Call optimization in meet-me conference calls

US008024402Bl

<12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,024,402 B1

Shaffer et al. (45) Date of Patent: *Sep. 20, 2011

(54) CALL OPTIMIZATION IN MEET-ME 4,635,251 A * 1/1987 Stanley etal. .............. .. 370/261 2332552 2: 7822 %‘i“”“i“i“" 333/5858}

, , a on e a . .. .

5,544,237 A * 8/1996 Bl t l. 379/205.01

(75) Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Palo Alto, CA (US); 5,600,643 A * 2/1997 Rggrsoikfln 370/399 Charles J. Bedard, Saratoga, CA (US) 5,675,533 A * 10/1997 B3165 GU11, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, _, 370/261

5,790,637 A * 8/1998 Johnson et al. .......... .. 379/88.04

(73) Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA
(US) OTHER PUBLICATIONS

* _ _ _ _ _ Shmuel Shaffer and Charles J . Badard, pending U. S. Patent Applica( ) Noncez Sumect to any dlsclalmer’ the term Ofthls tion entitled “Quorums in Meet-Me Conference Calls,” U.S. Appl.

patent is extended or adjusted under 35 No. 09/608,586, filed Jun. 30, 2000, including Specification: pp.

U'S'C' 154(1)) by 1508 dayS' 1-52' Drawings‘ Figures 1-12 on 14 sheets

This patent is subject [Q 3 terminal dis- Shmuel Shaffer and Charles J. Badard, pending U.S. PatentApplicaClajmelq tion entitled “Call Optimzation in Ad-Hoc Conference Calls,” U.S. Appl. No. 09/572,199, filed May 17, 2000, including Specification: (21) App1_ NO_; 10/725,745 pp. 1-53; Drawings: Figures 1-18B on 19 sheets. (22) Filed: Dec. 2, 2003 * Cited by examiner Related U.S. Application Data Primary Examiner T DaVidY Eng _ _ _ _ (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Campbell Stephenson LLP (63) Continuation of application No. 09/607,383, filed on Jun. 30, 2000, nOW Pat. N0. 6,694,351. (57) ABSTRACT (51) Int CL One method for joining a meet-me conference call includes G061? 15/173 (2()()6_()1) establishing a communication channel, in response to a (52) U.S. Cl. ..................................................... .. 709/204 request tejein a eenferenee eall; reeeiving, ever the channel, (58) Field of Classification Search ................ .. 709/204, information as Ye Whetherthe Conference Call is Still Ongoing; 709/208’ 223’ 227 and if the conference call is no longer ongoing, giving notigee apphcation file for COmp1ete Search history fication that the conference call is no longer ongoing. The communication channel can be a non-media-transport-sup(56) References Cited porting channel. If the information indicates that the conference call is still in progress, a media transport channel can be U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS eStab1jShed_ 3,660,610 A * 5/1972 Hestad et al. .......... .. 379/203.01 4,577,065 A * 3/1986 Frey etal. .............. .. 379/204.01 57 Claims, 29 Drawing Sheets

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