An already-connected telephone call is conferenced in a seamless manner that is transparent to the call participants, after which one or more additional participants may join the conference. The existing call is preferably moved to a conference bridge responsive to an existing call participant either logging on to a network-accessible user interface (such as a web page or portal-type page) or entering some special key or key combination using the participant's phone (which may be a software application that provides phone-like services). The participant requesting the move may be authenticated, and the authorization of the participant to request the move may be verified, before moving the call.

Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for bridging a third party onto a communication such as a telephone call or Web chat that is being conducted between a first party and a second party. Specifically, a contact, such as a telephone number or webpage address, is linked with the communication being conducted between the first and second parties and a text message is sent to the third party that includes the contact. For instance, in particular embodiments, this contact may be embedded in the text message so that the third party can simply select the contact from the text message to initiate being bridged onto the communication. Accordingly, the third party makes use of the contact to be bridged onto the communication so that the third party can converse with the first party and the second party.

Embodiments are provided for the automatic real-time recording and processing of media in a communications network based on the context of the media. In one embodiment, a media stream is received in an analysis module in a service platform in the communications network. The media stream may represent a communication session between a calling party and a call center in the network. The incoming media steam is analyzed to identify words comprising a context of the communication session. A determination is then made as to whether the context of the communication session is related to a set of business rules associated with the service platform which may automatically trigger the retention of a recording of the communication session. If the context of the communication session is related to the set of business rules, the retention of the communication session is automatically triggered in real-time at a recording module.

Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for bridging a third party onto a communication such as a telephone call or Web chat that is being conducted between a first party and a second party. Specifically, a contact, such as a telephone number or webpage address, is linked with the communication being conducted between the first and second parties and a text message is sent to the third party that includes the contact. For instance, in particular embodiments, this contact may be embedded in the text message so that the third party can simply select the contact from the text message to initiate being bridged onto the communication. Accordingly, the third party makes use of the contact to be bridged onto the communication so that the third party can converse with the first party and the second party.

A communication server detects a first communication request from a first caller device to a second caller device. The communication server detects a second communication request from the second caller device to the first caller device. The first communication request and the second communication request both occur within a threshold time period. The communication server establishes, without additional input from the first caller device and the second caller device, an active session in response to the first communication request. The active session is established between the first caller device and the second caller device. The communication server dismisses the second communication request.

A method for transferring control of an existing multi-participant conversation in which at least two communication terminals are connected to each other through a data connection to a conference control application can include the following steps: establishment of a virtual conference room that serves as an anchor point for the application and can be a virtual participant in the conference, switching of the conference room into the existing data connection and assignment of the master role to the conference room. A signal generated by the application can cause the switching of the conference room into the existing data connection and the assignment of the master role to the conference room.

A communication system comprising a plurality of terminals, comprising: a start request information obtaining unit that obtains information for requesting start of a session between a first terminal and a second terminal of the plurality of terminals; a session management unit that establishes the session in accordance with the start request information; a participation request information obtaining unit that obtains participation request information with which a third terminal of the plurality of terminals requests participating in the already established session; and a participation determination unit that allows the third terminal to participate or prohibit the third terminal from participating in the already established session, wherein when the participation determination unit allows participation in the already established session, the session management unit lets the third terminal to participate in the already established session.

Embodiments are provided for the automatic real-time recording and processing of media in a communications network based on the context of the media. In one embodiment, a media stream is received in an analysis module in a service platform in the communications network. The media stream may represent a communication session between a calling party and a call center in the network. The incoming media steam is analyzed to identify words comprising a context of the communication session. A determination is then made as to whether the context of the communication session is related to a set of business rules associated with the service platform which may automatically trigger the retention of a recording of the communication session. If the context of the communication session is related to the set of business rules, the retention of the communication session is automatically triggered in real-time at a recording module.

Multi-party call control method and device, and a multi-pass terminal are provided. The method includes: setting up calls with at least two terminals, respectively; and transmitting service data of at least one of the at least two terminals to other terminal of the at least two terminals respectively, or informing a network to transmit service data of at least one of the at least two terminals to other terminal of the at least two terminals respectively. Compared with the existing techniques, in embodiments of the present disclosure, all the remote terminals in the multi-party call may be flexibly controlled according to different session demands and actions.

Multi-party call control method and device, and a multi-pass terminal are provided. The method includes: setting up calls with at least two terminals, respectively; and controlling uplink and downlink service data of at least one of the at least two terminals, or informing a network to control uplink and downlink service data of at least one of the at least two terminals, or informing at least one of the at least two terminals to control uplink and downlink service data of the at least one terminal. Compared with the existing techniques, in embodiments of the present disclosure, all the remote terminals in the multi-party call may be flexibly controlled according to different session demands and actions.