FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of telecommunication, and more particularly in the field of managing calls amongst multiple users.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Generally, in a teleconference system, an initiating user calls other users to join a conference call. The number of people that the initiating user can call and allow to join the conference call is usually limited to a predefined number, for example, five. The initiating user and the five other users can then be referred to as “initial group of 6”, for example. The problem associated with this type of a teleconference system is that the initiating user is then charged for five calls, simultaneously. In addition, the limitation on number of users that can be added to the conference call is disadvantageous.

Other teleconference systems do allow another user within the initial group of 6 to call other users to join the conference call. It is understood that these particular teleconference systems are limited in that such that an addition of the other users is achieved through a manual process. Other problems with these teleconference systems is associated security risks, for example, if any of the users connects remotely to a conference call with an unsecure Wi-Fi, hackers may gain access to the conference call. i It is accordingly the object of the invention to provide a suitable system and method of managing calls that can ameliorate at least some of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A system comprising: at least a first SIM card and a second SIM card module, each SIM card being arranged to receive/make a predefined number of calls during a conference call; a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device containing instructions which, when executed by the processor are arranged to: determine the number of calls received/made by the first SIM card during the conference call; and if the number of calls received/made by the first SIM card exceeds or reaches a predefined number of calls that can be received/made by the first SIM card, the processor being arranged to direct the rest of the calls arranged to be received/made by the first SIM card to be received/made by the second SIM card.

In an embodiment, the processor may be arranged to automatically direct incoming calls during the conference call interchangeably between the first and second SIM cards and cojoin the calls made by the first and second SIM cards into a single conference call, or may be arranged to automatically make calls interchangeably between the first and second SIM card and cojoin the calls made by the first and second SIM cards into a single conference call.

In an embodiment, the memory device may contain instructions which, when executed by the processor, are arranged to cause the processor to receive a call or a message from a phone number associated with a remote SIM card associated with a person that wishes to join the conference call, and the processor may be arranged to verify the phone number associated with the remote SIM card to check whether the number is allowed to join the conference call.

In verifying the number associated with the remote SIM card associated with the person that wishes to join the conference call, the processor may be arranged to compare the phone number associated with a remote SIM card with a list of pre-stored phone numbers, and accordingly confirm whether the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the conference call matches with any of the other phone numbers prestored on a database.

The pre-stored numbers may be contained in a database which may be local to, or remote from, the system.

Accordingly, when the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call is not verified, the processor may be arranged to flag the phone number and reject the phone number from joining the conference call.

In an embodiment, the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call may request to join the call by either calling into a phone number associated with one of the first and second SIM cards, or by sending a message to a phone number associated with one of the first and second SIM cards.

Accordingly, when the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call is verified, the processor may be arranged to call back the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call. In another embodiment, the processor may be arranged to receive a call from the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call, and may be arranged to place the call on hold until the processor has managed to verify the number, afterwards the processor may be arranged to admit/receive the call from the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call, into the conference call.

In yet another embodiment, the processor may be arranged to receive a call-back request from the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call, and accordingly after the processor has verified the number, the processor may be arranged to call the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that transmitted the message, and accordingly admit that phone number into the conference call.

The memory device may accordingly contain instructions which are arranged to cause the processor to mute the alert sound of incoming calls from phone numbers associated with remote SIM cards of persons that wish to join the conference call, so as to prevent the alert sound of incoming calls from disturbing the people partaking in the conference call.

The memory device may accordingly contain instructions which are arranged to cause the processor to mute the alert sound of outgoing calls made out to phone numbers associated with remote SIM cards of persons that wish to join the conference call, so as to prevent the sound of the outgoing calls from disturbing the people partaking in the conference call.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising: determining the number of calls received/made by a first SIM card during a conference call, and if the number of calls received by the first SIM card exceeds or reaches a predefined number of calls that can be received/made by the first SIM card, directing the rest of the calls arranged to be received/made by the first SIM card to be received/made by a second SIM card.

