Method and apparatus for making sidebar calls
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for conducting a sidebar, subconference call from a multiparty conference call is provided. Once a party has joined a multiparty conference call, the party is able to initiate the subconference call by transmitting a session initiation protocol (SIP) command to a target party. Two SIP commands that may be employed to initiate the subconference call are the REFER command and the INVITE command. To allow the target party to distinguish between incoming communication requests related to the multiparty conference call from extraneous ones, the REFER or INVITE command includes at least one data field containing an identifier of the conference call referred the REFER or INVITE command. Once received and verified, the target party may respond accordingly to establish the subconference call. The target party's handset may reference data fields in the SIP command to those locally stored and known to be associated with the multiparty conference call. Where recognized, the handset may present the communication request to the target party along with an option to accept the communication request.
1. A method of establishing a subconference call from a multiparty conference call, the method comprising the steps of:
a. joining the multiparty conference call with at least a first party and a second party, the multiparty conference call having a conference identifier; and
b. initiating a direct telecommunication with one of the at least a first party and a second party by transmitting at least one session initiation protocol command, wherein the session initiation protocol command comprises a REFER command including at least three data fields, wherein the at least three data fields comprise:
a first data field indicating an identity of a target party to whom the session initiation protocol REFER command is to be transmitted;
a second data field indicating an originating party from whom the session initiation protocol REFER command was sent including the conference identifier; and
a third data field indicating a method by which a recipient may accept the session initiation protocol REFER command;
wherein the session initiation protocol REFER command comprises a data body, wherein the data body comprises information relating to characteristics of the subconference call.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing the multiparty conference call comprises establishing a telecommunication connection with a conference bridge.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a session initiation protocol INVITE command in response to transmitting the session initiation protocol REFER command.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol INVITE command.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of receiving a session initiation protocol ACK command in response to transmitting the session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of placing the multiparty conference call on hold.
7. A method of establishing a call in parallel with a multiparty conference call, the method comprising the steps of:
a. joining the multiparty conference call with at least a first party and a second party, the multiparty conference call having a conference identifier; and
b. receiving a direct telecommunication initiation request from one of the at least a first party and a second party comprising at least one session initiation protocol command, wherein the session initiation protocol command comprises a REFER command including at least three data fields, wherein the at least three data fields comprise:
a first data field indicating an identity of a target party to whom the session initiation protocol REFER command is to be transmitted;
a second data field indicating an originating party from whom the session initiation protocol REFER command was sent including the conference identifier; and
a third data field indicating a method by which a recipient may accept the session initiation protocol REFER command;
wherein the session initiation protocol REFER command comprises a data body, wherein the data body comprises information relating to characteristics of the subconference call.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol INVITE command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol REFER command.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of receiving a session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command in response to transmitting the session initiation protocol INVITE command, and the step of transmitting a session initiation protocol ACK command in response to receiving the session initiation protocol 200 (OK) command.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the conference identifier is referenced against a locally stored list of conference participants.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of referencing the conference identifier with an identification of a conference bridge hosting the multiparty teleconference.
12. An apparatus capable of establishing a subconference call in parallel with a multiparty conference call, comprising:
a. a radiotelephone having a central processor and associated memory;
b. an application module operable with the central processor, the application module being capable of establishing multiparty telephonic communications by way of a session initiation protocol command; and
c. a telecommunication module operable with the central processor capable of joining the multiparty conference call by way of a conference bridge with at least two other parties, the conference bridge having at least a conference identifier;
wherein the application module is configured to initiate the subconference call during the multiparty conference call by transmitting a session initiation protocol REFER command including at least three data fields, wherein the at least three data fields comprise: a first data field indicating an identity of a target party to whom the session initiation protocol REFER command is to be transmitted; a second data field indicating an originating party from whom the session initiation protocol REFER command was sent including the conference identifier; and a third data field indicating a method by which a recipient may accept the session initiation protocol REFER command;
wherein the session initiation protocol REFER command comprises a data body. wherein the data body comprises information relating to characteristics of the subconference call.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a reference module operable with the central processor, wherein the reference module:
a. references a locally stored list of call participants from the conference identifier;
b. presents the conference identifier to a user; and
c. provides an option of accepting the subconference call to the user.