Multimedia conference call providing adjustable bandwidth for individual communication terminals

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a multimedia conference call between a plurality of telecommunication terminals interconnected by a switching system having a plurality of switch nodes and one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals controlling the conference call, the method comprising the steps of:

implementing the conference call on first one of the plurality of switch nodes;

interconnecting each of the plurality of telecommunication terminals to the first one of the plurality of switch nodes by a communication path through the plurality of switch nodes where each communication path is through one or more of the plurality of switch nodes;

providing a plurality of communication types on the first one of the plurality of switch nodes;

managing the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals by a terminal management application being executed by the first one of the plurality switch nodes;

receiving by the terminal management application all message transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals;

transmitting to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals by an individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals a first message to change the communication bandwidth varying the number of communication types on a first communication path used by the individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals; and

changing in response to the first message only the number of communication types that the individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals uses to participate in the multimedia conference call by the switch nodes throughout the first communication path and by the first one of the plurality of switch nodes.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of transmitting to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals by a second individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals another first message to change the communication bandwidth on a second communication path used by the second individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals to be the same as the communication types being used by the first individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals; and

changing in response to the other first message only the number of communication types that the second individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals uses to participate in the multimedia conference call by the switch nodes throughout the second communication path and by the first one of the plurality of switch nodes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of changing comprises the steps of transmitting a second message back to the first individual one of the plurality communication terminals by the terminal management application in response to receipt of the first message; and

transmitting another second message back to the second individual one of the plurality communication terminals by the terminal management application in response to receipt of the other first message.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of changing on the first communication path comprises the step of adding an additional communication type to the first communication path;

the step of changing on the second communication path comprises the step of adding the additional communication type to the second communication path; and

the method further comprises the step of allowing the first and second individual ones of the remaining ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals to communicate jointly using the additional communication type while still communicating with all other ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of changing on the first communication path further comprises the step of updating a conference record to indicate changes in the number of communication types used by the first individual one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

the step of changing on the second communication path further comprises the step of updating the conference record to indicate changes in the number of communication types used by the second individual one of the plurality of communication terminals.

6. A method for controlling changes in communication bandwidth for a plurality of communication paths of a multimedia conference call with each communication path interconnecting one of a plurality of telecommunication terminals into the multimedia conference call that is established on a switching system and the switching system being capable of providing a plurality of multimedia functions for the multimedia conference call with each of the plurality of multimedia functions requiring communication bandwidth, the method comprising the steps of:

using by all of the plurality of telecommunication terminals in the multimedia conference call a set of the plurality of multimedia functions;

receiving by the switching system a first message to increase the communication bandwidth on a first one of the plurality of the communication paths transmitted to one of the plurality of communication terminals controlling the multimedia conference call where the first one of the plurality of communication paths interconnects a first one of the plurality of communication terminals to the switching system;

increasing the communication bandwidth on the first one of the plurality of communication paths by the switching system thereby giving an additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions not in the set of the plurality of multimedia functions to the first one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals;

receiving by the switching system a second message to increase the communication bandwidth on a second one of the plurality of the communication paths transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals where the second one of the plurality of communication paths interconnects a second one of the plurality of communication terminals to the switching system; and

increasing the communication bandwidth on the second one of the plurality of communication paths by the switching system thereby giving the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions to the second one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals and allowing the first and second ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals to communicate jointly using the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions while still communicating with the other ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals using the set of multimedia functions.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprises the steps of receiving by the switching system a third message to decrease the communication bandwidth on a third one of the plurality communication paths transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals where the third one of the plurality of communication paths interconnects a third one of the plurality telecommunication terminals to the switching system;

decreasing the communication bandwidth on the third one of the plurality of communication paths by the switching system thereby removing one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions from use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

continuing to communicate with the remaining ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals using the remaining ones of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions by the third one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprises the steps of receiving by the switching system a fourth message to increase the communication bandwidth on the third one of the plurality communication paths transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals;

increasing the communication bandwidth on the third one of the plurality of communication paths by the switching system thereby adding the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions for use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

communicating with the remaining ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals using the set of the plurality of multimedia functions by the third one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the switching system comprises a plurality of switch nodes and the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals is connected to a first one of plurality of switch nodes with the multimedia conference call being established on the first one of the plurality of switch nodes, and the method further comprises the steps of managing the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals by a terminal management application being executed by the first one of the plurality switch nodes; and

receiving all message transmitted to controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprises the steps of receiving the first and second messages by the terminal management application;

determining by the terminal management application that the first and second messages result in the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions being used the first and second ones of the plurality of communication terminals; and

transmitting a fifth message to the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals other than the first and second ones of the plurality of communication terminals informing those remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals that the first and second ones of the plurality of communication terminals are now using the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprises the steps of receiving the third message by the terminal management application;

