferencing system leverages conferencing assets to provide an “always” available hybrid conferencing system for the host participant, participants, and/or excess participants.  
      Other exemplary embodiments describe a computer program product. A computer-readable medium stores a Hybrid Conferencing Module. According to some of the embodiments, the Hybrid Conferencing Module may be stored in a memory device of a host participant&#39;s communications device and/or a conference server in communication with a conferencing gateway and one or more communications networks.  
      Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to these and other embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within and protected by this description and be within the scope of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, and novel features are more clearly understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying figures, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an operating system according to some of the exemplary embodiments;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustrating a hybrid conferencing communications system with default allocations of conferencing resources according to some of the exemplary embodiments;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustrating another hybrid conferencing communications system with default allocations of conferencing resources according to some of the exemplary embodiments;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating a hybrid conferencing communications system with dynamic allocation of available conferencing resources according to some of the exemplary embodiments;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustrating another hybrid conferencing communications system with allocations of conferencing resources to one of a plurality of communications devices that may be used by the host participant according to some of the exemplary embodiments;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic illustrating a hybrid conferencing system with default allocations of conferencing resources according to some of the exemplary embodiments;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustrating another hybrid conferencing system with default allocations of conferencing resources according to some of the exemplary embodiments;  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustrating still another hybrid conferencing communications system with dynamic allocation of available conferencing resources according to some of the exemplary embodiments; and  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic illustrating yet another hybrid conferencing communications system with dynamic allocation of available conferencing resources to a plurality of communications devices that may be used by the participants according to some of the exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION  
      The exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).  
      Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, flowcharts, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems, methods and computer program products embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer.  
      The exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, computer programs, and/or computer program products for providing flexible conference resource allocation tools for allocating, accessing, updating, refreshing, sharing, borrowing, and otherwise managing conference resources for hybrid conferencing system. According to some of the embodiments, conference communications assets are dynamically allocated and managed to add in one or more new participants in real-time using a hybrid conferencing system. The hybrid conferencing system leverages both reservation-based conferencing features and on-demand (ad-hoc) conferencing features as well as dynamic conference management features to access, allocate, and/or otherwise manage ports of one or more conference bridges interfacing with a conference gateway. Still further exemplary embodiments include one or more bridge gateways that communicate with the one or more bridges and with the conferencing gateway. The conference bridge(s), bridge gateway(s), and the conferencing gateway are managed and controlled by a Hybrid Conferencing Module implemented as computer product code (e.g., software) that may reside on a conferencing server, a host participant&#39;s communications device, and/or another processing system. This improves conferencing among host users, host participants, participants, and/or excess participants. As used herein, the term “host user” is user or a subscriber to the hybrid conferencing system that is allocated a conferencing bridge (or a shared conferencing bridge resource) having a default maximum number of conferencing ports (e.g., 6 ports) that are “always” available—that is, scheduling and/or operator interaction is not required to set up the conference call. As used herein, the term “host participant” is a user or subscriber who participates in a conference by accessing his/her conference bridge (e.g., by dialing a telephone number and entering the authentication code to access his/her conference bridge). As used herein, the term “participant” may include a non-user or non-subscriber as well as another host user that connects to the host participant&#39;s conference bridge via an allocated port. As used herein, the term “excess participant” may include a non-user or non-subscriber as well as another host user that connects to the host participant&#39;s conference bridge via a “shared” port.  