In an embodiment, the method may further comprise receiving a call or a message from a phone number associated with a remote SIM card associated with a person that wishes to join the conference call, and verifying the phone number associated with the remote SIM card to check whether the phone number is allowed to join the conference call.

In verifying the number associated with the remote SIM card associated with the person that wishes to join the conference call, the method may include comparing the phone number associated with the remote SIM card with a list of pre-stored phone numbers, and accordingly confirming whether the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the conference call matches with any of the other pre-stored phone numbers.

The pre-stored numbers may be contained in a database communicatively coupled with the processor.

Accordingly, when the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call is not verified, the method may include flagging the phone number and rejecting the phone number from joining the conference call. In an embodiment, the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call may request to join the call by either calling into a phone number associated with one of the first and second SIM cards, or sending a message to a phone number associated with one of the first and second SIM card modules.

Accordingly, when the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call is verified, the method may include calling back the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call.

In another embodiment, the method may include receiving a call from the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call, and thereafter, the method may include the steps of placing the call on hold until the phone number has been verified, and followed by admitting/receiving the call from the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call, into the conference call.

In yet another embodiment, the method may include the step of receiving a call-back message request from the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that wishes to join the call, and the method may accordingly include the step of verifying the phone number associated with the call-bac message request, and upon verification, calling the phone number associated with the remote SIM card of the person that transmitted the message, and accordingly admitting that phone number into the conference call.

In an embodiment, the method may include the step of automatically directing calls received during the conference call interchangeably between the first and second SIM card and cojoining the calls made by the first and second SIM cards into a single conference call, or the method may include the step of automatically making calls interchangeably between the first and second SIM card and cojoining the calls made by the first and second SIM cards into a single conference call.

The method may further include the step of muting the alert sound of incoming calls from phone numbers associated with remote SIM cards of persons that wish to join the conference call, so as to prevent the alert sound of incoming calls from disturbing the people partaking in the conference call.

The method may further include the step of muting the alert sound of outgoing calls made out to phone numbers associated with remote SIM cards of persons that wish to join the conference call, so as to prevent the sound of the outgoing calls from disturbing the people partaking in the conference call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become fully apparent from following the description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Undertaking that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore, not to be considered limiting its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specific and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a network topology of a system for managing calls, in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows a high-level flow diagram for the steps performed by a computer-implemented method in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the invention may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly exclude herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the invention - such alternative structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed.

Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly, stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Referring to Figure 1 , there is provided a network indicated generally by reference numeral 36. The network 36 includes a call management system 10 that is arranged to be in communication with a plurality of endpoint devices, such as mobile phones, each of which incorporating a SIM card (not shown) for making calls into, or receiving calls from, the system 10. The system 10 is in communication with the endpoint devices, such as communication devices, in particular mobile phones 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 by a communication network, in particular a telecommunication network 20, such as GSM network.

The system 10 manages calls, for example, a conference call amongst multiple participants of the conference call, which participants are associated with the mobile phones 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32. The system 10 enables multiple callers to be able to have a conference call in a safe and secure environment, without the risk of any bridge in the security of their conference call. Preferably, the system 10 is arranged to manage a conference call emanating from SIM cards (not shown) associated with mobile phones 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32, which are preferably associated with law enforcement officers belonging to mission task forces, military squads, police forces and the like.

The system 10 may be in the form of a control unit which may house a first SIM card 12 and a second SIM card 14. It will be appreciated that the system/control unit may comprise a plurality of SIM cards. However, for brevity, only the first and second SIM cards 12 and 14, respectively, will be described herein.

It will be appreciated that a SIM cards of the system 10 may be arranged to receive or make calls to a predefined number of phone numbers for purposes of creating a conference call. Typically, the maximum number of calls which can be made or received by a communication device making use of a SIM card during a conference call, is five. If other callers in excess of five are required to join on the call, typically all telephone conference systems which make use of SIM cards would not be able to admit the additional callers. The system 10 in accordance with the present invention has at least two SIM cards which can allow multiple callers, exceeding five callers, to enter into a teleconference call.

