Dynamic conferenced communications
A system for dynamic conferenced communications, comprising a communication application server that handles interactions between conference participants, a communications bridge that receives interactions from participants via the Internet or other data networks, and a telephony switch that receives and handles interactions from participants via a telephone network, and a method for providing dynamic communications conferencing.
1. A method comprising:
at a communications application server:
receiving, from a host user, a configuration of an electronic conference, the configuration including a host user electronic conference setting;
initiating the electronic conference based on the configuration;
receiving, via a telephony network, a routed call from a potential participant, wherein the routed call is to a host user telephone number corresponding to a personal or work host user telephone number that is configured for one-on-one telephone calls when the electronic conference is not configured;
verifying the potential participant according to the host user electronic conference setting; and
if the verification is successful, automatically connecting the potential participant to the electronic conference.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the verification is unsuccessful, preventing the potential participant from connecting to the electronic conference.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting marks a specific potential participant as being allowed to join the electronic conference.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting is a whitelist of the specific potential participant.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting is an invitation for the specific potential participant to participate in the electronic conference.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting includes prerequisites for participants to join the electronic conference.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the prerequisites include requiring all participants to be on a mobile phone with a camera for a video conference.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising closing the electronic conference such that subsequent incoming calls to the host user telephone number result in the one-on-one telephone calls.
9. An apparatus comprising:
a memory; and
one or more processors configured to, on behalf of a communications application server:
receive, from a host user, a configuration of an electronic conference, the configuration including a host user electronic conference setting;
initiate the electronic conference based on the configuration;
receive, via a telephony network, a routed call from a potential participant, wherein the routed call is to a host user telephone number corresponding to a personal or work host user telephone number that is configured for one-on-one telephone calls when the electronic conference is not configured;
verify the potential participant according to the host user electronic conference setting; and
if the verification is successful, automatically connect the potential participant to the electronic conference.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, if the verification is unsuccessful, prevent the potential participant from connecting to the electronic conference.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting marks a specific potential participant as being allowed to join the electronic conference.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting is a whitelist of the specific potential participant.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting is an invitation for the specific potential participant to participate in the electronic conference.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting includes prerequisites for participants to join the electronic conference.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the prerequisites include requiring all participants to be on a mobile phone with a camera for a video conference.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to close the electronic conference such that subsequent incoming calls to the host user telephone number result in the one-on-one telephone calls.
17. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a communications application server, cause the processor to:
receive, from a host user, a configuration of an electronic conference, the configuration including a host user electronic conference setting;
initiate the electronic conference based on the configuration;
receive, via a telephony network, a routed call from a potential participant, wherein the routed call is to a host user telephone number corresponding to a personal or work host user telephone number that is configured for one-on-one telephone calls when the electronic conference is not configured;
verify the potential participant according to the host user electronic conference setting; and
if the verification is successful, automatically connect the potential participant to the electronic conference.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, if the verification is unsuccessful, prevent the potential participant from connecting to the electronic conference.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting marks a specific potential participant as being allowed to join the electronic conference.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the host user electronic conference setting includes prerequisites for participants to join the electronic conference.