WO2009070103A1

WO2009070103A1 - Method and telephone for setting up a conference call

Info

Publication number: WO2009070103A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/051346
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonas Aronsson; Torbjörn KARLSSON
Original assignee: Konftel AB
Current assignee: Konftel AB
Priority date: 2007-11-26
Filing date: 2008-11-25
Publication date: 2009-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-26
Also published as: EP2215818A4; SE0702612L; EP2215818A1

Abstract

This invention concerns a method for calling several telephones for connecting them to a conference call through a telephone intended for conference calls and comprising various electrical control, regulatory and monitoring units, memory units, regulators for selecting functions and settings, an information screen on which menu systems coupled with functions and settings are displayed, and adjustment means that influence a cursor that can be displaced to and locked onto the desired selected heading in the menus and that activates the function or setting that is coupled to it. The method comprises the use of a specific entry to the menu system in the form of a menu and various submenus, headings, that belong to this menu, under which the functions and settings of the telephone related to telephone conferences are collected and stored such that the functions and settings are at least one of accessible, selectable, modifiable and ready for activation. The invention concerns also a telephone that makes this possible.

Description

A method and telephone for setting up a conference call

Technical area

This invention concerns a method for calling several telephones for connecting them to a conference call, and a telephone that makes this method possible

Background to the invention

Telephones for conference calls have long been commercially available and it has been possible to connect several analogue telephones, system telephones, at the same time to these, in order to create a telephone conference group

A currently available telephone for conference calls comprises different functions and settings and it comprises for this purpose different electrical control, regulation and monitoring units, memory units, and similar units The selection of functions and settings is done using different regulators, such as, for example, buttons, on the telephone The buttons activate directly a function of the telephone or they give access to selection menus for different functions and settings in which it is possible to browse up and down at various levels of the selection menus

The telephone has a screen, suitably an LCD screen, on which a menu system is displayed Adjustment means influence a cursor that can be displaced to and locked onto the desired selected heading in the menus and that activates the function or setting that is coupled to it The cursor is caused to stop on the desired heading in the selection menus and the selection is confirmed by, for example, the pressing of a button, such as the pressing of a button labelled with, for example, "OK" or "C" The displacement of the cursor normally takes place by pressing buttons labelled "Up" or "Down", or using other forms of direction symbolism

Different settings can be made depending on whether the telephone is "on hook" or "off hook", whether the telephone is in a condition corresponding to having the telephone in active position or in passive position, for example having a handset in the cradle or not

The selection menus are collected in a main menu that provides a clear entry into the various functions and settings Some of these functions and settings are also available through one or several more or less direct buttons on the telephone It has been necessary for a call to be placed to each telephone (and the number that is associated with it) that is participating in each conference, until all who are to be attending the conference have been connected. Since the calling takes place through a network operator, each call must take place through the use of the user symbols or buttons on the telephone in a manner that has been determined in advance by the network operator, and this requires a great deal of time if many persons are to participate in the conference and calls must be made to many numbers. This requires also extensive knowledge of the commands of the telephone operator, which commands may be difficult to remember.

Summary of the invention

One purpose of the present invention is to offer a method when calling several telephones for connecting these telephones to a conference call, which method is simple and rapid, and to offer a telephone with which the method of placing the calls can be made simple and rapid.

This purpose is achieved with a method according to claim 1 and a telephone according to claim 7.

Description of the invention

This invention comprises how the particular method of placing calls is to be managed for a conference call, when creating a conference group. The invention is constituted by a method comprising, and a telephone that makes possible, the use of a specific entry to the menu system in the form of a menu and various submenus, headings, that belong to this menu, under which the functions and settings of the telephone related to telephone conferences are collected and stored such that the functions and settings are at least one of accessible, selectable, modifiable and ready for activation. Activation of an adjustment means on the telephone that acts directly connects one user of the telephone to the telephone conference menu.

