Telecommunication Method And System For Simplifying Communication Such As Conference Calls
Patent No. US11290428 (titled "Telecommunication Method And System For Simplifying Communication Such As Conference Calls") was filed by Webcon Vectors Llc on May 13, 2017.
What is this patent about?
’428 is related to the field of telecommunications, specifically methods for simplifying electronic communications between multiple users. The background acknowledges the inefficiencies of traditional teleconferencing systems, including the burden of scheduling, managing responses, and ensuring all participants have the necessary materials. Existing solutions often compromise user privacy by automatically extracting and using contact information.
The underlying idea behind ’428 is to establish a telecommunications method that enables simultaneous and instantaneous communication between a group of users without requiring any action from the users themselves. This is achieved by leveraging electronic identifiers (e.g., website addresses, social media handles, phone numbers) and a conferencing bridge that proactively connects all participants at a predetermined time.
The claims of ’428 focus on a method for simplifying electronic communications. This involves selecting users for simultaneous contact at a predetermined time, collating their identifiers, forming a conferencing bridge in advance, simultaneously contacting all users on the bridge at the predetermined time without any action from the users, enabling communication between all users simultaneously contacted as a group by response of each selected user to contact made utilizing the electronic identifier of the selected user at the predetermined time while maintaining anonymity of the electronic identifier of the selected user, and precluding contacted nonresponsive selected users from communication with said group unless subsequently authorized after said predetermined time.
In practice, the system uses a stateful application to manage meeting requests, store user data, and connect to a phone system. The system proactively establishes a conference bridge and initiates calls to all users simultaneously, eliminating the need for users to dial in or enter access codes. The system also allows for real-time dissemination of ancillary materials and updates, ensuring all participants have the necessary information. A key aspect is the ability for users to provide and change their electronic identifiers, maintaining privacy and flexibility.
The invention differentiates itself from prior approaches by prioritizing user privacy and minimizing user interaction . Unlike systems that automatically extract contact information or require users to actively participate in the connection process, ’428 allows users to control their identifiers and passively join a conference call. The system also manages tardy participants, preventing them from disrupting the ongoing communication. This approach aims to create a more efficient and user-friendly teleconferencing experience.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2010s when ’428 was filed, telecommunication systems commonly relied on established protocols for conference calls, at a time when initiating a conference call typically involved sending email invitations with call-in details. At that time, systems commonly relied on participants responding to invitations and manually dialing into the conference, rather than automatically connecting users. Hardware and software constraints made managing large numbers of participants and ensuring privacy non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the prior art, whether taken alone or in combination, does not teach or suggest forming a conferencing bridge at a predetermined time in advance of contacting selected users without any action by the users. The prior art also fails to teach simultaneously contacting bridged identifiers of all selected users at the predetermined time without any action by the user, enabling communication between all selected users while maintaining anonymity of the electronic identifier of the selected user, and precluding contacted nonresponsive selected users from communication with the group unless subsequently authorized after the predetermined time.
Claims
This patent contains 10 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to a method of simplifying electronic communications between selected users by forming a conferencing bridge and simultaneously contacting users at a predetermined time. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the method of the independent claim, adding details regarding user management, electronic identifiers, and communication protocols.
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Date
Description
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US11290428
- Application Number
- US15594570
- Filing Date
- May 13, 2017
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Aug 6, 2037
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents