Systems and methods for providing enhanced telephone services

Abstract

A switching platform comprises a first, second, and third circuit. The first circuit is adapted for recognizing a first set of tones generated by art originating telephone line. The originating telephone line is associated with a call origin telephone number. The first set of tones represents a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The second circuit is adapted for determining whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The third circuit is adapted for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.

1 . A method comprising:
 recognizing, at a switch, a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line, the originating telephone line being associated with a call origin telephone number, the first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;   determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and   establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining includes searching a database management system. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers does not include the call origin telephone number:
 sending a challenge to the originating telephone line;   recognizing, at the switch, a second set of tones generated by the originating telephone line representing entry of a response; and   determining, at the switch, whether the entered response satisfies the challenge.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the challenge includes a prompt to enter a pass code. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the telephone connection. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, upon determining that the entered response satisfies the challenge, determining whether the conference is in progress. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, upon determining that the conference is in progress, establishing the telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, upon determining that the conference is not in progress:
 initializing the conference; and   establishing the telephone connection between the originating line and the conference line.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein initializing the conference includes allocating and/or initializing, at the switch, one or more data structures representing the conference. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 identifying, at the switch, a participant number to be associated with the conference, the participant number being associated with a participant telephone line and with a participant, the participant number excluding the call origin telephone number; and   initiating establishment of a participant connection between the conference line and the participant telephone line.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;   determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number; and   establishing the participant connection upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;   sending a challenge to the participant telephone line; and   awaiting the participant to satisfy the challenge.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the participant connection. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising establishing the participant connection upon the participant's satisfying the challenge. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recognizing, at the switch, upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;   determining, at the switch, whether the conference is in progress;   determining, at the switch, whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number; and   establishing the additional participant connection upon having determined that the conference is in progress and that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recognizing, at the switch, upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;   determining, at the switch, whether the conference is in progress;   sending a challenge to the additional participant line upon having determined that the conference is in progress; and   awaiting the additional participant to satisfy the challenge.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising establishing the additional participant connection upon the additional participant's satisfying the challenge. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the additional participant connection. 
   
   
       19 . A switching platform comprising:
 a first circuit for recognizing a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line, the originating telephone line being associated with a call origin telephone number, the first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;   a second circuit for determining whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and   a third circuit for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.   
   
   
       20 . The switching platform of  claim 19 , wherein the determining includes searching a database management system. 
   
   
       21 . The switching platform of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a fourth circuit for sending a challenge to the originating telephone line;   a fifth circuit for recognizing a second set of tones generated by the originating telephone line representing entry of a response; and   a sixth circuit for determining whether the entered response satisfies the challenge.   
   
   
       22 . The switching platform of  claim 21 , wherein the challenge includes a prompt to enter a pass code. 
   
   
       23 . The switching platform of  claim 21 , further comprising a seventh circuit for establishing the telephone connection upon the sixth circuit's determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the telephone connection upon the sixth circuit's determining that the challenge is not satisfied. 
   
   
       24 . The switching platform of  claim 21 , further comprising a seventh circuit for determining whether the conference is in progress. 
   
   
       25 . The switching platform of  claim 21 , further comprising a seventh circuit for initializing the conference. 
   
   
       26 . The switching platform of  claim 25 , further comprising an eighth circuit for establishing the telephone connection upon the seventh circuit's having initialized the conference. 
   
   
       27 . The switching platform of  claim 25 , wherein the seventh circuit is adapted for initializing the conference by allocating and/or initializing one or more data structures representing the conference. 
   
   
       28 . The switching platform of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 an eighth circuit for identifying a participant number to be associated with the conference, the participant number being associated with a participant telephone line and with a participant, the participant number excluding the call origin telephone number; and   a ninth circuit for initiating establishment of a participant connection between the conference line and the participant telephone line.   
   
   
       29 . The switching platform of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a tenth circuit for recognizing that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;   an eleventh circuit for determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number; and   a twelfth circuit for establishing the participant connection upon the eleventh circuit's determining that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number.   
   
   
       30 . The switching platform of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a tenth circuit for recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;   an eleventh circuit for sending a challenge to the participant telephone line; and   a twelfth circuit for awaiting the participant to satisfy the challenge.   
   
   
       31 . The switching platform of  claim 30 , further comprising a thirteenth circuit for determining whether the challenge is satisfied. 
   
   
       32 . The switching platform of  claim 30 , further comprising a fourteenth circuit for establishing the participant connection upon the thirteenth circuit's determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the participant connection upon the thirteenth circuit's determining that the challenge is not satisfied. 
   
   
       33 . The switching platform of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a fourth circuit for recognizing, upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;   a fifth circuit for determining whether the conference is in progress;   a sixth circuit for determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number; and   a seventh circuit for establishing the additional participant connection upon having determined that the conference is in progress and that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number.   
   
   
       34 . The switching platform of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a fourth circuit for recognizing upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;   a fifth circuit for determining whether the conference is in progress;   a sixth circuit for sending a challenge to the additional participant line upon having determined that the conference is in progress; and   a seventh circuit for awaiting the additional participant to satisfy the challenge.   
   
   
       35 . The switching platform of  claim 34 , further comprising an eighth circuit for determining whether the challenge is satisfied. 
   
   
       36 . The switching platform of  claim 34 , further comprising a ninth circuit for establishing the additional participant connection upon the eighth circuit's determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the additional participant connection upon the eighth circuit's determining that the challenge is not satisfied. 
   
   
       37 . A system comprising:
 means for recognizing, at a switch, a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line, the originating telephone line being associated with a call origin telephone number, the first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;   means for determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and   means for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.   
   
   
       38 . A method comprising:
 sending, from an originating telephone line associated with a call origin telephone number, a first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;   recognizing, at a switch, the first set of tones;   determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and   establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.