METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFERENCING
A method and apparatus is provided for conferencing a plurality of users of a communication system. The method includes the steps of detecting a plurality of electronic messages directed to a common subject matter among the plurality of users, comparing a frequency of the detected messages among the plurality of users during a time period with a threshold value and setting up an electronic conference among the plurality of users when the frequency of messages exceeds the threshold value.
1 . A method of conferencing a plurality of users of a communication system comprising:
detecting a plurality of electronic messages directed to a common subject matter among the plurality of users;
comparing a frequency of the detected messages among the plurality of users during a time period with a threshold value; and
setting up an electronic conference among the plurality of users when the frequency of messages exceeds the threshold value.
2 . The method of conferencing as in claim 1 further comprising sending a message to each of the plurality of users inquiring whether the conference should be set up.
3 . The method of conferencing as in claim 1 wherein the detected messages further comprise e-mail messages.
4 . The method of conferencing as in claim 1 wherein the detected messages further comprise instant messages.
5 . The method of conferencing as in claim 1 wherein the conference further comprises a voice connection.
6 . The method of conferencing as in claim 5 wherein the voice connection further comprises a VoIP connection.
7 . The method of conferencing as in claim 5 wherein the voice connection further comprises a switched circuit connection.
8 . The method of conferencing as in claim 1 further comprising recording the conference.
9 . The method of conferencing as in claim 8 further comprising publishing a link to the recorded conference to the plurality of users.
10 . The method of conferencing as in claim 8 wherein the step of publishing the link further comprises sending the link to the plurality of users within an e-mail.
11 . The method of conferencing as in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the plurality of messages further comprises matching a subject matter field among the messages.
12 . The method of conferencing as in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the plurality of messages further comprises matching identifiers of the plurality of participants among a plurality of messages.
13 . An apparatus for conferencing a plurality of users of a communication system comprising:
means for detecting a plurality of electronic messages directed to a common subject matter among the plurality of users;
means for comparing a frequency of the detected messages among the plurality of users during a time period with a threshold value; and
means for setting up an electronic conference among the plurality of users when the frequency of messages exceeds the threshold value.
14 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 13 further comprising means for sending a message to each of the plurality of users inquiring whether the conference should be set up.
15 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 13 wherein the detected messages further comprise e-mail messages.
16 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 13 wherein the detected messages further comprise instant messages.
17 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 13 wherein the conference further comprises a voice connection.
18 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 17 wherein the voice connection further comprises a VoIP connection.
19 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 17 wherein the voice connection further comprises a switched circuit connection.
20 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 13 further comprising means for recording the conference.
21 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 20 further comprising means for publishing a link to the recorded conference to the plurality of users.
22 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 20 wherein the means for publishing the link further comprises means for sending the link to the plurality of users within an e-mail.
23 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 13 wherein the means for detecting the plurality of messages further comprises means for matching a subject matter field among the messages.
24 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 13 wherein the means for detecting the plurality of messages further comprises means for matching identifiers of the plurality of participants among a plurality of messages.
25 . An apparatus for conferencing a plurality of users of a communication system comprising:
a monitoring processor that detects a plurality of electronic messages directed to a common subject matter among the plurality of users;
a comparator that compares a frequency of the detected messages among the plurality of users during a time period with a threshold value; and
a communication processor that sets up an electronic conference among the plurality of users when the frequency of messages exceeds the threshold value.
25 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 25 further comprising means for sending a message to each of the plurality of users inquiring whether the conference should be set up.
26 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 25 wherein the detected messages further comprise e-mail messages.
27 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 25 wherein the detected messages further comprise instant messages.
28 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 25 wherein the conference further comprises a voice connection.
29 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 28 wherein the voice connection further comprises a VoIP connection.
30 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 28 wherein the voice connection further comprises a switched circuit connection.
31 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 25 further comprising means for recording the conference.
32 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 31 further comprising means for publishing a link to the recorded conference to the plurality of users.
33 . The apparatus for conferencing as in claim 31 wherein the means for publishing the link further comprises means for sending the link to the plurality of users within an e-mail.