Conference control transfer arrangement

Claim 2

An arrangement for conferencing a plurality of customer stations comprising a multiport conference bridge, means effective when coupled to one of said stations for controlling the connection of other said stations to said ports of said bridge, and means responsive to a conference request signal from a calling one of said stations for coupling said controlling means exclusively to said calling station, said controlling means including means responsive to control signals form said calling station when coupled thereto for transferring the coupling of said controlling means from said calling station to another said station independently of the coupling of said calling station to said bridge.

Claim 3

An arrangement for conferencing a plurality of customer stations comprising a multiport conference bridge, means effective when coupled to one of said stations for controlling the connection of other said stations to said ports of said bridge, and means responsive to a conference request signal from a calling one of said stations for coupling said controlling means to said calling station, said controlling means including means responsive to coded signals from said calling station when coupled thereto for designating one of said other stations and for transferring the coupling of said controlling means from said calling station to said one other station and wherein said controlling means further includes means for ascertaining if said other station designated by said coded signals is coupled to a port on said bridge.

Claim 4

An arrangement for conferencing a plurality of customer stations comprising a multiport conference bridge, means effective when coupled to one of said stations for controlling the connection of other said stations to said ports of said bridge, and means responsive to a conference request signal from a calling one of said stations for coupling said controlling means to said calling station, said controlling means including means responsive to coded signals from said calling station when coupled thereto for designating one of said other stations and for transferring the coupling of said controlling means from said calling station to said one other station and wherein said controlling means further includes means for ascertaining if said other station designated by said coded signals is coupled to a port on said bridge.

Claim 5

For use in a multiport conference arrangement serving a plurality of customer stations, a method for controlling the conference arrangement comprising the steps of connecting control apparatus to a station originating a conference call to receive control signals exclusively from said originating station; activating, in response to a first control signal, ports for use by other stations, and transferring the connection of the control apparatus exclusively to a particular one of said other stations as designated by a second control signal and independently of the coupling of said originating station to said bridge.

Claim 6

For use in a multiport conference arrangement serving a plurality of customer stations, a method for controlling the conference arrangement comprising the steps of connecting control apparatus to a station originating a conference call to receive control signals exclusively from said originating station; activating, in response to a first control signal, ports for use by other stations, and transferring the connection of the control apparatus exclusively to a particular one of said other stations as designated by a second control signal and independently of the coupling of said originating station to said bridge.

Claim 7

For use in a multiport conference arrangement serving a plurality of customer stations, a method for controlling the conference arrangement comprising the steps of connecting control apparatus to a station originating a conference call to receive station identification signals from said originating station; activating, in response to a first plurality of station identification signals, ports for use by other stations by coupling each said activated port to an individual customer station identified by one of said first plurality of station identification signals, and transferring the connection of the control apparatus to a particular one of said other stations as designated by a second one of said station identification signals and ascertaining whether the station identified by said second station indentification signal is the same as one of the stations identified by one of the first plurality of station identification signals.

Claim 8

For use in a multiport conference arrangement serving a plurality of customer stations, a method for controlling the conference arrangement comprising the steps of connecting control apparatus to a station originating a conference call to receive station identification signals from said originating station; activating, in response to a first plurality of station identification signals, ports for use by other stations by coupling each said activated port to an individual customer station identified by one of said first plurality of station identification signals, and transferring the connection of the control apparatus to a particular one of said other stations as designated by a second one of said station identification signals and ascertaining whether the station identified by said second station indentification signal is the same as one of the stations identified by one of the first plurality of station identification signals.

Claim 9

For use in communication network having a plurality of customer stations, a conference system having an audio bridge, a plurality of ports and control means, means responsive to a conference request signal from a calling one of said stations for coupling said control means exclusively to said calling station, said control means including means effective upon the receipt of call directing signals exclusively from said calling station for establishing communication channels between said ports and selected other ones of said stations as designated by said call directing signals, and means responsive to the receipt of a transfer signal from said calling station for uncoupling said control means from said calling station and for coupling said control means exclusively to one of said other stations independently of the coupling of said calling station to said bridge.

Claim 10

For use in communication network having a plurality of customer stations, a conference system having an audio bridge, a plurality of ports and control means, means responsive to a conference request signal from a calling one of said stations for coupling said control means exclusively to said calling station, said control means including means effective upon the receipt of call directing signals exclusively from said calling station for establishing communication channels between said ports and selected other ones of said stations as designated by said call directing signals, and means responsive to the receipt of a transfer signal from said calling station for uncoupling said control means from said calling station and for coupling said control means exclusively to one of said other stations independently of the coupling of said calling station to said bridge.

Claim 11

For use in a communications network having a plurality of customer stations, a conference system having an audio bridge, a plurality of ports and control means, means responsive to a conference request signal from a calling one of said stations for coupling said control means to said calling station, said control means including means effective upon the receipt of call directing signals from said calling station for establishing communication channels between said ports and selected other ones of said stations as designated by said call directing signals, and means responsive to the receipt from said calling station of a transfer signal identifying a particular other one of said stations for uncoupling said control means from said calling station and for coupling said control means to said other station, and means for ascertaining if the station identified by said transfer signal is one of said selected other stations before said uncoupling means is activated.

Claim 12

For use in a communications network having a plurality of customer stations, a conference system having an audio bridge, a plurality of ports and control means, means responsive to a conference request signal from a calling one of said stations for coupling said control means to said calling station, said control means including means effective upon the receipt of call directing signals from said calling station for establishing communication channels between said ports and selected other ones of said stations as designated by said call directing signals, and means responsive to the receipt from said calling station of a transfer signal identifying a particular other one of said stations for uncoupling said control means from said calling station and for coupling said control means to said other station, and means for ascertaining if the station identified by said transfer signal is one of said selected other stations before said uncoupling means is activated.

Claim 13

For use in a communication system for conferencing a plurality of customer stations a multiport conference bridge, coupling means effective when actuated for establishing communication channels between said stations and said ports for conferencing, control means responsive to signals from a calling one of said customer stations for controlling the actuation of said coupling means, a signaling path for exclusively interconnecting a designated one of said stations with said control means, and means responsive to said signals for selecting said designated station for exclusive interconnection over said signaling path without affecting the coupling of said calling station to said bridge.

Claim 14

For use in a communication system for conferencing a plurality of customer stations a multiport conference bridge, coupling means effective when actuated for establishing communication channels between said stations and said ports for conferencing, control means responsive to signals from a calling one of said customer stations for controlling the actuation of said coupling means, a signaling path for exclusively interconnecting a designated one of said stations with said control means, and means responsive to said signals for selecting said designated station for exclusive interconnection over said signaling path without affecting the coupling of said calling station to said bridge.

Claim 15

For use in a conference system serving a plurality of customer stations, a method for controlling the conference system comprising the steps of recognizing a request for conference service from an originating customer station, connecting a signal receiver exclusively to the originating station to receive call directive signals representing other customer stations to be included in a conference, establishing conference paths to the other customer stations in accordance with the call directive signals, and connection a signal receiver exclusively to a designated one of the other customer stations in response to a transfer signal from the originating station while maintaining the coupling of said originating station to said bridge.

Claim 16

For use in a conference system serving a plurality of customer stations, a method for controlling the conference system comprising the steps of recognizing a request for conference service from an originating customer station, connecting a signal receiver exclusively to the originating station to receive call directive signals representing other customer stations to be included in a conference, establishing conference paths to the other customer stations in accordance with the call directive signals, and connection a signal receiver exclusively to a designated one of the other customer stations in response to a transfer signal from the originating station while maintaining the coupling of said originating station to said bridge.