Patent ID: 8582743

Claim:
A computer implemented method of initiating a conference call via a server that assists with scheduling the conference call, said method comprising: receiving a conference request from an inviter's email application via a data message, the request comprising conference settings including at least a scheduled time for the conference call; sending at least one invitation message based on the data message; receiving responses to the at least one invitation message to determine conference participants; automatically synchronizing the conference settings and a personal conference group based on communication with the inviter's email application, wherein the personal conference group is automatically created by the inviter's email application, which does not communicate with the conference participants to set up the personal conference group, and wherein the personal conference group is synchronized based on inviter's change of the conference settings; at the scheduled time, according to the conference settings, retrieving contact information for the conference participants associated with the personal conference group; and initiating at least one telephone call to each conference participant based on each participant's contact information.