Method of automatic access to a telephone conference and system for carrying out this method

0001The invention relates to conference calls or multipoint video conferences and especially the system of access to them.

0002by teleconference means the possibility for more than 2 people to talk by phone, it is called audio conferencing, or to speak and see using videophones or videoconference rooms, and it is called video conferencing.

0003When the number of relevant items is 3, the term Conference 3 is generally used.

0004This conference 3 is being implemented regularly by companies using the facilities offered by their PBXs private. But it can also be implemented by a public branch exchange and some fixed or mobile network operators allow their customers to establish this type of conference.

0005Its use is usually very simple with terminals digital since it is sufficient to warn his correspondent, called the second party, and then, when it stalled, press the button "conference" of the terminal to establish a conversation with 3 participants. When the terminal is analog, the maneuvers are barely complicated by the use of digital keys instead of dedicated keys.

0006From a conference to 3, it is often possible to add other participants. However, this process has two major drawbacks: the new participant must be available at the time of the call and the audio quality degrades very quickly with the number of participants for each participant hears all of the noise from each line.

0007Therefore, commonly called a bridge equipment conference was designed to overcome these drawbacks.

0008The role of the MCU is to mix the different routes corresponding to the number of participants while performing a number of signal processing for canceling the echo phenomena and improve the signal to noise ratio to allow for comfortable listening. this equipment also includes all transmission and signaling functions needed to connect to the network.

0009To date, use conference bridges, and therefore services associated conference is as follows.

0010Participants set a day and time of appointment to to be all available at the same time to join the conference.

0011One of the participants then reserves with an operator resource on a conference bridge. The operator tells him a call number and, possibly a secret code that participants will use to join this conference.

0012Alternatively, one of the participants can have a subscription Standing a resource on a conference bridge, which allows it to organize a conference at any time. The phone number and possibly the access code given to him at the time of its subscription subscription.

0013What has been described applies also for videoconferencing which specific conference bridges, and associated services, were developed for fixed networks (ISDN, PSTN) as for mobile networks (Recommendations H. 320, H. 324, H. 324M ITU-T).

0014A drawback of the technique described above is the number numbers that a user must dial to access the conference service telephone. Indeed, it must first dial an access number respecting national numbering, for example 10 digits for France since 2000. And if a secret code is used to prevent the entry of participants unauthorized, it must still deal between 4 and 6 digits.

0015To limit the number of numbers to dial by the applicant, some operators conceal a password in the number assigned to the booking. This then requires the operator to book major beaches specific numbers with respect to such traffic. Typically, 100 000 numbers will be needed for a potential 1000 simultaneous traffic channels. Indeed, a client that would try to reuse the assigned number for an hour at a given day must have a very low chance to enter a conference of another client during the following days.

0016A second drawback of the current technique is the connection between given a number and a conference bridge. Accordingly, the operator can not not to change this number to, for example, give him a character mnemonic in connection with a commercial campaign. And, in the case where it has several conference bridges, it can not load balance them that when he gives the access number to the customer, that is to say well before the time of use: it can not then react to unexpected events as a failure, or intensive use of subscribed users to different apportionment of conferences on its various facilities.

0017Another drawback of the current technique involves management access codes. These are assigned to a given number and are therefore linked to some MCU. The change of available access codes then requires operator intervention on each device.

0018The object of the invention is therefore to eliminate the abovementioned disadvantages by decoupling the call number and the secret code of the MCU.

0019Another object of the invention is to allow the customer to use a code secret he shall choose from a list of available security codes, such for mnemonic reasons.

0020The invention relates to a method for accessing a bridge conference call, which corresponds to a specific physical issue including call:<ul><li>the call from a client of a special number for service conference call, common to a set of lectures telephone;</li><li>transferring the call to a service control point;</li><li>establishing a communication between the client and a device Intelligent under control of the service control point;</li><li>sent by the client to smart device an access code specific telephone conference bridge;</li><li>retransmission of the access code for the conference bridge by intelligent peripheral to the service control point;</li><li>determining the corresponding MCU code provided access and allocation to the call of physical appeal number matching, by the service control point;</li><li>establishing a communication between the client and the bridge determined conference.</li></ul>

0021Another object of the invention is a system for accessing a bridge conference call for the implementation of the method comprising:<ul><li>a service control point, adapted to control establishing a communication between a smart device and a client, on receiving a call from a client to a special issue corresponding to a conference call service;</li><li>smart device, able to ask the customer an access code specific conference bridge and retransmitting said access code developed service control and</li><li>a plurality of conference bridges associated with the control point services,</li></ul>

0022the service control point is further adapted to determine the conference bridge for the access code provided to assign to a call physical number corresponding call and ordered the establishment of a Communication between the client and the MCU determined.

