Distributed conferencing systems and methods provide local meeting contents to remote participants. In accordance with various example embodiments, a plurality of authorized source units generate media content responsive to and representative of respective content for a meeting. In response to the generated media content, one or more data streams are developed at each authorized source, each stream being a separately-decodable real-time representation of at least a portion of the media content generated at the respective authorized source. The separate data streams are transmitted by each authorized source to a common multicast IP group address for retrieval/access by remote participants.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for scheduling a call to be automatically initiated between users. The program and method provide for receiving, from a first device associated with a first user, a request for a call to be automatically initiated, at a scheduled time, between the first device and a second device corresponding to a second user; providing, to the second device and in response to the receiving, an invitation to participate in the call; receiving, from the second device and in response to the providing, an acceptance of the invitation; and providing for automatically initiating the call between the first device and the second device at the scheduled time.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for scheduling a call to be automatically initiated between users. The program and method provide for receiving, from a first device associated with a first user, a request for a call to be automatically initiated, at a scheduled time, between the first device and a second device corresponding to a second user; providing, to the second device and in response to the receiving, an invitation to participate in the call; receiving, from the second device and in response to the providing, an acceptance of the invitation; and providing for automatically initiating the call between the first device and the second device at the scheduled time.

Methods and systems are provided for automatically joining a user in a conference meeting via alternative communication devices when the user is detected to be unavailable at a particular client communication device. The client communication device of the user determines that the presence of the user is set to away, indicating that the user is unavailable at the client communication device. When the client communication device determines that a conference meeting including the user as an active participant is about to begin, the client communication device determines an alternative number, and different communication device, at which to reach the user. Using the alternative number, the client communication device calls the user at the different communication device and, when answered, automatically joins the user into the conference meeting through a communication channel provided by the client communication device.

A method of simplifying electronic communications between a plurality of users by communication implementation and management. Each user has an electronic identifier, which may be of a type, such as a website address, domain, LinkedIn address, etc. Each identifier is unique to each user. The electronic identifier can be changed at any time prior to contact enabling privacy and the method may be effected on a singular telecommunications platform (SIP) or mixed platform (SIP and PSTN) or other voice or text medium for cost efficiency. The system renders communication between users passive and allows for simultaneous and instantaneous communication while maintaining anonymity of the identifiers used.

Disclosed are some implementations of methods and apparatus for managing services within a computer network. In one embodiment, a message interchange network for exchanging application-level messages between services, which are located outside the message interchange network, is provided. At the message interchange network, a plurality of application-level messages, which each specify which one or more receiving services are to receive the each application-level message, are received. Each received application-level message is forward towards the one or more receiving services. Correlation information regarding each application-level message that is received into message interchange network is retained. The application-level messages are sent between pairs of the services, and the retained correlation information for each application-level message pertains to each application-level message and any other application-level messages related to the each application-level message.

A system to call a participant to join and connect to a meeting is described herein. The system includes a meeting server and a communication server. The meeting server is programmed to set the meeting and call a participant based on the response to a meeting request. The communication server is programmed to send the meeting request to the participant by one or more communication methods or protocols.

Initiating a conference call includes receiving a conference call request message from an initiating user specifying a plurality of other users and determining an availability of the other users to receive conference call invitations. A conference call is initiated between the initiating user and one or more of the other users that are determined to be available. The availability of one or more of the other users determined to be unavailable is monitored and interaction with a conference call invitation by one or more of the other users determined to be unavailable is enabled upon their monitored availability changing from unavailable to available. The interaction with the conference call invitation by the other users is conditioned on whether the conference call is still in progress.

Initiating a conference call includes receiving a conference call request message from an initiating user specifying a plurality of other users and determining an availability of the other users to receive conference call invitations. A conference call is initiated between the initiating user and one or more of the other users that are determined to be available. The availability of one or more of the other users determined to be unavailable is monitored and interaction with a conference call invitation by one or more of the other users determined to be unavailable is enabled upon their monitored availability changing from unavailable to available. The interaction with the conference call invitation by the other users is conditioned on whether the conference call is still in progress.

A resource reservation system includes an information processing apparatus configured to accept a request to use a resource that is reserved; and an information processing terminal configured to communicate with a terminal apparatus. The information processing terminal includes a communicator configured to transmit, to the information processing apparatus, identification information of the terminal apparatus received from the terminal apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a resource manager configured to determine whether to allow usage of the resource that is reserved, based on the identification information of the terminal apparatus transmitted from the information processing terminal.