The system 10 further comprise a processor 16 that is communicatively coupled with the first and second SIM cards 12 and 14, respectively. The system 10 further comprises a memory device 18 that contains various instructions or commands which are arranged to cause the processor 16 to perform various operations, as will be explained in more detail below. The commands contained in the memory device 18 are the AT commands, as known in the art.

In use, when SIM cards (not shown) associated with the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth communication devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 need to enter into a teleconference call, the persons associated with the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 may dial in a phone number that is associated with the first SIM card 12 of the system 10. In dialling the phone number associated with the first SIM card 12, the persons associated with the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 may call the phone number associated with the first SIM card 12, or they may send a message to the phone number that is associated with the first SIM card 12, typically by dialling a USSD code to the phone number that is associated with the first SIM card 12.

Upon dialling in, the memory device 18 contains commands which are arranged to detect information associated with SIM cards (not shown) used in the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 which are dialling the phone number that is associated with the first SIM card 12. The commands stored in the memory device 18 are arranged to cause the processor 16 to verify the information, such as phone numbers, associated with SIM cards (not shown) used in the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 dialling into the system 10 against pre-stored phone numbers which are stored in a database 34 that is in communication with the system 10 via the communication network 20.

It will be appreciated that the database 34 may, in one version of the invention, be part of the system 10 and may not be remotely located from the system 10.

In one version of the invention, it will be appreciated that the phone numbers pre-stored in the database may be configured to coincide with the phone numbers of persons who may have been allocated a time slot in which the conference call can be made. For example, if a task force comprises of 100 people, and only 10 people out of the 100 are required to work on a shift for 8 hours on a particular day, the database 34 may be configured to only have access to the phone numbers of the 10 people who will be working on the shift, whilst the rest of the other phone numbers associated with 90 people not working in that particular shift may be inaccessible or locked.

The processor 16 is accordingly arranged to compare the phone numbers of the SIM cards (not shown) associated with each of the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 dialling into the system 10. Upon comparing the phone numbers of the SIM cards (not shown) associated with each of the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 dialling into the system 10, the processor 16 is arranged to flag and reject the phone numbers of the SIM cards (not shown) associated with any of the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 dialling which were not previously stored or pre-registered in the system 10.

Accordingly, the processor 16 is arranged to validate those phone numbers of the SIM cards (not shown) associated with each of the devices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 which have been pre-stored in the database 34. In one version of the invention, when the phone numbers of the SIM cards (not shown) associated with each of the first, second, third and fourth mobile phones 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32, call into the system 10 (i.e. call the phone number associated with the first SIM card 12), the processor 16 is arranged to validate the phone numbers of the incoming calls whilst, at the same time, placing the incoming calls on hold. Once the phone numbers have been verified, the processor 16 is arranged to allocate each incoming call to one of the teleconference call slots available on the first SIM card 12. When the teleconference call slots available on the first SIM card 12 have been exceeded, for example when the maximum number of calls that can be received/made by the first SIM card 12 exceeds five calls, the processor 16 is caused to automatically allocate the other incoming calls to the teleconference call slots available in the second SIM card 14. The processor 16 is arranged to direct the other calls to the second SIM card 14 and synchronizes and cojoins the calls received by the second SIM card 14 with the calls received by the first SIM card 12.

The processor 16 is accordingly arranged to automatically allocate calls received from verified phone numbers to available teleconference slots in the first and second SIM cards 12 and 14, respectively.