determining by the terminal management application that the third message removes the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions from use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

transmitting a sixth message to the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals other than the third one of the plurality of communication terminals informing those ones of the plurality of communication terminals that the third one of the plurality of communication terminals is not using the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprises the steps of receiving the fourth message by the terminal management application;

determining by the terminal management application that the third message adds the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions for use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

transmitting a seventh message to the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals other than the third one of the plurality of communication terminals informing those ones of the plurality of communication terminals that the third one of the plurality of communication terminals is now using the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprises the steps of transmitting the first message by the first one of the plurality communication terminals;

transmitting the second message by the second one of the plurality of communication terminals.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprises the steps of transmitting the third message by the third one of the plurality communication terminals; and

transmitting the fourth message by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals.

15. An apparatus for controlling a multimedia conference call between a plurality of telecommunication terminals interconnected by a switching system having a plurality of switch nodes and one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals controlling the conference call, comprising:

means for implementing the conference call on first one of the plurality of switch nodes;

means for interconnecting each of the plurality of telecommunication terminals to the first one of the plurality of switch nodes by a communication path through the plurality of switch nodes where each communication path is through one or more of the plurality of switch nodes;

means for providing a plurality of communication types on the first one of the plurality of switch nodes;

means in a terminal management application being executed in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for managing the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals;

means in a terminal management application for receiving all message transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals;

means in an individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals for transmitting to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals a first message to change the communication bandwidth varying the number of communication types on a first communication path used by the individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means in the switch nodes throughout the first communication path and in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for changing in response to the first message only the number of communication types that the individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals uses to participate in the multimedia conference call.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprises means in a second individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals for transmitting to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals another first message to change the communication bandwidth on a second communication path used by the second individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals to be the same as the communication types being used by the first individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means in the switch nodes throughout the second communication path and in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for changing in response to the other first message only the number of communication types that the second individual one of the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals uses to participate in the multimedia conference call.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means in the terminal management application for changing comprises means for transmitting a second message back to the first individual one of the plurality communication terminals in response to receipt of the first message; and

means for transmitting another second message back to the second individual one of the plurality communication terminals in response to receipt of the other first message.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for changing on the first communication path comprises means for adding an additional communication type to the first communication path;

the means for changing on the second communication path comprises means for adding the additional communication type to the second communication path; and

means in the first one of the plurality of switch nodes for allowing the first and second individual ones of the remaining ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals to communicate jointly using the additional communication type while still communicating with all other ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for changing on the first communication path further comprises means for updating a conference record to indicate changes in the number of communication types used by the first individual one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

the means for changing on the second communication path further comprises means for updating the conference record to indicate changes in the number of communication types used by the second individual one of the plurality of communication terminals.

20. An apparatus for controlling changes in communication bandwidth for a plurality of communication paths of a multimedia conference call with each communication path interconnecting one of a plurality of telecommunication terminals into the multimedia conference call that is established on a switching system and the switching system being capable of providing a plurality of multimedia functions for the multimedia conference call with each of the plurality of multimedia functions requiring communication bandwidth, comprising:

means in all of the plurality of telecommunication terminals for using in the multimedia conference call a set of the plurality of multimedia functions;

means in the switching system for receiving a first message to increase the communication bandwidth on a first one of the plurality of the communication paths transmitted to one of the plurality of communication terminals controlling the multimedia conference call where the first one of the plurality of communication paths interconnects a first one of the plurality of communication terminals to the switching system;

means in the switching system for increasing the communication bandwidth on the first one of the plurality of communication paths thereby giving an additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions not in the set of the plurality of multimedia functions to the first one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals;

means in the switching system for receiving a second message to increase the communication bandwidth on a second one of the plurality of the communication paths transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals where the second one of the plurality of communication paths interconnects a second one of the plurality of communication terminals to the switching system; and

means in the switching system for increasing the communication bandwidth on the second one of the plurality of communication paths thereby giving the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions to the second one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals and allowing the first and second ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals to communicate jointly using the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions while still communicating with the other ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals using the set of multimedia functions.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprises means in the switching system for receiving a third message to decrease the communication bandwidth on a third one of the plurality communication paths transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals where the third one of the plurality of communication paths interconnects a third one of the plurality telecommunication terminals to the switching system;

means in the switching system for decreasing the communication bandwidth on the third one of the plurality of communication paths thereby removing one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions from use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means in the third one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals for continuing to communicate with the remaining ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals using the remaining ones of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprises means in the switching system for receiving a fourth message to increase the communication bandwidth on the third one of the plurality communication paths transmitted to the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals;

