Abstract:
A conference call is disclosed that is partitioned into two or more topics by a host. Participants to the conference call can then inform the illustrative embodiment which topic or topics they are interested in and where they can be reached over the course of the conference call. At that point, those people who are not interested in the immediate topic can hang up or put their terminal on mute or other go about their business. As the conference call progresses from topic to topic, the host, or another person, informs the illustrative embodiment which topic is next to be discussed. The illustrative embodiment then alerts the participants who indicated their interest in the topic if their terminal is on mute or standby and adds the participants that are not connected to the conference call at all.

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 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. This is particularly true for participants who are only interested in one or more topics but who must listen for hours because they don&#39;t know when the topics of interest will be addressed. Furthermore, it is also true for participants whose input is needed for only a few minutes but who must listen for hours because they don&#39;t know when their input will be needed. The present invention enables conference calls that avoid some of these costs and disadvantages. 
         [0004]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiments, a conference call is partitioned into two or more topics by the host. Participants to the conference call can then inform the illustrative embodiment which topic or topics they are interested in and where they can be reached over the course of the conference call. This can be accomplished via the telecommunications system or via a data interface. At that point, those people who are not interested in the immediate topic can hang up or put their terminal on mute or other go about their business. As the conference call progresses from topic to topic, the host, or another person, informs the illustrative embodiment which topic is next to be discussed. The illustrative embodiment then alerts the participants who indicated their interest in the topic if their terminal is on mute or standby and adds the participants that are not connected to the conference call at all. In this way the present invention prevents participants who are only interested in one or more topics from having to listen for hours for until those topics arise. 
         [0005]    The present invention comprises 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 topic signal has been received; receiving the first topic signal; and transmitting the first alert signal to the second telecommunications signal because the first topic signal has been received. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      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. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      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. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      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 - w,    101 - x,    101 - y,    101 - z,    101 - 5 ,  101 - 6 ,  101 - 7 ,  101 - 8 , telecommunications switch  102 , and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  110 , interconnected as shown. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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.       
 
         [0016]    In accordance with the first illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  101 - i,  wherein i ∈ { 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.    
         [0017]    Telecommunications switch  102  is a switch that is capable of performing the functionality described below and the accompanying figures. 
         [0018]    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.). 
         [0019]      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 ∈ { 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 } and w≠x≠y≠z. 
         [0020]    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. 
         [0021]    At task  202 , switch  102  establishes a call comprising telecommunications terminal  101 - w,    101 - x,  and  101 - y,  in well-known fashion. 
         [0022]    At task  203 , telecommunications terminal  101 - x  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when a first topic signal is received by the first illustrative embodiment. As part of task  203 , telecommunications terminal  101 - x  transmits and switch  102  receives a directive to transmit the first alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the first topic signal is received by switch  102 . 
         [0023]    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,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - x,  that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when a first topic signal is received by the first illustrative embodiment. In these embodiments, it is telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - x,  that transmits the directive to switch  102  that directs switch  102  to transmit an alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - x  when the first topic signal is received by switch  102 . 
         [0024]    At task  204 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  receives from its user the first topic signal. As part of task  204 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  transmits and switch  102  receives the first topic signal. 
         [0025]    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 - y,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that receives from its user the first topic signal. In these embodiments, it is telecommunications terminal  101 - y,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that transmits the first topic signal to switch  102 . 
         [0026]    At task  205 , switch  102  transmits and telecommunications terminal  101 - x  receives the first alert signal because the first topic signal was received by switch  102 . As part of task  205 , telecommunications terminal  101 - x  informs its user to the receipt of the first topic signal. 
         [0027]    At task  206 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when a second topic signal is received by the first illustrative embodiment. As part of task  205 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  transmits and switch  102  receives a directive to transmit the second alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the second topic signal is received by switch  102 . 
         [0028]    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 either telecommunications terminal  101 - w  or  101 - x,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y,  that receives from its use r the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the second topic signal is received by the first illustrative embodiment. In these embodiments, it is telecommunications terminal-w or  101 - x,  respectively, rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - y,  that transmits the directive to switch  102  that directs switch  102  to transmit an alert signal to telecommunications terminal  101 - y  when the second topic signal is received by switch  102 . 
         [0029]    At task  207 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  receives from its user the second topic signal. As part of task  204 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  transmits and switch  102  receives the second topic signal. 
         [0030]    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 - x,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that receives from its user the second topic signal. In these embodiments, it is telecommunications terminal  101 - x,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that transmits the second topic signal to switch  102 . 
         [0031]    At task  208 , switch  102  transmits and telecommunications terminal  101 - y  receives the second alert signal because the second topic signal was received by switch  102 . As part of task  205 , telecommunications terminal  101 - y  informs its user to the receipt of the second topic signal. 
