IP Library Granted Patent US 7,502,456
Granted Patent B2
US 7,502,456 · App. 10/741,362 · Granted Mar 10, 2009

Computer-implemented telephone call conferencing system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,502,456
App. No.
10/741,362
Granted
Mar 10, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments provide a telephone comprising two telephone handsets, the telephone to establish a conference call between the two telephone handsets, and a computing device coupled to the telephone, the computing device to define the conference call.

Claims (53)

1. A system comprising:

a telephone comprising two telephone handsets, the telephone to establish a conference call between the two telephone handsets; and

a computing device coupled to the telephone, the computing device to define the conference call by defining one or more workgroups, and to present a user interface to receive data associating individuals with the one or more workgroups.

2. A system according to claim 1 ,

the computing device to define the conference call by presenting a user interface for defining participants in the conference call.

3. A system according to claim 1 ,

the computing device to transmit telephone call signals of the conference call to the telephone.

4. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising a computer network to couple the computing device to the telephone, the telephone to provide the conference call between the two telephone handsets and a remote telephone, and the computer network to couple the computing device to the at least one other telephone.

5. A system according to claim 1 , the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol computer network.

6. A system according to claim 5 , the telephone to provide the conference call between the two telephone handsets and a remote telephone, and the computer network to couple the computing device to the at least one other telephone.

7. A system comprising:

a telephone comprising two telephone handsets, the telephone to establish a conference call between the two telephone handsets;

a computing device coupled to the telephone, the computing device to define the conference call, and

a computer network to couple the computing device to the telephone,

the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol computer network.

8. A method for a computing device, the method comprising:

defining a conference call between two telephone handsets associated with a telephone,

wherein the telephone is to establish the conference call between the two telephone handsets and wherein defining the conference call comprises defining one or more workgroups; and

presenting a user interface to receive data associating individuals with the one or more workgroups.

9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

presenting a user interface for defining participants in the conference call.

10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the computing device is coupled to the telephone via a computer network.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the computer network comprises an Internet Protocol computer network.

12. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to:

define a conference call between two telephone handsets associated with a telephone,

wherein the telephone is to establish the conference call between the two telephone handsets and wherein the instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to define the conference call comprise instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to define one or more workgroups, and

present a user interface to receive data associating individuals with the one or more workgroups.

13. A device according to claim 12 , the storage device further storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to:

present a user interface for defining participants in the conference call.

14. A device according to claim 12 , wherein the computing device is coupled to the telephone via a computer network.

15. A device according to claim 14 , wherein the computer network comprises an Internet Protocol computer network.

16. A method for a telephone, the method comprising:

establishing a conference call between two telephone handsets associated with the telephone,

wherein the conference call is defined by a computing device coupled to the telephone,

wherein the computing device is coupled to the telephone via a computer network, and

wherein the computer network comprises an Internet Protocol computer network.

17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein establishing the conference call comprises:

receiving a definition of the conference call from the computing device.

18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the definition indicates one or more workgroups to participate in the conference call.

19. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the definition indicates one or more participants to participate in the conference call.

20. A telephone comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to:

establish a conference call between two telephone handsets associated with the telephone,

wherein the conference call is defined by a computing device coupled to the telephone,

wherein the computing device is coupled to the telephone via a computer network,

wherein the computer network comprises an Internet Protocol computer network.

21. A device according to claim 20 , wherein the instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to establish the conference call comprise instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to:

receive a definition of the conference call from the computing device.

22. A device according to claim 21 , wherein the definition indicates one or more workgroups to participate in the conference call.

23. A device according to claim 21 , wherein the definition indicates one or more participants to participate in the conference call.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2016
From: WELLS FARGO TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED
To: UNIFY INC.
Reel/Frame 037661/0781 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 20, 2016
From: WELLS FARGO TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS SECURITY AGENT
To: UNIFY INC. (F/K/A SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 037564/0703 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 11, 2015
From: SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: UNIFY, INC.
Reel/Frame 037090/0909 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS Recorded Nov 10, 2010
From: SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 025339/0904 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2010
From: SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024294/0040 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 7, 2009
From: SIEMENS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS, INC.
To: SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022067/0472 →
ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Jan 7, 2009
From: SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022067/0539 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2004
From: CASPI, RAMI; BEYDA, WILLIAM J.
To: SIEMENS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015367/0435 →