METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING A CONFERENCE CALL BETWEEN A REMOTE AND A LOCAL ENDPOINT
The present invention provides a method and a system for establishing a conference call between a first conference endpoint and a second conference endpoint. This is achieved by means of a soft client residing on a portable communication terminal, which is able to receive and initiate calls from/to the first endpoint, and to establish a local connection with and move the call to the second endpoint, in order to exploit the high quality features available in the second conference endpoint.
1 . Method for establishing a conference call between a first conference endpoint and a second conference endpoint,
characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
establishing a remote communication between a portable communication terminal which is operatively connected to a communication network, and said first conference endpoint through said communication network;
establishing a local communication between said mobile communication terminal and said second conference endpoint through a local communication connection; and
establishing a conference communication between said first and second conference endpoints.
2 . Method according to claim 1 ,
wherein said step of establishing a conference communication between said first and second conference endpoints comprises establishing said communication via said portable communication terminal.
3 . Method according to claim 1 or 2 ,
performed by said portable communication terminal.
4 . Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3 ,
wherein said step of establishing a remote communication comprises establishing a SIP dialog between said mobile communication terminal and said first conference endpoint.
5 . Method according to one of the claims 1 - 4 , wherein said step of establishing a remote communication comprises:
receiving an invite message from said first conference endpoint, said invite message including an identifier identifying said first conference endpoint, and
transmitting an acknowledge message to said first conference endpoint.
6 . Method according to one of the claims 1 - 4 , wherein said step of establishing a remote communication comprises:
transmitting an invite message to said first conference endpoint, said invite message including an identifier identifying said mobile communication terminal, and
receiving an acknowledge message from said first conference endpoint.
7 . Method according to claim 6 , wherein said step of transmitting an invite message is preceded by the steps of
determining a set of potential conference endpoints that are available for local communication with the mobile communication terminal, and
selecting said second conference endpoint among said set of potential conference endpoints.
8 . Method according to one of the claims 1 - 7 ,
wherein said step of establishing a local communication comprises establishing a SIP dialog between said portable communication terminal and said second conference endpoint.
9 . Method according to claim 8 ,
wherein said local communication is selected from the following set of communication types: WLAN, Bluetooth, WiFi.
10 . Method according to one of the claims 1 - 9 ,
wherein said step of establishing a local communication comprises:
transmitting an invite message to said second conference endpoint, said invite message including an identifier identifying said portable communication terminal, and
receiving an acknowledge message from said second conference endpoint.
11 . Method according to one of the clams 1 - 10 ,
wherein said step of establishing said conference communication between said first and second conference endpoints comprising
relaying conference media between said endpoints via said mobile communication terminal.
12 . Method according to one of the claims 1 - 4 or 6 - 11 , wherein the portable communication terminal includes a conference soft client,
the method further comprising the step of
establishing a conference communication between said first endpoint and said conference soft client in said portable communication terminal, and
moving said conference communication from said mobile communication terminal to said second conference endpoint by establishing a conference communication between said first and second conference endpoints.
13 . System for establishing a conference call between a first conference endpoint and a second conference endpoint,
characterized in that the system comprises
a portable communication terminal, operatively connected to a communication network and configured to
establish a remote communication between said portable communication terminal and said first conference endpoint through said communication network;
establish a local communication between said mobile communication terminal and said second conference endpoint through a local communication connection; and
establish a conference communication between said first and second conference endpoints.
14 . System according to claim 13 ,
wherein said portable communication terminal is configured to establish said communication between said first and second conference endpoints via said portable communication terminal.
15 . System according to claim 13 or 14 ,
wherein said portable communication terminal is configured to establish a remote communication by establishing a SIP dialog between said portable communication terminal and said first conference endpoint.
16 . System according to one of the claims 13 - 15 , wherein said portable communication terminal is configured to:
receive an invite message from said first conference endpoint, said invite message including an identifier identifying said first conference endpoint, and
transmit an acknowledge message to said first conference endpoint.
17 . System according to one of the claims 13 - 15 , wherein said portable communication terminal is configured to:
transmit an invite message to said first conference endpoint, said invite message including an identifier identifying said mobile communication terminal, and
receive an acknowledge message from said first conference endpoint.
18 . System according to claim 17 , wherein said portable communication terminal is configured to, preceding the step of transmitting an invite message,
determine a set of potential conference endpoints that are available for local communication with the portable communication terminal, and
select said second conference endpoint among said set of potential conference endpoints.
19 . System according to one of the claims 13 - 18 ,
wherein said step of establishing a local communication comprises
establishing a SIP dialog between said portable communication terminal and said second conference endpoint.
20 . System according to claim 19 ,
wherein said local communication is selected from the following set of communication types: WLAN, Bluetooth, WiFi.
21 . System according to one of the claims 13 - 20 , wherein said portable communication terminal is configured to:
transmit an invite message to said second conference endpoint, said invite message including an identifier identifying said portable communication terminal, and
receive an acknowledge message from said second conference endpoint.
22 . System according to one of the clams 13 - 21 ,
wherein said portable communication terminal is configured to
relay conference media between said endpoints via said portable communication terminal.
23 . System according to one of the claims 13 - 15 or 17 - 22 , wherein the portable communication terminal includes a conference soft client, and said portable communication terminal is configured to
establish a conference communication between said first endpoint and said conference soft client in said portable communication terminal, and
move said conference communication from said mobile communication terminal to said second conference endpoint by establishing a conference communication between said first and second conference endpoints.