Importance

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Abstract

The initiator of a conference call provides conference requirements such as number and location of parties to be conferenced, time for beginning and end of conference, and telecommunications facilities requirements (e.g., bandwidth requirements for video and multi-media calls), to a conference optimization system (COS). The COS compares the requirements with information in a database, including (a) the cost for each of the paths/routes at the desired time for the conference, (b) available network paths/routes, taking into account the required bandwidth and quality of transmission, and (c) capabilities of the terminal equipment available to the participants. The COS uses a processor such as a microprocessor to identify available network paths/routes for the conference (advantageously with real time input from telecommunications network operations and maintenance systems), select the most cost effective means for initiating the conference, and send information, such as an announcement, to the parties involved in the conference, indicative of the route/path selection. The information required for conference initiation may be provided to a network call controller in order to actually set up the conference without further intervention by the participants.

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