Katharine M Sensenig

US Patent:

50995103, Mar 24, 1992

Filed:

Jun 11, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/535827

Inventors:

Robert J. Blinken - New York NY
Merle D. Garner - Chatham NJ
Billy B. Oliver - Chatham NJ
Katharine Sensenig - Norristown PA

Assignee:

Communications Network Enhancement Inc. - New Providence NJ

International Classification:

H04M 700

US Classification:

379202

Abstract:

A telephone conferencing method includes techniques for partitioning the multiple ports of a bridge into separate groups of ports which can each separately service a customer. Network management for the teleconferencing system includes displaying conference status and information to an operator or to a coordinator of a customer being services by the system. The information includes a conference name, the status of the conference, the name of a bridge for use to conduct the conference and the number of ports being used by the conference. Video conferencing is also possible with the designation of one voice leg and at least one and sometimes two data legs for each conferee to provide sufficient data handling capacity for transmitting and receiving video signals. An indication from a conferee that the conferee wishes to transmit a video signal causes the data legs of the transmitting conferee to be switched to a transmit mode while at least the data legs of the remaining conferees are switched to a listen only mode.