Automatic control of participation in telemeetings

Abstract

One or more unique identifiers are created which are associated directly with an upcoming telemeeting. For example, a unique identifier can be a preselected telephone number in a PSTN, or a URL that identifies an address on the World Wide Web. In one embodiment, a telemeeting is administered automatically under the control of a communications network's service node. Intended participants are invited to the meeting by including the unique identifier along with a notification message, such as, for example, in a facsimile message, e-mail message, page message, voice mail message, or bulletin board announcement. Using the unique identifier and suitable terminal equipment, any recipient of the notification message can call the telephone number (or click on the URL). In response to such a call, the service node generates and distributes to the recipient caller a personal reference, which is a unique telephone number (or URL address). The recipient caller then uses the personal reference to access and join the telemeeting via an appropriate node (e.g., to minimize calling distance, costs, etc.).