Apparatus and method for setting up a conference call
View Patent ↗A method of provisioning a conference call in order to preserve bandwidth on a network, and thereby allowing a larger number of participants to actively take part in a conference call. The method includes providing all participants in a conference call with a simplex connection to the conference call so that they can hear what is being said. It further comprises allocating further bandwidth so at least one participant can address the conference at any one time.
1. A method of setting up a conference call amongst a plurality of endpoints using Virtual Call Admissions Control (VCAC), each endpoint having silence suppression negotiation capability, the method comprising the steps of causing a call server to:
(i) request a conference call to be set up
(ii) request bandwidth allocation from the VCAC for a simplex connection for each participating endpoint and a single duplex connection;
(iii) remove silence suppression from a participant's endpoint when said participant starts speaking; and
(iv) request bandwidth allocation from the VCAC to allow a simplex connection to be converted to a duplex connection temporarily during removal of silence suppression for said participant.
2. A method of setting up a conference call according to claim 1 further comprising the step of allocating a participant a permanent duplex connection.
3. A method of setting up a conference according to claim 1 wherein if more than one participant speaks the server requests a further bandwidth allocation from the VCAC to enable all speaking parties to be heard by the conference.
4. A method of setting up a conference call according to claim 1 wherein if an additional party wishes to join said conference call, said server requests bandwidth allocation from said VCAC to set up a simplex connection to said additional party.
5. A method of setting up a conference calf according to claim 1 wherein silence suppression is reapplied when said participant stops speaking.
6. A method of setting up a conference call according to claim 5 wherein said duplex connection is converted to a simplex connection when said silence suppression is reapplied.
7. A method of setting up a conference call according to claim 1 wherein the bandwidth allocated to a participating endpoint is released when said endpoint disconnects from said conference call.
8. A method of setting up a conference call amongst a plurality of endpoints using Virtual Call Admissions Control (VCAC) comprising the steps of:
(v) requesting a conference call to be set up
(vi) requesting bandwidth allocation from the VCAC for a simplex connection for a selected participating endpoint;
(vii) requesting bandwidth allocation from the VCAC for a duplex connection for any other participating endpoints.
9. A call server connected to a network adapted to control a conference call between parties connected to said network, said network comprising a Virtual Call Admissions Control (VCAC), said call server comprising:
(viii) an input for receiving a request to set up said conference call;
(ix) a processor for determining the number of parties participating in said conference call; and
(x) an output for requesting bandwidth allocation for said conference call from said VCAC, said bandwidth allocation substantially corresponding to the bandwidth for a simplex connection for each participating party and a duplex connection.
10. A call server as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:
(xi) an input for receiving a request for a duplex connection from a party;
(xii) a processor for determining whether the bandwidth allocation from the VCAC for the duplex connection is being used; and
(xiii) an output for setting up said connection if said bandwidth allocation is not being used.
11. A call server as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means for requesting additional bandwidth allocation from the VCAC if there is not sufficient bandwidth to allow a duplex connection to be set up.
12. A call server as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means for requesting additional bandwidth allocation on receipt of a request for connection to said conference call by a party which is not yet a participant in said conference call.
13. A computer readable medium embedded with a computer program which, when executed on a call server, causes the call server to carry out the steps of:
(i) receiving a request to set up a conference call,
(ii) determining the number of parties participating in said conference call, and
(iii) requesting bandwidth allocation for said conference call from a VCAC, said bandwidth allocation corresponding to the bandwidth for a simplex connection for each participating party and a duplex connection.