Conference bridge with improved handling of control signaling during an ongoing conference

1. A method for processing audible signals from participants of a conference call during the ongoing conference call by a conference bridge comprising the steps of:

detecting an incoming audible signal on a first line from a first participant during the conference call with a plurality of other conference call participants coupled via corresponding other lines; and

automatically attenuating the audible signal on the first line before information on the first line is summed into a common signal that is transmitted to the other conference call participants, thereby preventing the other participants from hearing the audible signal;

delaying information received on the first line so that non-delayed information and delayed information are formed, said detecting step detecting the incoming audible signal on the first line based on non-delayed information, said attenuating step attenuating the audible signal that is contained in the delayed information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising delaying information received on said other lines of the conference call as well as on the first line, said attenuating step attenuating the audible signal contained in the delayed information on the first line to produce a first attenuated signal, the delayed information on said other lines and the first attenuated signal being summed into said common signal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating an audible message that is transmitted to said other conference call participants in response to receipt of the incoming audible signal from the first participant.

4. A conference bridge comprising:

a tone detector means for detecting an incoming audible signal on a first line from a first participant during a conference call with a plurality of other conference call participants coupled via corresponding other lines; and

means for automatically attenuating the audible signal on the first line before information on the first line is summed into a common signal that is transmitted to the other conference call participants, thereby preventing the other participants from hearing the audible signal;

means for delaying information received on the first line so that non-delayed information and delayed information are formed, said detecting means detecting the incoming audible signal on the first line based on non-delayed information, said attenuating means attenuating the audible signal that is contained in the delayed information.

5. The conference bridge of claim 4 wherein said means for delaying delays information received on said other lines of the conference call as well as on the first line, said means for attenuating attenuating the audible signal contained in the delayed information on the first line to produce a first attenuated signal, the delayed information on said other lines and the first attenuated signal being summed into said common signal.

6. The conference bridge of claim 4 further comprising means for generating an audible message that is transmitted to said other conference call participants in response to receipt of the incoming audible signal from the first participant.

7. The conference bridge of claim 6 wherein said message includes identifying audible information that identifies the first participant.

8. The conference bridge of claim 7 wherein said message further includes audible status information of the status of the first participant.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the delayed information is the non-delayed information delayed in time.

10. The conference bridge of claim 4 wherein the delayed information is the non-delayed information delayed in time by the means for delaying.