0023The invention also relates to software installed on dedicated equipment enabling the implementation of the method and system described above.

0024The invention will be better understood on reading the description and studying the drawings below, in which,<ul><li>Figure 1 shows the architecture of an intelligent network, known the prior art,</li><li>Figure 2 shows the architecture of an intelligent network which are connected several conference bridges,</li><li>Figure 3 shows the implementation of the process flowchart according to the invention,</li><li>4 shows a message that the INAP standard "User-to-user signaling "and the extraction of its data in an ISDN message.</li></ul>

0025The invention using the concepts of the intelligent network as described in the recommendations of ITU-T mentioned above, only will be described elements necessary for the understanding of the invention, with reference to concepts and definitions included in the recommendations.

0026Based on FIG 1, a typical service networks intelligent, namely the management of special numbers is described.

0027A smart grid is therefore composed of local access switches (LEC, Local Exchange) connected directly to user terminals. Yes the received call is not a local call, it is directed to the switch transit (SSP Service Switching Point) that establish a path to the CEM called party. The LEC is then charged to connect with it.

0028The "hotline" service that allows an applicant to France make a free call, or the management of short numbers (except numbers of emergency services (eg 112 emergency number European) which are managed directly by the local access switches LEC) based on the translation of a logical number 3BPQ having a structure determined (eg 0800 in France to free numbers) in a actual destination number. These translation data are part of a table which should be common to all switches.

0029When the local access switch receives one of an applicant call using a logical number 3BPQ, it transfers it to switch 2 SSP transit, the logical number 3BPQ not a local number.

0030When the dialed number is detected as an issue by 3BPQ the SSP, it stops any treatment for this call, and while reserving the channel of communication between the applicant and himself, application of 3 instructions to a service control point (SCP, Service Control Point). The CPS is a single point which handles the translation table numbers and which are connected to all switches. The SCP research in 4 then in its tables the physical number to redirect the call based on the logical number selected, and possibly specific criteria as the day of the week, time of day or the place of origin of the call. Once found this number, SCP indicates that 5 to PHC must make a connection to such a number physical. The SSP then sets in 6 conventionally communication.

0031The SSP thus receives the orders of SCP and executes them.

0032In this architecture, the SCP plays the role of master while SSPs are the slaves.

0033Such a service is listed in the CS-1 of the set Q. 1211 recommendation of the ITU-T, in the group "translation services number. "

0034In some types of services offered by the intelligent network, it can be necessary to establish an interaction with the user. This is the case of services the "call center" type in which the user is directed to a particular operator depending on the type of issue to be resolved. To do this, the network Intelligent features smart devices (IP, Intelligent Peripheral) that used in 7 and 9, under the SCP orders, to establish this interaction. Very often these are IP voice servers.

0035The SCP sends in this case in 7 to a specific command IP smart device and application in parallel to establish the SSP communication between the applicant and the intelligent peripheral IP.

0036The intelligent peripheral IP then sets 8 a dialogue with the applicant to collect the necessary parameters.

0037The dialogue ended, the intelligent peripheral IP sends these 9 SCP parameters so that it can determine the physical number 4 correspondent and makes communication with the applicant switch SSP transit.

0038The SCP sends the determined physical number 5 to the SSP will thus 6 to establish the requested call.

0039According to a noteworthy aspect of the method of the invention, the conference call services provider seeking to the body responsible for national numbering plan the allocation of a specific short number to be used by all persons wishing access a conference call.

0040As shown in Figure 2, the service provider conferences has, moreover, a number of MCUs PC1, PC2 and PC3 connected to the smart grid and who are accorded specific physical numbers.

0041The method of the present invention then consists, 3, in using the mechanisms of the intelligent network as described above, for the SSP to detect 2 'that the dialed number is a special number, and transfer 3 then the call using the short number of conference call service corresponding hosted by the CPC. Upon receiving the call, the SCP determines 10 that the number matches the service of telephone conferences.

0042Since at call number, which is 3BPQ type is a set of conference calls, it is necessary that the SCP determines the requested conference.

0043To do this, the SCP did establish communication between November 1 applicant and an intelligent peripheral IP. For example, the SCP provides the smart device number of the caller.

0044The intelligent peripheral IP 12 requires from applicants, by example by voice dialogue, the access number for the conference he wishes to participate.

0045Remarkably, the intelligent peripheral IP can perform a first validation 13 of the compound access code, for example on the number digit dialing and establish a correct dialogue with the applicant In case of error.