      Referring now to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram showing a Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  residing in a communications system  100 . The communications system  100  may be a computing system, such as a conference server (shown as reference numeral  212  in  FIGS. 2-7 ), a laptop/desktop computer (shown as reference numeral  221  in  FIGS. 2-5 ), a telecommunications system (shown as reference numeral  220  of  FIGS. 2-5 ), a tablet computer, and/or other computer systems including wired and wireless communications devices (e.g., communications devices  222 - 228  of  FIG. 5 ). In the embodiments of  FIG. 1 , the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  operates within a system memory device. The Hybrid Conferencing Module  110 , for example, is shown residing in a memory subsystem  142 . The Hybrid Conferencing Module  110 , however, could also reside in flash memory  144  or a peripheral storage device  146 . The communications system  100  also has one or more central processors  148  executing an operating system. The operating system, as is well known, has a set of instructions that control the internal functions of the communications system  100 . A system bus  150  communicates signals, such as data signals, control signals, and address signals, between the central processor  148  and a system controller  152  (typically called a “Northbridge”). According to some embodiments, these signals include conference resource allocation commands and conference management commands described further herein. The system controller  152  provides a bridging function between the one or more central processors  148 , a graphics subsystem  154 , the memory subsystem  142 , and a PCI (Peripheral Controller Interface) bus  156 . The PCI bus  156  is controlled by a Peripheral Bus Controller  158 . The Peripheral Bus Controller  158  (typically called a “Southbridge”) is an integrated circuit that serves as an input/output hub for various peripheral ports (referred to in  FIG. 1  as “SIO” (system input/output)). These peripheral ports are shown including a keyboard port  160 , a mouse port  162 , a serial port  164  and/or a parallel port  166  for a video display unit, one or more external device ports  168 , and networking ports  170  (such as SCSI or Ethernet). The Peripheral Bus Controller  158  also includes an audio subsystem  172 . Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that the program, processes, methods, and systems described herein are not limited to any particular communications system or communications hardware. Other architectures are possible, and the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  can operate in any architecture.  
      Those of ordinary skill in the art also understand the central processor  148  is typically a microprocessor. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., for example, manufactures a full line of ATHLON™ microprocessors (ATHLON™ is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., One AMD Place, P.O. Box 3453, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088-3453, 408.732.2400, 800.538.8450, www.amd.com). The Intel Corporation also manufactures a family of X86 and P86 microprocessors (Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8119, 408.765.8080, www.intel.com). Other manufacturers also offer microprocessors. Such other manufacturers include Motorola, Inc. (1303 East Algonquin Road, P.O. Box A3309 Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, www.Motorola.com), International Business Machines Corp. (New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504, (914) 499-1900, www.ibm.com), Sun Microsystems, Inc. (4150 Network Circle, Santa Clara Calif. 95054, www.sun.com), and Transmeta Corp. (3940 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054, www.transmeta.com). Those skilled in the art further understand that the program, processes, methods, and systems described in this patent are not limited to any particular manufacturer&#39;s central processor.  
      According to an exemplary embodiment, UNIX® is the operating system (UNIX® is a registered trademark of the Open Source Group, www.opensource.org). Other UNIX-based operating systems, however, are also suitable, such as LINUX® or a RED HAT® LINUX-based system (LINUX® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds, and RED HAT® is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc., Research Triangle Park, N.C., 1-888-733-4281, www.redhat.com). Other operating systems, however, are also suitable. Such other operating systems would include a WINDOWS-based operating system (WINDOWS® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond Wash. 98052-6399, 425.882.8080, www.Microsoft.com). and Mac® OS (Mac® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, Calif. 95014, 408.996.1010, www.apple.com). Those of ordinary skill in the art again understand that the program, processes, methods, and systems described in this patent are not limited to any particular operating system.  
      The system memory device (shown as memory subsystem  142 , flash memory  144 , or peripheral storage device  146 ) may also contain an application program. The application program cooperates with the operating system and with a video display unit (via the serial port  164  and/or the parallel port  166 ) to provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The Graphical User Interface typically includes a combination of signals communicated along the keyboard port  160  and the mouse port  162 . The Graphical User Interface provides a convenient visual and/or audible interface of the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  with a user of the communications system  100 .  
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are schematics illustrating exemplary hybrid conferencing communications system. The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , illustrates a hybrid conferencing communications system  200  that includes a communications network  210 , a conference server  212  having the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110 , a conference gateway  214 , a plurality of conference bridges  216  (also shown as B 1 , B 2 , B 3  to B x ), a plurality of allocated ports  218  (shown as 6 ports in  FIG. 2 ) for each conference bridge  216 , a communications device shown as telephone  220  associated with a host participant H 1 , a plurality of other communications devices associated with a plurality of other host users H 2 , H 3  to H x , and a plurality of communications devices  231 - 236  associated with a plurality of participants P 1  thru P 6  engaged in conference call with host participant H 1 . The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , illustrates a hybrid conferencing communications system  300  similar to the hybrid conferencing communications system  200  of  FIG. 2 ; however, the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  resides on the telephone  220  associated with the host participant H 1  and a computer  221  associated with host participant H x , instead of (or in addition to) the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  residing on the conference server  212  such that each host participant H 1 , H 3  can use his/her communications device  220 ,  221  to access, control, and otherwise manage conference communications via the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110 .  
