Call control

Abstract

A method of operating a user terminal in a telecommunications network. A telephony call is established between a first user, associated with the user terminal, and a remote user. Data communications is conducted between the user terminal and a communications server, such that the user terminal has a first connection to a communications session associated with a communications server. The telephony call is manipulated such that the telephony call forms a second connection to the communications session. Both the first connection and the second connection are maintained, for conducting communications between the first user and the remote user. The second connection may be terminated after assessment is made that the first connection is likely to provide better quality of service.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a user terminal in a telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:
 establishing a telephony call between a first user, associated with the user terminal, and a remote user;   conducting data communications between the user terminal and a communications server, such that the user terminal has a first connection to a communications session associated with the communications server;   initiating a manipulation of the telephony call such that the telephony call forms a second connection to the communications session;   maintaining both the first connection and the second connection to the communications session, for conducting communications between the first user and the remote user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the manipulation of the telephony call such that the telephony call forms a second connection to the communications session, comprises re-routing a call leg in the telephony call from a call control node to the communications server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the call leg is re-routed using a call transfer procedure under the control of the call control node in the telecommunications network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the telephony call includes an initial call leg between the call control node and a remote call control node associated with the second user, and wherein, whilst the second connection is maintained, the second connection to the communications session is not connected to the initial call leg; or   the telephony call includes an initial call leg between the call control node and a remote call control node associated with the second user, and wherein, whilst the second connection is maintained, the second connection to the communications session is merged with the initial call leg.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the manipulation of the telephony call such that the telephony call forms a second connection to the communications session, comprises establishing a new call leg in the telephony call between a call control node and the communications server. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the telephony call includes an initial call leg between the call control node and a remote call control node associated with the second user, and wherein, whilst the second connection is maintained, the second connection to the communications session is not connected to the initial call leg; or   the telephony call includes an initial call leg between the call control node and a remote call control node associated with the second user, and wherein, whilst the second connection is maintained, the second connection to the communications session is merged with the initial call leg.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 initiating the transmission of an invitation message to a user terminal associated with the remote user, the invitation message inviting the second user to participate in the communications session; and/or   initiating the transmission of an invitation message to a user terminal associated with a third user, the invitation message inviting the third user to participate in the communications session.   
     
     
         8 . A user terminal configured to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling communications in a telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:
 conducting data communications between a communications server and a first user terminal, associated with a first user, such that the first user terminal has a first connection to a communications session associated with the communications server, wherein, prior to the data communications between the communications server and the first user terminal, an in-progress telephony call exists between the first user and a second user, associated with a second user terminal;   participating in a manipulation of the telephony call such that the telephony call forms a second connection to the communications session;   conducting data communications between the communications server and the second user terminal, such that the second user terminal has a third connection to the communications session; and   maintaining both the first connection and the second connection to the communications session, and the third connection to the communications session, for conducting communications between the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising setting up the communications session in response to a session establishment request from the first user terminal, the session establishment request being received via a data communications link separate from the telephony call. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising receiving session control data from the first user terminal, and setting up the communications session in accordance with the first session control data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising transmitting an invite message to the second user terminal, the invite message inviting the second user terminal to join the communications session via the third connection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising receiving a session request from the second user terminal to initiate the establishment of the third connection, and establishing the third connection in response to the session request. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method comprises:
 establishing a further call leg with a call control node associated with the second user, in order to make the communications server a party to the telephony call via the further call leg; and   associating the further call leg with the communications session.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising:
 establishing a telephony communication connection with a third user terminal associated with a third user; and   associating the telephony communication connection with the communications session to establish a multi-party telephony call.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method comprises transmitting via the first and third connections at least one of:
 still image data;   video image data;   textual data;   a data file;   screen sharing data; and/or   hyperlink data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method comprises transmitting via the second and third connections at least voice telephony data. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising the steps of:
 conducting data communications between a communications server and a user terminal, such that the user terminal has a first connection to a communications session associated with the communications server;   conducting a telephony call between the communications server and the user terminal, such that the user terminal has a second connection to the communications session;   transmitting and/or receiving non-voice meeting service data between a user of the user terminal and a remote user, via the first connection; and   selecting between the first connection and the second connection, for transmitting and/or receiving voice data between the user of the user terminal and the remote user.   
     
     
         19 . A user terminal or a communications server configured to perform the method of  claim 18 .