0046After detection of a correct code by the intelligent peripheral IP, it sends 14 to the SCP. The SCP can then perform a second 15 validation to determine if the code has been assigned. On error, the SCP 16 sends a command to the intelligent peripheral IP to continue dialogue and get a valid code.

0047When the access code is correct, the communication between the applicant and smart device is interrupted.

0048During the next step of the process object of the invention, the SCP 17 determines whether this call represents a new conference to open or if corresponds to an existing conference, ongoing.

0049If the conference is already on a conference bridge, the SCP assigns to call the physical number for this conference bridge and gives order SSPs 20 to establish the relevant communication 21, as described above.

0050If the appeal is the opening of a new conference, the SCP asks 18 MCUs to determine their availability. In function thereof, and other parameters set by the operator, the SCP assigns 19 then the conference to a specific conference bridge, so a number specific physical, and gives the order to the SSPs 20 to establish communication corresponding 21. In parallel, opening the SCP sends a command conference selected MCU.

0051In a remarkable variant of the method of the invention, the bridge conference returns to the SCP in response to the opening control conference, the remaining number of available channels. The SCP, knowing well for all MCUs The number of channels available can be attributed a new conference at a conference bridge without needing the specifically question.

0052Communications between the various elements of the intelligent network are regulated by the signaling standard "Intelligent Network Application Protocol "(INAP) protocols which are well known to those skilled in the art without the need to describe their implementation in detail.

0053A remarkable aspect of the invention relates to the use of the protocol INAP to allow the SCP to communicate with the MCU.

0054It is well known that the INAP is limited inside smart grid and that, furthermore, the intelligent network communicates with external elements such as subscriber exchanges (PABXs) according the subscriber signaling (ISDN standard Q. 931 of the ITU-T).

0055The method of the present invention must convert INAP messages to the standard message to the ISDN standard to allow the SCP and MCUs to communicate.

0056Remarkably, the method of the present invention uses the coding "User-User signaling to" the standard for INAP communicate with the SCP MCUs.

0057The "User-to-User Signalling" code to transfer instructions / data between the smart grid and an external device such as private auto-switch or a conference bridge able to interpret the standard ISDN.

0058The instructions 23, 4, are encapsulated in a Message INAP 22 as message data. This one has a header 24 indicating that specific type is "User-to-User Signalling".

0059Upon receipt, the LES, which ensures interfacing with the equipment Outside, retrieves data 23 INAP message "User-to-User Signalling" and transmits them to the equipment as an ISDN signaling message 25.

0060Of course, this protocol change can be done in direction reverse. On sending a message to the external equipment, the LES will encapsulate it in a message INAP "User-to-User Signalling" for transfer the right equipment.

0061This use of INAP and ISDN signaling can not be limited the generality of the invention, the skilled person can easily transpose the invention as described below in connection with another marking, as the CCITT No. 7 signaling.

0062It is remarkable to note that, thanks to the method of the invention, the supplier may choose to hold all of its MCUs according to a distributed architecture in which an MCU is dedicated to an area with a given number or a physical architecture centralized in which all participants of the calls are transmitted to a central server that is responsible for welcoming participants on the one hand and distribute traffic to various other conference bridges, or mixed architecture with a set of islands including several bridges conference. The invention allows to choose the architecture and edit the best the interests of the operator without customers do not perceive any difference, it being hidden by the corresponding service of the SCP which only setting evolving to adapt to the changing architecture of MCUs.

0063Another remarkable aspect of the invention is centralizing access codes to conference calls on the SCP database.

0064In the method of the invention, the access code is the means single to single out a particular conference call since all conferences are called by users using the same number call. PCS therefore manages these access codes and correspondence between them and conference calls.

0065This allows an extremely flexible management thereof. This centralized access codes indeed allows the operator to define innovative services for awarding these codes such as the choice of the a customer code from a list of available codes.

0066Remarkably, the access code may well be the same physical phone number of organized tor.

0067Remarkably, the method of the present invention allows use of the intelligent peripheral IP to define a code mnemonic. Indeed, by calling conference service number telephone, the applicant is in dialogue with a device Intelligent IP as explained above. The latter may then, for example, offer a choice between access to a conference and booking a number access. If the applicant chooses to access a conference, the device Intelligent asked his access code and the process proceeds as described above.

0068If the applicant chooses the reservation number, the device Intelligent IP establishes a dialogue with the applicant that it chooses a valid number. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the SCP previously provided to the intelligent peripheral IP a list of valid numbers and available.