Invite Conference-Unaware Participant with Active Dialog to an Ad-Hoc Conference at the Application Server

Abstract

A system and method for initiating a conference call is provided. The method consists of a first participant initiating a first telephony session with a second participant. The first participant then places the second participant on hold, initiates a second telephony session with a third participant, and initiates the conference call. A SIP REFER message related to the second and third participants is sent to an application server. A SIP INVITE message is sent to the second and third participants. The first telephony session is replaced with a session between the second participant and a conference bridge. The second telephony session is replaced with a session between the third participant and the conference bridge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a call flow diagram for establishing a conference call according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a wireless communications system including a handset operable for some of the various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a handset operable for some of the various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a software environment that may be implemented on a handset operable for some of the various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary general-purpose computer system suitable for implementing the several embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a conference call comprising: a first participant initiating a first telephony session with a second participant;the first participant placing the second participant on hold;the first participant initiating a second telephony session with a third participant;the first participant initiating the conference call;sending a SIP (session initiation protocol) REFER message related to the second and third participants to an application server;sending a SIP INVITE message to the second and third participants;replacing the first telephony session with a session between the second participant and a conference bridge; andreplacing the second telephony session with a session between the third participant and the conference bridge.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing the second participant on hold and the initiating the conference call are carried out by activating an input mechanism on a handset.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the input mechanism causes the SIP REFER message to be sent.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the application server sending the SIP INVITE message upon receiving the SIP REFER message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the INVITE message contains a Replaces header that replaces a participant-to-participant session with a participant-to-conference bridge session.

6. The method of claim 1, where the first, second, and third participants communicate using a wireless handset is selected from a group of wireless handset consisting of: mobile telephones, personal communications services, cellular telephones, wireless communications devices, personal digital assistants, laptop computers, and tablet computers.

7. A communication system comprising: a first handset operable to communication in a first SIP (session initiation protocol) session with a second handset, and operable to communicate in a second SIP session with a third handset, the first handset further operable to send a SIP REFER to an application server to prompt the application server to send a SIP INVITE message to the second handset and the third handset.

8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the SIP INVITE message includes a Replaces header operable to replace the first SIP session with a conference between the second handset and a conference bridge and operable to replace the second SIP session with a conference between the third handset and the conference bridge.

9. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the first handset further comprises an input mechanism operable, when activated a first time, to place the first SIP session on hold and, when activated a second time, to send the SIP REFER message.

10. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the SIP REFER message instructs the application server to send the SIP INVITE message to the second handset and the third handset.

11. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the first handset is selected from a group of handsets consisting of: mobile telephones, wireless mobile devices, and personal digital assistants.

12. A system for conducting a conference call comprising: an application server, such that when a first handset operably communicates in a first SIP (session initiation protocol) session with a second handset and the first handset operably communicates in a second SIP session with a third handset, the application server in response to receiving a SIP REFER message from the first handset sends a SIP INVITE message to the second handset and the third handset.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the SIP INVITE message includes a Replaces header operable to replace the first SIP session with a conference between the second handset and a conference bridge and operable to replace the second SIP session with a conference between the third handset and the conference bridge.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first handset further comprises an input mechanism operable, when activated a first time, to place the first SIP session on hold and, when activated a second time, to send the SIP REFER message.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the SIP REFER message instructs the application server to send the SIP INVITE message to the second handset and the third handset.

16. The system claim 12, wherein the first handset is selected from a group of handsets consisting of: mobile telephones, wireless mobile devices, and personal digital assistants.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second and third handsets are first handset is selected from a group of handsets consisting of: mobile telephones, wireless mobile devices, and personal digital assistants, laptop computers, and tablet computers.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the application server is an IMS (IP (Internet Protocol) Multimedia Subsystem) server.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising an IMS (IP (Internet Protocol) Multimedia Subsystem) system and wherein the application server is an IMS server in the IMS system.