      According to some of the exemplary embodiments, each host user H 1 , H 2 , H 3  to H x  (or, alternatively a group of host users) is allocated a telephone number (or another communications address, such as, for example, a URL of a data communications network) and an authentication code to connect to the conference bridge  216  that has a default maximum number of conferencing ports  218  (e.g., 6 ports as shown in  FIG. 2 ) that are “always” available. Alternatively, the conference bridge  216  may be assigned a maximum bandwidth for each of the ports, or still another alternative is to assign a collective bandwidth to the conference bridge. A host user H 1 , H 2 , H 3  to H x  may participate in a conference call as the host participant H 1  by dialing a telephone number and entering the authentication code to access his/her conference bridge  216 . Other participants P 1  thru P 6  connect to the conference bridge  216  by dialing the conference telephone number and entering a conference code (e.g., a PIN, a password, and other verification information to access the conference call). Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the other participants P 1  thru P 6  may connect to the conference bridge  216  by dialing the telephone number of host participant&#39;s communications device  220  and entering a conference code. Since the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  of communications device  220  associates the telephone number of the host participant with a particular conference bridge B 1 , the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  detects and decodes the conferencing code and routes each of the other participants P 1  thru P 6  to the conference bridge  216  for host participant H 1 . Further, the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  residing in the communications device (e.g., computing system  221 ) of a host user may initially manage communication of the conference session with participants&#39; communications devices (e.g., communications devices  231 - 236 ). For example, the communications device may communicate (e.g., via email, instant message, pre-recorded audio message, and other communications over communications network  210 ) conferencing instructions to the participants&#39; communications devices, such as the conference telephone number, host participant&#39;s telephone number, the conference code, the time and day of the conference call, a name of host participant, a name of an invited participant, and other information to identify and set up the conference call. According to exemplary embodiments, the conferencing instructions may be communicated from the telephone  220 , the computing system  221 , and/or the server  212  to the participants&#39; communications devices via the communications network  210 . The communications network  210  may include a telecommunications network (e.g., Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Mobile Switching Telephone Office (MSTO), and others), a data network (e.g., an Internet (sometimes alternatively known as the “World Wide Web”), an intranet, a local-area network (LAN), and/or a wide-area network (WAN)), and/or a satellite network.  
      Referring now to an exemplary hybrid conferencing communications system  400  of  FIG. 4 , when the number of needed conferencing ports for the participants exceeds the default maximum number of conferencing ports (e.g., the 6 ports shown in  FIG. 2 ) allocated to the host participant, the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  of the conference server  212  routes each excess participant P 1.7 , P 1.8  to the conference gateway  214 . Thereafter, the conference gateway  214  communicates with the plurality of conference bridges B 1 , B 2 , B 3  to B x  to identify one or more available ports needed for each of the excess participants P 1.7 , P 1.8 , selects one or more available ports to “share” for the conference call, routes each of the excess participants P 1.7 , P 1.8  to a “shared” port (shown as ports allocated to B 2 ), configures each of these “shared” ports (shown as ports allocated to B 2 ) to access the host participant&#39;s conference bridge B 1  via gateway  214 , and connects each the excess participants P 1.7 , P 1.8  to the conference call via the gateway  214 . The “shared” ports and the allocated ports  418  are recognized by the gateway  214  as conference resources for an “added-to” conference bridge  416 , and the gateway processes conference communications including distribution of conference materials over the “added-to” conference