US 8571194

Here's a concise summary of US patent 8571194:

US Patent 8571194: System and Method for Initiating a Conference Call

• Title: System and method for initiating a conference call

• Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (Current Assignee) (Original Assignee: Linqware Inc)

• Inventor: Tod C. Turner

• Filing Date: October 19, 2010

• Issue Date: October 29, 2013

• Abstract: The patent describes a system and method for initiating conference calls using an instant messaging (IM) system. The core idea is to streamline the process by using an IM connection between a requester and a conference call server. This server, upon receiving the request, then initiates the conference call by having a conference bridge call the involved parties, thereby reducing the manual effort for participants to join the call.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions for a first party's device. The instructions cause the device to:

  • Display an exchange of instant messages between the first party and at least one other current participant in an IM chat window.
  • Show the first party an indication of whether the other participant(s) are connected to the IM session.
  • Display an option to automatically start voice communication among all current IM session participants, without requiring them to individually select members or register with a conference call server for that specific call.
  • Request this voice communication when the option is selected. In response, voice communication is established between the first party and those other participants.

• Independent Claim 6: This claim also describes a non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions to establish voice communication between a first party and at least one other party who are current IM session participants. The instructions cause the device to:

  • Display for the first party an indication of whether the at least one other party is connected to the IM session.
  • Display an option to automatically initiate voice communication between the current IM session participants without needing individual selection or registration with a conference call server by the potential members (including the first party and the other party/parties).
  • Request, upon selection of this option, voice communication, which is then established between the first party and those other parties.

• Independent Claim 11: This claim is similar to Claim 6 but focuses on parties who have an IM presence and are exchanging text communications. It describes a non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions to establish voice communication, causing the device to:

  • Display for the first party an indication of whether the at least one other party is communicably connected to the IM session.
  • Display an option to automatically initiate voice communication between current participants of the text communication exchange, without requiring individual selection or registration with a conference call server by the potential members.
  • Request, upon selection of this option, voice communication, which is then established between the first party and those other parties.

• Independent Claim 16: This claim describes a non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions configured to operate with an electronic hardware computer server to perform steps related to initiating a conference call. The instructions cause the server to:

  • Exchange IM messages between a first party and at least one other party, who are current participants in an IM session.
  • Send the first party an indication of whether the at least one other party is communicably connected to the IM session.
  • Receive a request from the first party to establish voice communication among current IM session participants, where this request does not require registration with a conference call server by potential members and lacks a specific identification of the at least one other party.
  • Determine the at least one other party from information associated with the IM session after receiving the request.
  • Establish voice communication between the first party and those determined other parties.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any specific cases listing patent number US8571194 as being currently scheduled for arguments or decisions in the provided results for May 2026. While the patent's Google Patents page indicates "Family has litigation," this refers to past or ongoing litigation in general, not specifically to current (2026) CAFC dockets. Therefore, based on the provided information, no active cases related to US8571194 were identified in the CAFC's 2026 docket schedule.