In the event that the teleconference call has been initiated between multiple callers, for examples callers associated with the first, second, third, and fourth mobile phones 22, 24, 26, and 28, and it happens that a fifth caller associated with the fifth device 30 calls into the system 10, the processor 16 is arranged to mute the incoming call so that the sound alert of the incoming call does not interfere with the ongoing conference call between the callers associated with the first, second, third and fourth devices 22, 24, 26, and 28, respectively. Thereafter, the processor 16 is arranged to validate the phone number used by the fifth caller, as described previously. While the phone number of the fifth caller is being validated, the processor 16 is arranged to place the call of the fifth caller on hold. Once the phone number of the fifth caller has been validated, the processor 16 is arranged to determine the number of teleconference calls which are being used by the first SIM card 12 to determine available teleconference slots which can receive the incoming call. In the present example, four teleconference slots have been occupied by the first, second, third and fourth callers associated with the first, second, third, and fourth devices 22, 24, 26, and 28, respectively. Accordingly, since the phone number associated with the first SIM card 12 is the main number which can be dialled to join the teleconference, the processor 16 is arranged to keep the fifth teleconference slot of the first SIM card 12 vacant or unoccupied, so that all incoming calls can have access to call the phone number associated with the first SIM card 12. In this case, as mentioned previously, four callers have been allocated to the teleconference call slots associated with the first SIM card 12. The processor 16 is then arranged to automatically divert the incoming call from the fifth caller associated with the fifth device 30, to a first teleconference call slot of the second SIM card 14. Upon diverting the incoming call from the fifth caller to the second SIM card 14, the processor 16 syncs and cojoins the call received by the second SIM card 14 with the ongoing conference call between the first, second, third, and fourth callers. The process mentioned herein is repeated when a sixth caller associated with the sixth mobile device 32 attempts to join the ongoing conference call.

In another version of the invention, when the phone numbers of the SIM cards (not shown) associated with each of the first, second, third and fourth devices 22, 24, 26, 28, dial a USSD code associated with the phone number associated with the first SIM card 12, so as to request a call-back from the system 10, the processor 16 is arranged to validate the phone numbers of the numbers that have dialled the USSD code. Once the phone numbers have been verified, the processor 16 is arranged to determine the number of available teleconference call slots associated with the first SIM card 12. In this case, all of the teleconference call slots of the first SIM card 12 are unoccupied. Accordingly, the processor 16 is arranged to call back the phone numbers associated with the SIM cards (not shown) accommodated in the first, second, third and fourth mobile phones 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, respectively. Upon calling these phone numbers, the processor 16 is arranged to allocate the four phone numbers associated with the SIM cards (not shown) of the four mobile devices 22, 24, 26, and 28 to the four teleconference call slots of the first SIM card 12. When a fifth caller associated with the SIM card (not shown) fitted in the fifth device 30 calls into the system 10, the processor 16 will automatically allocate the other incoming call to the teleconference call slot available in the second SIM card 14. In another version, where the processor 16 is required to call back the phone number associated with the fifth person that requested to join the conference call, the processor 16 is arranged to call the fifth person by using the second SIM card 14 and automatically allocates the call made out to the fifth caller to the teleconference call slot that is available in the second SIM card 14. However, in calling the fifth person, the processor 16 is arranged to mute the outgoing call sound, so as not to disturb the ongoing conference call between the first, second, third, and fourth callers. As soon as the fifth person receives the call made out from the second SIM card 14, the processor 16 will accordingly synchronize and cojoin the call made out to the fifth person with the ongoing conference call.

Referring also to Figure 2, the Figure illustrates a high-level flow diagram for the steps performed by a computer-implemented method 50 in accordance with the invention. The method 50 includes, 52: determining the number of calls received/made by a first SIM card during the conference call, and 54:if the number of calls received/made by the first SIM card module exceeds or reaches a predefined number of calls that can be received/made by the first SIM card module, directing the rest of the calls arranged to be received/made by the first SIM card module to be received/made by a second SIM card module.

It will be appreciated the system 10 and method 500 as envisaged herein provided a new and useful way of managing conference calls. In addition, the use of the system 10 provide users with a hassle-free experience of conference calls without incurring exorbitant call charges and with a comfort of reduced security risks.