bridge  416 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates another hybrid conferencing communications system  500  similar to the hybrid conferencing communication system  200  of  FIG. 2 . However, the hybrid conferencing communications system  500  illustrates alternate host participant communications devices H x  that include an Internet Protocol (IP) phone  222 , an interactive pager  223 , a personal digital assistant (PDA)  224 , a cellular/satellite phone  225 , an interactive television  226 , a Global Positioning System (GPS) device  227 , and/or any computer and/or communications device utilizing a digital signal processor (DSP)  228 . The alternate host participant communications devices  222 - 228  communicate with participants P x.1 -P x.6  on conference bridge B x  using allocated ports  218 . The alternate host user and/or host participant communications devices  222 - 228  may also include addressable watches, radios, vehicle electronics, clocks, printers, gateways, and other apparatuses and systems.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid conferencing system  600  that includes the communications network  210 , the conference server  212  having the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110 , the conference gateway  214 , a plurality of bridge gateways  614  communicating with one or more selected conference bridges, a plurality of conference bridges  616  (shown as B 11 -B 1X  thru B n1 -B nx ) associated with both the host user and the bridge gateway  614 , a plurality of allocated ports  618  (shown as 6 ports in  FIG. 6 ) for each conference bridge  616 , and a plurality of communications devices, each of the plurality of communications devices associated with one of a plurality of host users H 11 -H 1x  thru H n1 -H nx . Each of the plurality of communications devices H 11 -H 1x  thru H n1 -H nx  may communicate directly with the conference gateway  214  and/or conference server  216  when the host user dials the conference telephone number and enters his/her authentication code. Alternatively, as shown in an exemplary hybrid conferencing communications system  700  depicted in  FIG. 7 , each of the plurality of communications devices H 11 -H 1x  thru H n1 -H nx  may communicate via the communications network  210  to access the conference gateway  214  and/or to access the conference server  212  when the host user dials the conference telephone number and enters his/her authentication code. Similar to the above exemplary embodiments, the conference bridge  616  may also be assigned a maximum bandwidth for each of the ports  618 , or still another alternative is to assign a collective bandwidth to the conference bridge  616 .  
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid conferencing communications system  800  similar to the hybrid conferencing systems  600  and  700  of respective  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The hybrid conferencing communications system  800  includes the communications network  210 , the conference server  212  having the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110 , the conference gateway  214 , the plurality of bridge gateways  614  associated with selected conference bridges, the plurality of conference bridges (shown as B 11 -B 1x  thru B n1 -B nx ) associated with both the host user (or host participant) and the bridge gateway  614 , a plurality of allocated ports  618  for each conference bridge B 11 -B 1x  thru B n1 -B nx , an “added to” conference bridge  818 , a “borrowed from” conference bridge  819 , the plurality of host user and/or host participant communications devices, each of the plurality of communications devices associated with one of a plurality of host users or host participants H 11 -H 1x  thru H n1 -H nx , and a plurality of participant communications devices P 11 , P 12 , each of the plurality of participant communications P 11 , P 12  devices associated with one host participant H 11 , H 12 . H 11  accesses his/her conference bridge B 11  when the host user H 11  dials the conference telephone number and enters the conference code. The conference bridge(s), bridge gateway(s), and the conferencing gateway are managed and controlled by the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  implemented as computer product code (e.g., software) that is shown residing on the conferencing server  212 . Alternatively, the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  may reside on the host participant&#39;s communications device and/or another processing system.  
