A first communication station of an intercom network is used in combination with a second communication station of the intercom network. The first and second communication stations are configured for carrying out real-time audio communication with other communication stations of the intercom network. The first communication station and the second communication station each comprise operating elements actuatable to provide direct audio communication with at least one of the other communication stations of the network, an audio input and a connection port or a communication module for connecting the communication station with another communication station of the intercom network The first and second communication stations each have a functionality including at least one of display brightness, speaker volume, programming of the operating elements, and microphone sensitivity that can be set as respective parameters.

A secure teleconference with a patient treatment room may be initiated by receiving, at a central facility, a request for a conference from a clinician application, and then identifying a virtual meeting room and sending an identifier for a conference to the treatment room. The conference is then be established by receiving a call at the central facility from the treatment room, where the call identifies the conference. The central facility then joins the treatment room and the clinician application to the virtual meeting room. Teleconferences may thus be established without reference to sensitive patient information. For security, no incoming conferencing calls may be made to the treatment room directly, and virtual meeting rooms may be eliminated after single use. A call may further be initiated by receiving a request from the treatment room, e.g., which is processed by the central facility to alert one or more clinicians.

A method of processing call establishment requests, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving call establishment definition data relating to a called party identifier; b) receiving a call establishment request from a calling party, the call establishment request comprising the called party identifier; c) determining that a user terminal associated with the called party identifier is engaged in a call with a remote party; d) determining that call establishment definition data is associated with the called party identifier; and e) in response to steps b) c) and d), processing the call establishment request to connect the calling party to the called party.

The invention concerns amongst other things a user (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11f, 11g) to an intercom network (10) for carrying out real-time audio communication with other users of this intercom network, comprising an audio input, in particular a microphone (14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f) or a microphone port (28) and a connection port (29) or a communication module (30) for connecting with a switching center (19a, 19b) of the intercom network, comprising at least one functionality that can be set as a parameter, in particular manually set, such as key assignment, direct-dial key, brightness, volume or the like, characterized in that an NFC element (22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f) is provided on the user that can be used to carry out a communication with a counterpart NFC element (23) assigned to an operator (25).

A system and method for reducing audio feedback, and in particular ‘howling’, during a communication session involving two or more computing devices. The system determines that a first device is likely to join a meeting in which another, second device is already joined. In response, the system can cause the second device to broadcast a signal that, if detected by the first device, will indicate that the two devices are in auditory range of one another. As a result, the system can preemptively mute the audio components of the first device to prevent an audio stream of the first device from interfering with the audio already streaming via the second device.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for enabling communication between parties are disclosed. A system may include a first communication device associated with a first user and a second communication device associated with a second user. The system may include a first communication channel between the first user and the second user for transmitting call data between the first communication device and the second communication device. The system may include a second communication channel between the first user and the second user established concurrently with the first communication channel. The second communication channel may be separate from the first communication channel. The second communication channel may be established by connection of the communication session participants to a multipoint control unit that is configured to transmit media data between the first communication device and the second communication device. The system allows transmission of one or more types of call data to be switched between the first and second communication channels.

A system for managing a conference call, the system comprising a call answering server configured to receive a call from an attendee device that has been forwarded from a host device, identify a conference call associated with the host device for the attendee device to join, receive a request from the attendee device to join the conference call, and connect the attendee device to the conference call.

A secure teleconference with a patient treatment room may be initiated by receiving, at a central facility, a request for a conference from a clinician application, and then identifying a virtual meeting room and sending an identifier for a conference to the treatment room. The conference is then be established by receiving a call at the central facility from the treatment room, where the call identifies the conference. The central facility then joins the treatment room and the clinician application to the virtual meeting room. Teleconferences may thus be established without reference to sensitive patient information. For security, no incoming conferencing calls may be made to the treatment room directly, and virtual meeting rooms may be eliminated after single use. A call may further be initiated by receiving a request from the treatment room, e.g., which is processed by the central facility to alert one or more clinicians.

Techniques for joining a device of a third user to a communication between a device of a first user and a device of a second user are described herein. For instance, two or more users may utilize respective computing devices to engage in a telephone call, a video call, an instant-messaging session, or any other type of communication in which the users communicate with each other audibly and/or visually. In some instances, a first user of the two users may issue a voice command requesting to join a device of a third user to the communication. One or more computing devices may recognize this voice command and may attempt to join a device of a third user to the communication.

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for generating and handling a waitlist during an audio conversation on a mobile application. For example, a method comprises: receiving a request from a first user, listening to a first audio conversation involving a second user and a third user, to join a waitlist associated with the second user or the first audio conversation; adding the first user to the waitlist associated with the second user or the first audio conversation; enabling the second user to view the waitlist; and initiating a second audio conversation between the second user and a user on the waitlist upon termination of the first audio conversation.