The menu system of the telephone, the main menu, is accessed after pressing a button labelled "Menu", and a heading, a submenu, is found in the menu, which submenu has exactly this function and is labelled "Conference guide". There is also a button on the telephone that links directly to this heading, this submenu (the "Conference guide"). All functions and settings relating to the conference function of the telephone are collected under this heading, organised under several headings and submenus. The conference guide may be accessed when the telephone is "on hook" or "off hook".

The headings under "Conference guide" are listed below with a brief explanation of the function that is represented.

List groups Displays a list of all stored conference groups. It is here that the group that is to be called is selected, and the calling function activated. Show group Displays a list of all members of a selected group. Add group Adds a new group and the associated members, with their telephone numbers. The group is to be given a name, the members are to be given names, and the correct telephone numbers are to be specified. Edit group Change group name

Remove member

Add member

Edit member, change at least one of name and telephone number, for example Remove group Removes a selected group.

Remove all groups Removes all saved groups and their members.

Settings Enquiry, connect, return

Status Displays the status of the conference guide memory, the number of groups occupied and the number of groups free. Instant A new temporary group can be arranged under this heading.

A function of memory that is present in the telephone is activated when information relating to at least conference group is at least one of input, saved, checked, updated and becomes available for selection.

When creating a group, when a group is to be added using the heading "Add group", a free group number is selected and this is given a group name. Several members are prepared with a symbol under the group, and each member is selected in turn and given a name. The correct number for the member is given and saved. Each member is defined with a name and the associated telephone number, and several members form a conference group. The number of conference groups that may be stored and the number of members with their telephone number in each group depend on the memory capacity of the conference telephone. The memory capacity in currently available conference telephones makes it possible to store around 20 groups with six members in each group.

It is possible also to search for one member in the general address book of the telephone and to copy the information to a conference group, and create in this way a member of a conference group and the corresponding identification.

It is possible under the conference group menu also to link directly members to a name and telephone number in the general address book of the telephone without needing to copy any information.

The telephone comprises a call function that can be activated and that comprises a calling step for an existing conference group that has been stored in the telephone and selected. The call steps function and follow each other in the manner that the existing network operator requires for the activation of a conference group. This has been implemented in advance in the control and regulatory system of the computer.

When a conference group is to be activated for a conference, the user, the one who initiates contact, enters the telephone conference menu, the conference guide, either through activation of the button intended for this or through the menu system. The user there selects, marks, activates the desired group under the heading "List groups", and subsequently selects, marks, activates the first member.

The selection of the first member activates the start of a procedure that has been programmed into the conference telephone. The procedure comprises a call function with the functional selections that normally take place manually. The call received is confirmed after the call has been placed, and it is appropriate that this is done by the person who connects the conference group, although it may be taken care of also by the telephone, and the called partner, by the person initiating the call by the activation of a "Continue" function of the telephone that then activates the call function for the next member, and the telephone number of this member on the conference group list, and calls the next member in the group. This procedure with selection of member and transfer to subsequent member that entails the activation of the call function, an automatic call, followed by a confirmation by the member initiating the connection, is repeated for all members in the group. The attempt to make contact can be cancelled if no reply is received when calling a telephone number. The person initiating the connection then gives a negative confirmation for the called telephone number by activating a "Cancel" function. This is followed by a "Continue" function that then activates the next member and the call function for the next member, in a manner corresponding to that described above.

This must take place also for members with telephone numbers who are included on the list but for whom it is already known that they do not desire to be included. It must be permitted to activate calling of the telephone number, or it must be allowed to continue, and the call must subsequently be interrupted through activation of an "Interrupt" function that is followed by a "Continue" function, which then activates the call function for the next member, the next telephone number.

If a user selects the heading "Show group" after a conference group has been called, the members who have been called are displayed with a symbol, a symbol that shows that the member has been activated and is participating in the conference call.

The telephone comprises also a function that makes possible the input and storage of a temporary conference group with its members, followed by activation of a call function for direct calling of the temporary conference group.