means in the switching system for increasing the communication bandwidth on the third one of the plurality of communication paths thereby adding the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions for use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means in the third one of the plurality of telecommunication terminals for communicating with the remaining ones of the plurality of telecommunication terminals using the set of the plurality of multimedia functions.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the switching system comprises a plurality of switch nodes and the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals is connected to a first one of plurality of switch nodes with the multimedia conference call being established on the first one of the plurality of switch nodes, and the apparatus further comprises means in a terminal management application being executed by the first one of the plurality switch nodes for managing the controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means in the terminal application for receiving all message transmitted to controlling one of the plurality of communication terminals.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprises means in the terminal management application for receiving the first and second messages;

means in the terminal management application for determining in the terminal management application that the first and second messages result in the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions being used the first and second ones of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means in the terminal application for transmitting a fifth message to the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals other than the first and second ones of the plurality of communication terminals informing those remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals that the first and second ones of the plurality of communication terminals are now using the additional one of the plurality of multimedia functions.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprises means in the terminal management application for receiving the third message;

means in the terminal management application for determining that the third message removes the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions from use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means in the terminal application for transmitting a sixth message to the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals other than the third one of the plurality of communication terminals informing those ones of the plurality of communication terminals that the third one of the plurality of communication terminals is not using the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprises means in the terminal management application for receiving the fourth message;

means in the terminal management application for determining that the third message adds the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions for use by the third one of the plurality of communication terminals; and

means for transmitting a seventh message to the remaining ones of the plurality of communication terminals other than the third one of the plurality of communication terminals informing those ones of the plurality of communication terminals that the third one of the plurality of communication terminals is now using the one of the set of the plurality of multimedia functions.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprises means in the first one of the plurality communication terminals for transmitting the first message;

means in the second one of the plurality of communication terminals for transmitting the second message.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprises means in the third one of the plurality communication terminals for transmitting the third message; and

means in the third one of the plurality of communication terminals for transmitting the fourth message.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

B. M. Bales and S. M. Thieler, Case 26-19, "Adjustment Of Call Bandwidth During A Communication Call", U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/451,282;

B. M. Bales and S. M. Thieler, Case 30-21, "Variable Communication Bandwidth For Providing Automatic Call Back And Call Hold", U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/451,296;

B. M. Bales and S. M. Thieler, Case 31-22, "Variable Communication Bandwidth For Conference Call Initiation", U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/432,438; and

B. M. Bales and S. M. Thieler, Case 32-23, "Selective Participation In A Multimedia Communication Conference Call", U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/451,297.

These applications are filed concurrently with this application and are assigned to the same assignee.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to telecommunication switching, and, in particular, to multimedia conference calls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advent of multimedia conference calls, problems arise when not all conferees wish or are able to fully use all media communication types of the multimedia conference call. In addition, two or more conferees may from time to time wish to use additional media types. Prior art multimedia conference systems are unable to solve these problems and require all conferees to use identical media communication types. Such a system is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,086. For example, if a conferee is unable to reach their multimedia communication terminal when the multimedia conference call starts, the conferee can not participate in the multimedia conference call using their wireless telephone and then switch to their multimedia communication terminal upon reaching that terminal. If the conference call is only a voice call, modem business telecommunication switching systems allow the conferee to handle such situations. As more business telecommunication switching systems offer wireless service as an integrated service, this problem will become common. If the equipment performing the multimedia conferencing is not part of the business telecommunication switching system, the telecommunication switching system must drop the voice call and establish a multimedia call to the conferencing equipment. This normally requires the conferee to enter the conference information both to the telecommunication switching system and the conferencing equipment.

In addition, multimedia conference calls use a large amount of communication bandwidth. At different times during the conference call, a conferee may only want to listen to the conference call or to see only the data portion. Prior art multimedia conferencing systems can not accommodate such activities without manual intervention by the conferee. Further, during the initial introduction of multimedia conferencing systems, many people wishing to participate in a multimedia conference will not have available a multimedia terminal. Without a mechanism to enable people without multimedia terminals to participate, the wide spread use of multimedia conferencing systems will be inhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A technical advance is achieved by an apparatus and method that provide multimedia conference calls with communication type conversion for changing types of communication terminals on one multimedia conference call. In addition, users of communication terminals can change communication types during the multimedia conference calls. Also, a set of users can use additional communication types not presently in use by a multimedia conference call to enhance communication among the set of users .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for implementing the inventive concepts;

FIG. 2 illustrates the message flow embodied in the inventive concept;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the messages utilized to implement the inventive concept;

FIG. 4 illustrates a software architecture for use with the inventive concept;

FIG. 5 logically illustrates the signaling and transport paths that are set up within a switch node;

FIG. 6 illustrates the logical structure of a call through the network, transport, session, and application software layers;

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate, in flow chart form, the response of a network layer to the transport messages;

FIGS. 10 illustrates, in flow chart form, operations performed by terminal management application;

FIG. 11 illustrates, in flow chart form, operations performed by a conference management application;

FIG. 12 illustrates a conference table;

