Method and apparatus for automatic conference call invocation based on user presence
A telecommunications system includes a plurality of user devices; a presence and availability service configured to monitor presence states of the plurality of user devices; a teleconferencing service configured to permit a scheduling of conferences among the plurality of users; wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke a scheduled teleconference responsive to presence states of the plurality of user devices.
1 . A method, comprising:
scheduling a teleconference;
specifying prospective participants in said teleconference;
determining a presence status of said participants; and
invoking said conference at a scheduled time based on a presence status of prospective participants.
2 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , said invoking comprising calling out to a conference host at the scheduled time.
3 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , said invoking comprising calling out to a conference participant at the scheduled time if at least one other participant has joined the teleconference.
4 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said invoking comprises calling out to prospective participants if their presence states indicate said prospective participants are available.
5 . A method in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising retrying to call a prospective participant after a predetermined interval if said prospective participant was not available.
6 . A method in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising providing a message to a prospective participant if no prospective participants are available.
7 . A method in accordance with claim 6 , further comprising providing an option for a prospective participant to join the teleconference in a standby mode.
8 . A telecommunications system, comprising:
a plurality of user devices;
a presence and availability service configured to monitor presence states of the plurality of user devices;
a teleconferencing service configured to permit a scheduling of conferences among the plurality of users;
wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke a scheduled teleconference responsive to presence states of the plurality of user devices.
9 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke said teleconference by calling out to a conference host at the scheduled time.
10 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke said teleconference by calling out to a conference participant at the scheduled time if at least one other participant has joined the teleconference.
11 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke said teleconference by calling out to prospective participants if their presence states indicate said prospective participants are available.
12 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to retry to call a prospective participant after a predetermined interval if said prospective participant was not available.
13 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to provide a message to a prospective participant if no prospective participants are available.
14 . A telecommunications system, comprising:
a presence and availability service configured to monitor presence states of a plurality of users;
a teleconferencing service configured to permit a scheduling of conferences among the plurality of users;
wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke a scheduled teleconference responsive to presence states of the plurality of users.
15 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke said teleconference by calling out to a conference host at the scheduled time.
16 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke said teleconference by calling out to a conference participant at the scheduled time if at least one other participant has joined the teleconference.
17 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to invoke said teleconference by calling out to prospective participants if their presence states indicate said prospective participants are available.
18 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to retry to call a prospective participant after a predetermined interval if said prospective participant was not available.
19 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said teleconferencing service is configured to provide a message to a prospective participant if no prospective participants are available.
20 . A method, comprising:
invoking a teleconference at a scheduled time based on a presence status of prospective participants.
21 . A teleconferencing service configured to invoke a scheduled teleconference responsive to presence states of a plurality of user devices.