The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
May. 12, 1995
William E Pinnell, Auburndale, FL (US);
James H Campbell, IV, Winter Haven, FL (US);
Protel, Inc., Lakeland, FL (US);
Abstract
An audio teleconferencing apparatus includes one or more conference bridges for establishing an audio teleconference between conference attendees, and a conference controller for controlling the conference bridges to permit a conference scheduler to reserve an audio teleconference and facilitate connection of the conference attendees during the audio teleconference. The conference controller may receive an account number of the conference scheduler via a telephone of the conference scheduler, and determine the validity of the account number. The conference controller generates an audio prompt menu at the telephone of the conference scheduler for directing the conference scheduler to input conference reservation information via the telephone responsive to a valid account number from the conference scheduler, and for reserving the audio teleconference based upon the input conference reservation information. The reservation information preferably includes a reserved date of the audio teleconference, a reserved starting time of the audio teleconference, a reserved length of the audio teleconference, and a reserved number of conference attendees for the audio teleconference. The conference controller also preferably includes code activation and deactivation features, reservation confirmation features, and reconfiguration and overbooking features. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.