The heading "Instant" provides the possibility of creating just for the moment a conference group that is called using the telephone-calling function that has been stored in the telephone. The person initiating connection must in this case enter a telephone number in order to thereafter directly initiate calling, activate the calling function, and subsequently to confirm that the telephone number has been called and that the line has been opened. The next telephone number is entered, and the procedure is repeated until all desired telephone numbers have been called and the calls have been confirmed. When all desired members have been called, the group that has been created is confirmed and a conference call is under way.

An enquiry to a conference group can be made and the conference group called while the telephone is in its "on hook" condition. The telephone displays instructions and available selections on the screen, and replies to these can be made by pressing the "C" and "OK" buttons. Buttons labelled "C", "Menu" or "Conference guide" are used to exit from the heading "Conference guide". The button "On hook" is used to terminate the conference guide function. In the "off hook" condition, available selections will be displayed on the display screen and the person initiating the contact will be given the opportunity to make selections, choose functions and settings. When a conference group has been connected or when a call has been terminated, the status for the conference guide can be displayed by pressing the button labelled "Conference guide". A list of all members of the conference group is displayed on the display screen, and members who initiate the connection procedure are indicated with an additional symbol.

All buttons are functional due to their connection with the control and regulatory units in the telephone that unite and make it possible to connect and disconnect, and the control of functions that may be influenced by the user.

Claims

1. A method for calling several telephones for connecting them to a conference call through a telephone intended for conference calls and comprising various electrical control, regulation and monitoring units, memory units, regulators for selecting functions and settings, an information screen on which menu systems coupled with functions and settings are displayed, and adjustment means that influence a cursor that can be displaced to and locked onto the desired selected heading in the menus and that activates the function or setting that is coupled to it, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y the use of a specific entry in the menu system in the form of a menu and submenus, headings, that belong to it, under which the functions and settings of the telephone related to telephone conferences are collected and stored such that the functions and settings are at least one of accessible, selectable, modifiable and ready for activation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising activation of a directly acting adjustment means that connects a user of the telephone to the telephone conference menu.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising activation of a function of memory in which information relating to at least one conference group is at least one of input, saved, checked, updated and becomes available for selection.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising activation of a call function that comprises a calling step for an existing conference group that has been stored in the telephone and selected in the telephone in the manner in which an existing network operator requires for the activation of a conference group.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, comprising input and storage of a temporary conference group with its members, followed by activation of a call function for direct calling of the temporary conference group.

6. The method according to claim 5, where the activation of the calling function takes place after the input of each member and telephone number.

7. A telephone for conference calls comprising various electrical control, regulation and monitoring units, memory units, regulators for selecting functions and settings, an information screen on which menu systems coupled with functions and settings are displayed, and adjustment means that influence a cursor that can be displaced to and locked onto the desired selected heading in the menus and that at least one of activates and modifies the function or setting that is coupled to it, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the functions and settings of the telephone related to telephone conferences are collected under one menu and under various submenus, headings, belonging to it, such that the functions and settings are at least one of accessible, selectable, modifiable and ready for activation.

8. The telephone according to claim 7, comprising a directly acting adjustment means that connects a user of the telephone to the telephone conference menu.

9. The telephone according to claim 8, where the adjustment means comprises a button.

10. The telephone according to any one of claims 7-9, comprising a memory function in which information relating to at least one conference group and its members is at least one of input, saved, checked, updated and becomes available for selection.

11. The telephone according to claim 10, where the information comprises name and telephone number of each member.

12. The telephone according to any one of claims 7-11 , comprising a function for calling comprising and activating calling step adapted to an existing conference group that has been stored and selected in the telephone in the manner in which an existing network operator requires for the activation of a conference group.

13. The telephone according to any one of claims 7-12, comprising a function in which it is possible to temporarily specify and store a conference group with members for direct calling of a temporary conference group.