Qwest Communications International Inc.

Ruth A Cameron

Joseph E Vance

The scheduling system ( ) includes a bridge administrator ( ) that is interfaced with a plurality of nodes ( and ) via a public network such as the Internet ( ). In the illustrated embodiment, each of the nodes ( and ) includes both a phone ( A, A and A) and a computer ( B, B and B). The bridge administrator ( ) includes a scheduler ( ), a controller ( ), a user database ( ), a scheduling database ( ) and a number of bridges ( and ). A user can access the scheduler ( ) via the Internet in order to schedule a conference call using one of the bridges ( and ). The scheduler ( ) authenticates the user based on the user database ( ) and determines bridge availability based on the scheduling database ( ). Scheduling information is then reported to the user and other conference call participants. At the scheduled conference call time, each of the conference call participants can access the selected bridge(s) ( and/or ) in order to be patched into the-conference call. The invention thereby automates bridge scheduling so as to allow for better bridge utilization without requiring manual administration.

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Golden, CO, United States of America

Ruth A Cameron