Multicall Telephone System

Abstract

A Multicall telephony system includes a computerized communication appliance executing first software (SW) from a non-transitory medium, the appliance connected to a telephony network, and a server connected to the network, the server executing second SW from a non-transitory medium. A user selects a plurality of contacts stored on the computerized communication appliance and initiates a first call to the server which is accompanied by data transmission including at least the names and telephone numbers or IP addresses of the selected contacts, and the server, in response, establishes second calls with the selected contacts, and connects answered second calls to the first call, creating a conference between the user and the selected contacts.

1 . A Multicall telephony system, comprising:
 a computerized communication appliance executing first software (SW) from a non-transitory medium, the appliance connected to a telephony network; and   a server connected to the network, the server executing second SW from a non-transitory medium;   wherein a user selects a plurality of contacts stored on the computerized communication appliance and initiates a first call to the server which is accompanied by data transmission including at least the names and telephone numbers or IP addresses of the selected contacts, and the server, in response, establishes second calls with the selected contacts, and connects answered second calls to the first call, creating a conference between the user and the selected contacts.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first SW enables the user to associate a code or a name with the selected contacts, and to store the selected contacts in the communication appliance as a group, allowing the user subsequently to select the code or name to initiate a Multicall to the selected contacts. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first call is connected to an operator, and the selected contacts names and telephone numbers or IP addresses are displayed to the operator in an interactive display, such that the operator my communicate with the user and aid in completion of outgoing calls and conferencing of completed calls. 
     
     
         4 . A method for establishing a telephone conference, comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting two or more contacts in a contact list by a user operating a computerized communication appliance executing first software (SW) from a non-transitory medium;   (b) initiating a first call by the computerized communication appliance to a server executing second SW, and transmitting with the first call at least the names and telephone numbers or IP addresses of the selected contacts;   (c) establishing second calls by the server to the selected contacts; and   (d) connecting answered second calls to the first call, creating a conference between the user and the selected contacts.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the first SW enables the user to associate a code or a name with the selected contacts, and to store the selected contacts in the communication appliance as a group, allowing the user subsequently to select the code or name to initiate a Multicall to the selected contacts. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the first call is connected to an operator, and the selected contacts names and telephone numbers or IP addresses are displayed to the operator in an interactive display, such that the operator my communicate with the user and aid in completion of outgoing calls and conferencing of completed calls.