      According to exemplary embodiments, the hybrid conferencing communications system  800  allocates a conferencing bridge B 11 -B 1X  thru B n1 -B nx  (or a “shared” conferencing bridge  816 ) to each host user (or host participant). Each host user (or, alternatively a group of host users and/or host participants) is allocated a telephone number (or other communications access address to his/her conference bridge) and an authentication code to connect to his/her conference bridge that has a default maximum number of conferencing ports that are “always” available. Additionally, the host user may access or may automatically be displayed (or otherwise presented) one or more Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) of the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  to manage his/her conference resources. The host user may access or otherwise be presented these GUIs to request additional conference resources for a scheduled time, day, and/or week, request additional allocated ports, offer available, allocated ports (or other conference resources) to share with another host user and/or host participant, confirm a request to “share” his/her allocated ports, manage communications connections of participants and add-in participants to a conference call, manage profile information associated with the host user (e.g., name, billing information, communications preferences, communications addresses such as telephone numbers for work, home, cellular, and a history of conference calls with participant information, date and time of conference call information, and other information). For example, when the number of participants to a conference is greater than the allocated ports, the host user H 11  may access (or automatically be presented) a resource management GUI of the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  to specifically select another host user H 12  (e.g., by selecting a name, a phone number, a geographic area, a business group, a host user (or host participant) that identifies available ports to “share” (e.g., a host user that is on vacation and not using his/her bridge), and other identifying information for selecting the other host participant H 12 ) and ask to “borrow” conference resources. The “borrowing” host user H 11  may request the “shared” port(s) prior to the conference call, and the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  accesses, configures, and allocates the “shared” port(s) to the conference call. Similarly, the “borrowing” host participant H 11  may request the “shared” port(s) during the conference call, and the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  then accesses and configures the “shared” port(s) and the hybrid conferencing communications system connects the excess participant to the conference call.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the host participant H 11  dials the conference telephone number and an authentication code to connect to his/her conference bridge. Other participants P 11  connect to the conference bridge B 11  by dialing the conference telephone number and entering the conference code. Alternatively, the other participants P 11  may connect to the conference bridge by dialing the host participant&#39;s phone number, enter the conference code, and automatically be routed to the conference bridge B 11  (since the host participant&#39;s phone number is associated with his/her conference bridge). The conference code may be selected by the host participant H 11 , or alternatively, the conference code may be selected by the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  and distributed to the host participant H 11  and/or automatically communicated to one or more communications address(es) of other participants P 11 . When the number of conferencing ports for the participants P 11  exceeds the default maximum number of conferencing ports allocated to the host participant H 11 , the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  routes each of the excess participants to the conference gateway  214 . The conference gateway  214  communicates with the plurality of bridge gateway  614  to identify one or more available ports needed for the excess participants and then automatically assigns each of the excess participants to an available port, configures the available port to access the host participant&#39;s conference bridge, and connects the participant to the conference call. Each of the plurality of bridge gateways  614  communicates with one or more selected conference bridges of the plurality of conference bridges B 11 -B 1X  thru B n1 -B nx  to manage a grouping of conference bridges For example, BGW 1  manages conference bridges B 11 -B 1X  assigned to host users and/or host participants H 11 -H 1X .  
      The hybrid conferencing communications system  800  may automatically access available port(s) assigned to another host user (e.g., another host user that is not using his/her conference bridge) and/or another host participant (e.g., another host participant that is not using all of his/her ports allocated to his/her bridge), or, alternatively, the hybrid conferencing system  800  may include a plurality of unassigned ports (not shown) that are available for configuration and allocation to any of the conference bridges B 11 -B 1X  thru B n1 -B nx  in the hybrid conferencing communications system  800 . According to other exemplary embodiments, the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  may identify an available port(s) allocated to another host user and/or another host participant and then prompt the identified host user and/or host participant to “share” one or more of his/her available ports. The host user and/or host participant having the available port may agree to “share” and then the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  automatically accesses, configures, and connects the excess participant to the conference call via the “shared” port. Alternatively, the host user and/or the other host participant having available port(s) may respond to the prompt by requesting additional information (e.g., approximately how long will the conference call last, will the “borrowing” host participant pay a fee and/or provide another incentive to share, and other information) before agreeing to “share” his/her port(s). Other exemplary embodiments include features for analyzing communications connections of conference participants and of excess participants to determine optimal assignment of the allocated ports and the “shared” ports.  
      Regardless of how the “shared” ports are obtained, the hybrid conferencing communications system  800  connects the excess participants with the bridge gateway BGW 1  and the conference bridge of the “borrowing” host participant H 11  such that an “added to” conference bridge  816  supports the conference call for all participants (e.g., host participant, participants communicating via allocated ports, and excess participants communicating via “shared” ports).  FIG. 8  illustrates the hybrid conferencing system  800  connecting two excess participants P 11 (via B12)  via two available ports of conference bridge B 12  (allocated to sharing host user H 12 ) to the conference call via “added to” conference bridge  816 . Still further, the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  recognizes that sharing host user H 12  has use of a remaining number of allocated ports (or, alternatively a remaining bandwidth) shown as 4 remaining ports of conference bridge B 12 . The Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  recognizes these remaining ports with a temporary “borrowed from” conference bridge  819 , and these remaining ports are available for the sharing host participant H 12  to use in a conference call with other participants P 12 .  
