System for automatically conferencing a caller to one or more members of a group

摘要

A system for automatically conferencing a caller (15) to one or more members of a group (17) is provided having at least one call processor (14a) representing a computer having an interface (14b) to a telephone-based network (18) through multiple telephone lines. The call processor (14a) is associated with one or more telephone numbers to enable inbound calls to connect with the call processor (14a) via the network (18). In response to an inbound call contacting the system, the call is associated with one of predefined groups of subscribers stored in memory of the call processor, and enables the caller (15) of the inbound call to record a greeting message to the members of the group (17). The call processor dials outbound calls in one or more rounds to telephone numbers of the members of the group (17), and enables the caller of each connected outbound call to receive at least the recorded message and select whether they wish to be included in a conference call. The call processor conference bridges the inbound call and one or more outbound calls having callers which selected to be included.