Patent ID: 7133514

Claim:
A method for completing a conference call in a telephony system, wherein said telephony system includes a premise-based network having a local controller coupled to local endpoints, a local proxy, and a local conference bridge, and wherein said telephony system includes a public telephone network coupled to said premise-based network, said conference call including a plurality of participants from said premise-based network and at least one participant from said public telephone network, said method comprising the steps of: initiating a request call that is completed within said premise-based network to said proxy for setting up said conference call; routing said request call to said conference bridge; providing a plurality of said local endpoints for participation in said conference call to said proxy via said request call; said local controller contacting said plurality of local endpoints and routing successful connections to said conference bridge; and bridging said request call and said successful connections at said conference bridge, wherein said bridging includes a connection to said at least one participant from said public telephone network.