       FIG. 9  illustrates another hybrid conferencing communications system  900  similar to the hybrid conferencing communication system  800  of  FIG. 8 . However, the hybrid conferencing communications system  900  illustrates alternate participant communications devices  810  that include an Internet Protocol (IP) phone  911 , an interactive pager  912 , a personal digital assistant (PDA)  913 , a cellular/satellite phone  914 , an interactive television  915 , a Global Positioning System (GPS) device  916 , and/or any computer and/or communications device utilizing a digital signal processor (DSP)  917 . The alternate participant communications devices  810  communicate with host participant H 11  via the “added to” conference bridge  816 . The alternate participant communications devices  810  may also include addressable watches, radios, vehicle electronics, clocks, printers, gateways, and other apparatuses and systems. These alternate communications device  810  communicate with the conference server  212  (and/or the conference gateway  214  and/or the communications device of the host participant H 11 ) to join the conference call. The Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  analyzes communications factors to determine communications connections for each of the alternate participant communications device  810 . For example, the Hybrid Conferencing Module  110  may identify alternate participant communications device  810  as a VoIP phone  911  with signaling via an Internet (or date communications network), a wireless data gateway, and an antenna to determine whether other alternate participant communications device  810  (e.g., another VoIP phone) may access signaling with the wireless data gateway and antenna serving the VoIP Phone  911  if the two alternate participant communications devices are in a similar geographic area.  
      Still other exemplary embodiments may include conference management features including a user interface for the host participant to manage conference resources (including administrative features, a profile of the host participant, a participant profile, “sharing features” such as a request to “borrow” an available port, an offer to “share” an available port, an incentive to “share” an available port, a request for an unassigned port, features to control connections with his/her ports including “shared” ports, and other management features) and to communicate and distribute conference materials. For example, the host participant can execute commands and/or instructions that delay presentment of the conference and/or presentment of conference materials until all participants (including excess participants) are connected with the conference call, modify one or more communications connection with and/or among participants, and/or other features. The communications connection may utilize a variety of communications networks, such as, for example, a telecommunications network (e.g., Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a data communications network (e.g., an Internet Protocol (IP) communications network), and/or a satellite network. Further exemplary embodiments provide a variety of host participant interfaces for the Hybrid Conferencing Module that include, for example, dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signals, web-based interfaces (e.g., Internet), e-mail interfaces, interactive voice response interfaces, and others. Accordingly, the hybrid conferencing system leverages conferencing assets to provide an “always” available hybrid conferencing system for the host participant, participants, and/or excess participants.  
      The Hybrid Conferencing Module (shown as reference numeral  110  in  FIGS. 1-8 ) may be physically embodied on or in a computer-readable medium. This computer-readable medium may include CD-ROM, DVD, tape, cassette, floppy disk, memory card, and large-capacity disk (such as IOMEGA®, ZIP®, JAZZ®, and other large-capacity memory products (IOMEGA®, ZIP®, and JAZZ® are registered trademarks of Iomega Corporation, 1821 W. Iomega Way, Roy, Utah 84067, 801.332.1000, www.iomega.com). This computer-readable medium, or media, could be distributed to end-users, licensees, and assignees. These types of computer-readable media, and other types not mention here but considered within the scope of the present invention, allow the Hybrid Conferencing Module to be easily disseminated.  
      Still in further exemplary embodiments, the Hybrid Communications Module may be physically embodied on or in any addressable (e.g., HTTP, I.E.E.E. 802.11, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)) wireless device capable of presenting an IP address. Examples could include a computer, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internet Protocol phone, a cellular phone, and any communications device having a digital signal processor.  
      While several exemplary implementations of embodiments of this invention are described herein, various modifications and alternate embodiments will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this invention is intended to include those other variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments that adhere to the spirit and scope of this invention.