EP0453128A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple call control method in a multimedia conferencing system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1991-04-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A method for use in a multimedia conferencing arrangement to control multiple concurrent calls where each call comprises one or more channels. A first call among a first set of user stations and a second call among a second set of user stations are merged into a single call comprising a plurality of channels among at least three user stations from the first and second sets. The plurality of channels of the single, merged call corresponds to a combination of channels of the first and second calls and may include a signalling channel, a voice channel, and one data channel for each data channel of the first and second calls. The method is also applicable to calls including image or video channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Joseph Baumgartner
- 👤 Yeou Huei Hwang
- 👤 Edith Helene Jones
- 👤 Wu-Hon Francis Leung
- 👤 Lara Felker Morgan
- 👤 Shi-Chuan Tu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/567; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04M3/42221; H04M3/563; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for use in an arrangement comprising a communication network interconnecting a plurality of user stations, said method comprising providing a first call among a first set of said user stations, providing a second call among a second set of said user stations and merging said first and second calls into a single call, comprising a plurality of channels, among at least three user stations from said first and second sets, said plurality of channels corresponding to a combination of channels of said first and second calls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said merging comprises merging said first and second calls into a single call connection, comprising said plurality of channels, among the union of said first and second sets of user stations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first call comprises a signaling channel, said second call comprises a signaling channel, at least one of said first and second calls further comprises at least one non-signaling channel, and said plurality of channels comprises a signaling channel and at least one non-signaling channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first call comprises at least one data channel, said second call comprises at least one data channel, and said plurality of channels includes a data channel for each data channel of said first and second calls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least one of said first and second calls further comprises a voice channel, and said plurality of channels further includes a voice channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first call further comprises a signaling channel, said second call further comprises a signaling channel, and said plurality of channels further includes a signaling channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least one of said first and second calls further comprises an image channel, and said plurality of channels further includes an image channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least one of said first and second calls further comprises a video channel, and said plurality of channels further includes a video channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of channels comprise virtual channels of a multicast connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising in response to user input, selectively providing said at least three user stations with access to transmit information to and receive information from said plurality of channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said first set of user stations and at least one of said second set of user stations include display means, said method further comprising in response to user input at said one of said first set stations, both establishing said first call in said network and displaying representations corresponding to said first set of user stations in a window on said display means of said one of said first set stations, and in response to user input at said one of said second set stations, both establishing said second call in said network and displaying representations corresponding to said second set of user stations in a window on said display means of said one of said second set stations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of user stations is a member of both of said first and second sets, said one user station comprises display means, said merging is in response to user input at said one user station, said method further comprising further in response to said user input at said one user station, displaying representations corresponding to user stations of said first and second sets in a window on said display means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising further in response to said user input at said one user station, displaying, in said window, representations each corresponding to one of said plurality of channels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said plurality of channels includes at least one data channel, said method further comprising displaying, in a second window of said display means, a data communication application shared among user stations of said first and second sets via said one data channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of user stations is a member of both of said first and second sets, said method further comprising in response to user input at said one user station, transmitting a merge request via said network to each of the other user stations of said first and second sets, and in response to receipt of a favorable reply to said merge request from each of said other user stations of said first and second sets, said one user station initiating said merging.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4905231A
Cited
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