1. A system, comprising a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing programming instructions executable by the processor to: enter a virtual assistant mode responsive to receipt of DTMF input from the line of a participant in a conference call; thereafter mute audio from the line of the participant to the conference call and reduce a volume level of audio from the conference call to the line of the participant; play spoken input from the participant in a manner perceivable by a first intent analyst in the virtual assistant mode; accept input from the first intent analyst that indicates the first intent analyst's interpretation of a system request in the spoken input; provide feedback concerning receipt of the system request to the participant; and automatically execute the system request responsively to the accepting function; wherein the programming instructions are further executable by the processor to: substantially simultaneously with the playing to the first intent analyst, play the spoken input in a manner perceivable by a second intent analyst; accept input from the second intent analyst that indicates the second intent analyst's interpretation of the system request; the executing operation is a function of the input accepted from both the first and the second intent analysts; wherein the programming instructions are further executable by the processor, if the first intent analyst's interpretation and the second intent analyst's interpretation are different, to: play the spoken input in a manner perceivable by a third intent analyst, accept input from the third intent analyst that indicates the third intent analyst's interpretation of the system request; and use the input from the third intent analyst as a tiebreaker between the input from the first intent analyst and the second intent analyst.
1. A system, comprising a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing programming instructions executable by the processor to: enter a virtual assistant mode responsive to receipt of DTMF input from the line of a participant in a conference call; thereafter mute audio from the line of the participant to the conference call and reduce a volume level of audio from the conference call to the line of the participant; play spoken input from the participant in a manner perceivable by a first intent analyst in the virtual assistant mode; accept input from the first intent analyst that indicates the first intent analyst's interpretation of a system request in the spoken input; provide feedback concerning receipt of the system request to the participant; and automatically execute the system request responsively to the accepting function; wherein the programming instructions are further executable by the processor to: substantially simultaneously with the playing to the first intent analyst, play the spoken input in a manner perceivable by a second intent analyst; accept input from the second intent analyst that indicates the second intent analyst's interpretation of the system request; the executing operation is a function of the input accepted from both the first and the second intent analysts; wherein the programming instructions are further executable by the processor, if the first intent analyst's interpretation and the second intent analyst's interpretation are different, to: play the spoken input in a manner perceivable by a third intent analyst, accept input from the third intent analyst that indicates the third intent analyst's interpretation of the system request; and use the input from the third intent analyst as a tiebreaker between the input from the first intent analyst and the second intent analyst. 2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system request is in the set of requests consisting of: muting the line of the of the participant to the conference call; beginning to transcribe speech in the conference call; suspending transcription of speech in the conference call; listing participants in the conference call; and initiating an outgoing call to attempt to join another person to the conference call.