Method and apparatus for communicating via virtual office telephone extensions

• US 20020019246A1
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Forte, Stephen P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/555
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42331 Direct inward dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/548 with remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 : Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 : Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0079 : involving restoration of networks, e.g. disaster recovery, self-healing networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 : Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 : WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A system for (and a method of) selectively establishing communication with at least one wireless device associated with a single telephone number serving as a virtual office extension is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a wireless connect unit in communication with an enterprise private branch exchange (PBX) network. The wireless connect unit preferably serves as a gateway between the PBX and one or more remote communication devices, including at least one wireless device, associated with a virtual extension telephone number. The remote wireless device can be used as a standard PBX office telephone for both inbound and outbound telephone calls. Thus, features of the PBX network (e.g., voice mail, direct extension dialing, corporate calling plan, etc.) are available to the remote wireless device even though it is not physically connected to the PBX. When the system receives an incoming call, it can route the call to a remote wireless device associated with a virtual extension, or to combination of devices simultaneously, or as desired by the user.

Claims

1. A telecommunication device comprising:

a telephony interface, said telephony interface for receiving a telephone call and identifying a dialed telephone number associated with the call, said telephony interface using the dialed telephone number to retrieve at least a wireless telephone number and at least one user preference from a storage medium, and said telephony interface using said at least one retrieved user preference to route the call to at least one destination telephone number, wherein said at least one destination telephone number is selected from the group consisting of said retrieved wireless telephone number and a voice mailbox telephone number.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to two destination telephone numbers simultaneously, a first destination telephone number corresponding to said retrieved wireless telephone number and a second destination telephone number corresponding to a retrieved second telephone number.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a third destination number corresponding to said voice mailbox telephone number after a predetermined time as defined by said at least one retrieved user preference.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said predetermined time corresponds to a number of telephone rings defined by said at least one retrieved user preference.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a first destination telephone number corresponding to said retrieved wireless telephone number and to a second destination telephone number corresponding to a retrieved second telephone number in a sequential manner and as defined by said at least one retrieved user preference.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said at least one retrieved user preference defines a first ring count for the call to said first destination telephone number and a second different ring count for the call to said second destination telephone number.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a third destination telephone number corresponding to said voice mailbox telephone number after said telephony interface rings said first destination number more than said first ring count.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a single destination telephone number corresponding to said voice mailbox telephone number.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface prompts a caller of the telephone call with a menu of call destination options and said telephony interface places the call to at least one destination telephone number in accordance with an option selected by the caller.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface communicates with a private branch exchange, and wherein at least one of said at least one destination telephone numbers is associated with the private branch exchange.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said at least one destination telephone number associated with the private branch exchange is associated with a cellular telephone.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the cellular telephone can operate independently from said device.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein another of said at least one destination telephone number is associated with a pager.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein another of said at least one destination telephone number is associated with a personal digital assistant.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface receives the call from a public switched telephone network, and wherein at least one of said at least one destination telephone number is associated with a private branch exchange.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one destination telephone number associated with the private branch exchange is associated with a cellular telephone.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface is connected to a local area network and said at least one user preference is input via the local area network.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface is connected to the Internet and said at least one user preference is input via the Internet.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said at least one enterprise preference comprises a security group defining authorized outbound call access of a user of the wireless telephone.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein said at least one user preference comprises a dial tone timeout period, wherein a user of the wireless telephone is prevented from placing a call after the dial tone timeout period expires.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein said telephony interface further comprises:

means for receiving a second telephone call, said second telephone call being placed to said first enterprise telephone number associated with the enterprise telephone network;

means for identifying the first enterprise number;

means for using the first enterprise telephone number to retrieve at least the wireless telephone number; and

means for using said at least one user preference to route the second call to at least one destination telephone number, wherein said at least one destination telephone number is selected from the group consisting of the wireless telephone number and a voice mailbox telephone number.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said telephony interface routes the second call to two destination telephone numbers simultaneously, a first destination telephone number corresponding to the wireless telephone and a second destination telephone number corresponding to a retrieved second telephone number.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said telephony interface routes the second call to a third destination number corresponding to said voice mailbox telephone number after a predetermined time as defined by at least one retrieved user preference.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein said telephony interface routes the second call to a first destination telephone number corresponding to the wireless telephone number and to a second destination telephone number corresponding to a retrieved second telephone number in a sequential manner and as defined by at least one retrieved user preference.

19. A telecommunication device comprising:

a telephony interface coupled to an enterprise telecommunication network, said telephony interface receiving a telephone call from a wireless telephone and identifying a wireless telephone number of the wireless telephone, said telephony interface using the wireless telephone number to retrieve a first enterprise telephone number associated with the enterprise telecommunication network and with the wireless telephone and to retrieve at least one user preference from a storage medium, said telephony interface generating and sending a simulated dial tone to the wireless telephone to provide access to the enterprise telecommunication network based on said at least one user preference and at least one enterprise preference associated with said first enterprise telephone number.

26. A method of operating a wireless connect unit to implement a virtual dual line telephone interface into an enterprise telecommunication network location having a single line telephone interface, said method comprises:

connecting the enterprise telecommunication network to a wireless connect unit;

providing at least one wireless telephone to the location;

routing a telephone call made to an extension of the enterprise network to the wireless connect unit;

identifying the extension from the routed telephone call;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first telephone number associated with the wireless telephone and a second telephone number associated with a telecommunications device;

routing the telephone call to at least one destination telephone number, wherein said at least one destination telephone number is selected from the group consisting of the first and second telephone numbers, and

wherein the wireless telephone can receive the call if the device associated with the second telephone number is unable to receive a call and the device associated with the second telephone number can receive the call if the wireless telephone is unable to receive the call.

27. A method of providing telecommunications between users of first and second enterprise telecommunication networks, said method comprising:

connecting each enterprise telecommunication network to a respective wireless connect unit;

providing at least one wireless telephone to the users of the first and second telecommunications network;

routing a telephone call made from a first user of the first enterprise network to the wireless connect unit connected to the second enterprise network, the telephone call being for an extension of the second enterprise network;

identifying the extension from the routed telephone call;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first telephone number associated with a wireless telephone and a user preference; and

routing the telephone call in accordance with the user preference to at least one destination telephone number, wherein said at least one destination telephone number is selected from the group consisting of the first telephone number and a voice mailbox telephone number.

28. A method of providing telecommunications to a user of an enterprise telecommunication network, said method comprises:

connecting the enterprise telecommunication network to a wireless connect unit;

providing an extension of the enterprise network associated with the user;

providing a wireless device to the user;

routing a telephone call made to the extension to the wireless connect unit;

identifying the extension from the routed telephone call;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first telephone number associated with the wireless device and at least one user preference; and

routing the telephone call in accordance with the user preference to at least one destination telephone number, wherein said at least one destination telephone number is selected from the group consisting of the first telephone number and a voice mailbox telephone number.

29. A method of providing access to an enterprise telecommunication network from a wireless telephone, said method comprises:

receiving a telephone call from the wireless telephone;

identifying a wireless telephone number of the wireless telephone;

using the wireless telephone number to retrieve an enterprise telephone number associated with the enterprise telecommunication network;

generating a simulated dial tone;

sending the simulated dial tone to the wireless telephone;

providing telecommunication access to the enterprise telecommunication network based on at least one user preference and at least one enterprise preference associated with the retrieved enterprise telephone number.