Email based scheduling mechanism for conference calls

1. A computer-implemented method for a management server to schedule a conference call, wherein the management server manages conferencing equipment, the method comprising:

receiving, by the management server, an email comprising scheduling information for the conference call, wherein the scheduling information specifies a time and two or more endpoints for the conference call, wherein the managed conferencing equipment comprises at least one of the two or more endpoints;

determining, by the management server, whether the conference call is possible based on the scheduling information and a schedule for the managed conferencing equipment;

if the conference call is determined to be possible:

scheduling the conference call by the management server, wherein scheduling the conference call comprises entering the scheduling information in the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment;

sending, by the management server, a message to each participant in the conference call requesting that each participant specify a method of participation in the conference call;

receiving, by the management server, an indication of a method of participation in the conference call from at least one participant;

modifying, by the management server, the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment based on the method of participation indicated by the at least one participant.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, if the conference call is determined to be possible, than:

at the specified time, the management server automatically initiating the conference call based on the scheduling information in the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein said determining whether the conference call is possible comprises checking the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment for one or more of:

down times of any relevant conferencing equipment;

conflicts with other scheduled conference calls; or

capability to host the conference call.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the management server comprises a dedicated scheduling mailbox, wherein the email comprising the scheduling information is received by the dedicated scheduling mailbox.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein receiving scheduling information for the conference call comprises receiving a forwarded email from at least one of the two or more endpoints.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduling information specifies a preferred host for the conference call, further comprising:

determining, by the management server that the preferred host is suitable to host the conference call.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduling information specifies a preferred host for the conference call, further comprising:

determining, by the management server, that the preferred host is not suitable to host the conference call;

determining, by the management server, at least one alternate host which is suitable to host the conference call.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduling information is received from a user, the method further comprising:

sending, by the management server, an indication to the user indicating whether the conference call is possible.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one participant is an external participant using conferencing equipment which is not managed by the management server, further comprising:

receiving, by the management server, the indication of the method of participation in the conference call from the external participant, wherein the indication indicates that the external participant is using the conferencing equipment which is not managed by the management server;

creating, by the management server, an external equipment entry based on the indication of the method of participation, wherein the external equipment entry enables the management server to include the conferencing equipment which is not managed by the management server in the conference call.

10. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the schedule for managed conferencing equipment comprises a database comprised in the management server.

11. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for managing videoconferencing equipment, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

store a schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment;

receive an email comprising scheduling information for a videoconference, wherein the scheduling information specifies a time and two or more endpoints for the videoconference, wherein the managed videoconferencing equipment comprises at least one of the two or more endpoints;

determine whether the videoconference is possible based on the scheduling information and the schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment;

if the videoconference is determined to be possible:

schedule the videoconference, wherein scheduling the videoconference comprises entering the scheduling information in the schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment;

send a message to each participant in the videoconference requesting that each participant specify a method of participation in the videoconference;

receive an indication of a method of participation in the videoconference from at least one participant;

modify the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment based on the method of participation indicated by the at least one participant.

12. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

if the videoconference is determined to be possible, automatically initiate the videoconference based on the scheduling information in the schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment.

13. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions executable to determine whether the videoconference is possible are executable to:

check the schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment for one or more of:

down times of any relevant videoconferencing equipment;

conflicts with other scheduled videoconferences; or

capability to host the videoconference.

14. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

store a dedicated scheduling mailbox, wherein the email comprising the scheduling information is received by the dedicated scheduling mailbox.

15. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions executable to receive scheduling information for the videoconference are executable to:

receive a forwarded email including the scheduling information from at least one of the two or more endpoints.

16. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the scheduling information specifies a preferred host for the videoconference, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine that the preferred host is suitable to host the videoconference.

17. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the scheduling information specifies a preferred host for the videoconference, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine that the preferred host is not suitable to host the videoconference;

determine at least one alternate host which is suitable to host the videoconference.

18. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the scheduling information is received from a user, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

send an indication to the user indicating whether the videoconference is possible.

19. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the at least one participant is an external participant using external videoconferencing equipment which is not comprised in the managed videoconferencing equipment, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive the indication of the method of participation in the videoconference from the external participant, wherein the indication indicates that the external participant is using the external videoconferencing equipment;

create an external equipment entry based on the indication of the method of participation, wherein the external equipment entry enables the management server to include the external videoconferencing equipment in the videoconference.

20. The computer readable memory medium of claim 11 ,

wherein the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment comprises a database.

21. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a network port coupled to the processor, wherein the network port is configured to couple to a network; and,

a memory medium coupled to the processor which stores program instructions for managing videoconferencing equipment, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to:

store a schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment;

receive an email comprising scheduling information for a videoconference, wherein the scheduling information specifies a time and two or more endpoints for the videoconference, wherein the managed videoconferencing equipment comprises at least one of the two or more endpoints;

determine whether the videoconference is possible based on the scheduling information and the schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment;

if the videoconference is determined to be possible:

schedule the videoconference, wherein scheduling the videoconference comprises entering the scheduling information in the schedule for the managed videoconferencing equipment;

send a message to each participant in the videoconference requesting that each participant specify a method of participation in the videoconference;

receive an indication of a method of participation in the videoconference from at least one participant;

modify the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment based on the method of participation indicated by the at least one participant.