Patent ID: 7561537

Claim:
A method for allocating mixed media conference resources for a conference using packet- and/or circuit-switched networks for communication between one or more users, comprising: allocating, with a conference management system, the conference resources to be used in a first adhoc conference session for an adjustable first period of time,θ 1 , said first adhoc conference session having a start time t 1 and a tentative end time t 2 , wherein t 1 +θ 1 =t 2 , provided that a first start up condition of t 1 +θ 1 <t 3 or t 1 +θ 1 >t 3 >t 1 is met, where t 3 is a start up time of a second conference using one or more of the conference resources to be used in the first adhoc conference session, and the end time t 2 is dynamically and automatically adjustable; adjusting, with the conference management system, the tentative end time for the first adhoc conference session when one of the following conditions is met: t 1 +θ 1 >t 3>t 1 t 3 >t 1 >t 3 −θ 1 , wherein the adjusting includes providing a notification to the participants of the first session that the tentative end time of the first session will be adjusted to be no later than t 3 , or t 1 +θ 1 <t 3 t 1 <t 3 −θ− 1 wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the tentative end time to be no later than t 3 ; storing, in a memory device, the tentative end time after the adjusting; and automatically executing, with the conference management system, repetitive conditional testing by a conference management administrator or a management system with a periodical repetition interval of Δt so as to maintain the resources for the first adhoc conference without interference with the second conference.