Conference connections using dynamic topology switching for ip and circuit-switched fabrics

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A system for call conferencing a plurality of participants is provided that includes (a)an, input operable to receive from a conference call participant A-E at least , one of (i) a, selective listening request and (ii) a request to remove selective listening wherein the, communication devices 416a-e of the conference call participants A-E are connected to a, plurality of gateways 408 424; and (b) a conference configuration agent 346 operable, in, response thereto and during the conference call to change from a first , conference, topology to a second conference topology wherein the first and second , conference topologies have a different number of inter-gateway connections.