         [0032]    At task  209 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  receives from its user a directive to add telecommunications terminal  101 - z  to the call when a third topic signal is received by the first illustrative embodiment. As part of task  209 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  transmits and switch  102  receives a directive to add telecommunications terminal  101 - z  to the call when the third topic signal is received by switch  102 . 
         [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 either telecommunications terminal  101 - x  or  101 - y,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that receives from its user the directive to add telecommunications terminal  101 - z  to the call when the third topic signal is received by the first illustrative embodiment. In these embodiments, it is telecommunications terminal- x  or  101 - y,  respectively, rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that transmits the directive to switch  102  that directs switch  102  to add telecommunications terminal  101 - z  when the third topic signal is received by switch  102 . 
         [0034]    At task  210 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  receives from its user the third topic signal. As part of task  210 , telecommunications terminal  101 - w  transmits and switch  102  receives the third topic signal. 
         [0035]    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 either telecommunications terminal  101 - x  or  101 - y,  rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that receives from its user the third topic signal. In these embodiments, it is telecommunications terminal  101 - x  or  101 - y,  respectively, rather than telecommunications terminal  101 - w,  that transmits the third topic signal to switch  102 . 
         [0036]    At task  211 , telecommunications switch  102  adds telecommunications terminal  101 - z  to the call comprising telecommunications terminal  101 - w,    101 - x,  and  101 - y,  in well-known fashion. 
         [0037]      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. 
         [0038]    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 . 
         [0039]    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. 
         [0040]    In accordance with the second illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  301 - i,  wherein i ∈ { 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.    
         [0041]    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. 
         [0042]      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 between four telecommunications terminals  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 ,  301 - 3 ,  301 - 4 . 
         [0043]    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 . 
         [0044]    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 . 
         [0045]    At task  403 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  when a first topic signal is received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . As part of task  403 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  transmits and telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  receives a directive to transmit the first alert signal to telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  when the first topic signal is received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . 
         [0046]    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 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 2 , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  when a first topic signal is received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . In these embodiments, either telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  waits for the first topic signal and sends the first alert itself, or telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  transmits a directive to telecommunications terminal  301 - 3 , which waits for the first topic signal and sends the first alert itself. 
         [0047]    Furthermore, 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 - 3 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 2 , that receives from its user the directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  when a first topic signal is received by the second illustrative embodiment. In these embodiments, either telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  waits for the first topic signal and sends the first alert itself, or telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  transmits a directive to telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 , which waits for the first topic signal and sends the first alert itself. 
         [0048]    At task  404 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  receives from its user the first topic signal. 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 - 3 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 , that receives from its user the first topic signal. 
         [0049]    Furthermore, 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 telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  transmits the first topic signal to telecommunications terminal  301 - 3 . And still furthermore, 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 telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  transmits the first topic signal to telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . 
         [0050]    At task  405 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  transmits and telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  receives the first alert signal because the first topic signal was received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . As part of task  405 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  informs its user to the receipt of the first topic signal. 
         [0051]    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 telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  transmits and telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  receives the first alert signal. 
         [0052]    At task  406 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  receives from its user a directive to alert the user of telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  when a second topic signal is received by the second illustrative embodiment. As part of task  405 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  transmits and telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  receives a directive to transmit the second alert signal to telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  when the second topic signal is received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . 
         [0053]    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 , 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 topic signal is received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . In these embodiments, either telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  waits for the second topic signal and sends the first alert itself, or telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  transmits a directive to telecommunications terminal  301 - 2 , which waits for the second topic signal and sends the first alert itself. 
         [0054]    At task  407 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  receives from its user the second topic signal. 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 - 2 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 , that receives from its user the second topic signal. 
         [0055]    At task  408 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  transmits and telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  receives the second alert signal because the second topic signal was received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . As part of task  408 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 3  informs its user to the receipt of the second topic signal. 
         [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 - 2 , rather that telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 , that transmits the second alert signal. 
         [0057]    At task  409 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  receives from its user a directive to add telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the call when a third topic signal is received by telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 . 
         [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 it is either telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  or  301 - 3 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 , that receives from its user the directive to add telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the call when the third topic signal is received by the second illustrative embodiment. 
         [0059]    Furthermore, 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 the telecommunications terminal that receives the directive from its user transmits the directive to one of the other telecommunications terminals for monitoring. 
         [0060]    At task  410 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  receives from its user the third topic signal. 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 either telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  or  301 - 3 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 , that receives from its user the third topic signal. 
         [0061]    At task  411 , telecommunications terminal  301 - 1  adds telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the 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 it is either telecommunications terminal  301 - 2  or  301 - 3 , rather than telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 , that adds telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the call. Furthermore, 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 of telecommunications terminal  301 - 1 ,  301 - 2 , and  301 - 3  instructs one or more of the others to add telecommunications terminal  301 - 4  to the call. 
         [0062]    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.