FIG. 13 illustrates a call table;

FIG. 14 illustrates the logical structure of two calls through the network, transport, session, and application software layers;

FIG. 15 illustrates the logical structure of conference call through the network, transport, session, and application software layers after a merge operation has been performed; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a communication terminal in accordance with the inventive concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of switch nodes 101-104 that are connected by a plurality of primary rate interface (PRI) links 111-117. Also illustrated are communication terminals 106, 107, and 108 which are capable of supporting a full multimedia call. In addition, wireless terminal 123 is illustrated that is interconnected via a wireless link to base station 122 and from there into switch node 104 via basic rate interface (BRI) link 124. Wireless terminal 123 and communication terminal 107 have a shared line appearance on switch node 104. Shared line appearances are well known in the art. If wireless terminal 123 is active on a telecommunication call, that activity will be displayed on communication terminal 107. A user of communication terminal 107 can become active on the call; and when wireless terminal 123 hangs up, the call will continue to be terminated on communication terminal 107.

To understand the operation of the system illustrated in FIG. 1, consider the following example. Communication terminal 106 is setting up a multimedia conference with communication terminals 107 and 108. All messages concerning this conference are transmitted from the communication terminals to terminal management application (TMA) 128. The overall control of the conference is controlled by conference management application (CMA) 127. As communication terminal 106 is setting up the multimedia conference call, it establishes communication with communication terminal 108 and then attempts to establish communication with communication terminal 107. At this point, the user of communication terminal 107 is away from that terminal but is carrying wireless terminal 123. The user answers the multimedia conference call utilizing wireless terminal 123. Wireless terminal 123 has only voice capability. The TMA controlling wireless terminal 123 within switching node 104 sends a transport message to communication terminal 106 changing the communication types to voice only for the conference connecting wireless terminal 123 to the conference call. TMA 128 is responsive to the transport message to acknowledge the transport request by sending back a transport complete message. Switch nodes 102, 103, and 104 then reduce the bandwidth being utilized for the conference leg connecting wireless terminal 123 into the conference on switch node 101 to that required for voice capability only. TMA 128 transfers the information of the transport message to CMA 127. CMA 127 then controls the internal switching networks of switch node 101 such that wireless terminal 123 is conferenced into the conference utilizing only voice; whereas, communication terminal 108 and 106 are using the full multimedia capability of the conference.

During the course of the conference call, the user of wireless terminal 123 returns to communication terminal 107 and causes communication terminal 107 to become part of the conference call. Then, the user disconnects wireless terminal 123 from the conference call. If the user of communication terminal 107 now wishes to use all of the multimedia capabilities of the conference call, the user causes communication terminal 107 to signal the TMA in switch node 104 controlling communication terminal 107 to increase the bandwidth. The TMA in switch node 104 transmits a transport message requesting the full multimedia capabilities of the conference call. The transport message is directed to communication terminal 106. TMA 128 is responsive to that message to send back a transport complete. In response to the transport complete, switch nodes 102, 103, and 104 increase the bandwidth by the necessary amount to supply the multimedia capabilities. In addition, TMA 128 transfers the information that communication terminal 107 is now utilizing the full multimedia capabilities to CMA 126. CMA 126 updates the necessary tables and then requests that the connection manager 129 (CM) make the physical connections. The CM controls the internal networks of switch node 101 to conference communication terminal 107 into the multimedia conference using the full multimedia capabilities. During this example, at no time was the call not connected to either wireless terminal 123 or communication terminal 127. The leg of the multimedia conference call remained established for either wireless terminal 123 or communication terminal 127 through switch nodes 101, 102, and 103. The conference call leg also remained active on switch node 104 although the leg was switched from wireless terminal 123 to communication terminal 107.

At a later point in time, communication terminals 107 and 108 may wish to add an additional communication type to the conference call in order to communicate with each other. Communication terminal 106 may or may not choose to add this particular communication type. Communication terminals 107 and 108 each send a transport message to communication terminal 106 requesting this additional communication type. TMA 128 is responsive to these transport messages to send back transport complete messages that causes the switch nodes in each of the conference call legs interconnecting communication terminals 107 and 108 to switch node 101 to add the necessary communication bandwidth to the conference call legs. TMA 128 also informs CMA 127 of the additional communication type. In response, CMA 127 updates the conference table and requests that CM 129 make the necessary connection.

Further information on the operation and structure of switch nodes is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,466, entitled "Automatic Initialization of a Distributed Telecommunications System". U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,466, is hereby incorporated by reference. A switch node with a video network is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/085,997, entitled "Video View Selection by a Chairperson", filed Jun. 30, 1993, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/085,997 is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,367. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/085,997, hereby incorporated by reference.

Consider the following two examples to help in the understanding of the operation of the switch nodes and communication terminals illustrated in FIG. 1 with respect to the transport me