Method and system for rerouting telephone calls directed to a private branch exchange via a private corporate network

• US 20030112953A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: DuCharme, Joseph Francis
• Granted Patent: US 6,798,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13145 Rerouting upon failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

A method of rerouting telephone calls directed to a private branch exchange (PBX) located at a first site to a second site wherein the PBX has at least one nonfunctional routing number is provided. The method includes providing a corporate long distance telephone system, providing a telephone hunt group, programming a plurality of routing numbers assigned to the first site PBX such that calls directed to the first site PBX are routed through the corporate long distance telephone system to the telephone hunt group, programming the hunt group to forward calls to a dedicated long distance telephone system, and programming the dedicated long distance telephone system to route calls to at least one of an alternate PBX and a dedicated wireless telephone system located at the second site.

Claims

1. A method of rerouting telephone calls directed to a private branch exchange (PBX) located at a first site to a second site wherein the PBX has at least one nonfunctional routing number, said method comprising:

providing a corporate long distance telephone system;

providing a telephone hunt group;

programming a plurality of routing numbers assigned to the first site PBX such that calls directed to the first site PBX are routed through the corporate long distance telephone system to the telephone hunt group;

programming the hunt group to forward calls to a dedicated long distance telephone system; and

programming the dedicated long distance telephone system to route calls to at least one of an alternate PBX and a dedicated wireless telephone system located at the second site.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

providing a designated local telephone system located at a third site;

reprogramming the corporate long distance telephone system to route calls to the dedicated long distance telephone system; and

verifying the new call path by making at least one call to a routing number assigned to the first site PBX.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising:

providing a designated event;

reprogramming the plurality of routing numbers assigned to the first site PBX after an occurrence of the designated event such that calls directed to the first site PBX are directed to the first site PBX; and

verifying the new call path by making at least one call to a routing number assigned to the first site PBX.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein programming the telephone hunt group comprises programming the telephone hunt group to forward calls to a dedicated, toll-free, long distance telephone system.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein programming the dedicated long distance telephone system further comprises providing an audio recording on the dedicated long distance telephone system such that a caller hears an audio message when the caller is forwarded to the dedicated system.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein programming the dedicated long distance telephone system further comprises programming the dedicated long distance telephone system to route calls to at least one of an alternate PBX and at least one wireless telephone hunt group.

7. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein providing a designated event comprises causing the nonfunctional first site PBX routing numbers to become functional.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said corporate long distance telephone system comprises a private, corporate, long distance telephone system.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said system further configured to forward calls from said bank of hunt group telephones to said dedicated long distance telephone system.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said system further configured to route calls from said dedicated long distance telephone system to at least one of said alternate PBX and said dedicated wireless system located at said second site.

8. A method of rerouting telephone calls directed to a private branch exchange (PBX) located in a designated disaster area to an alternate site, the PBX having at least one nonfunctional routing number, said method comprising:

providing a corporate long distance telephone system;

providing a bank of telephones configured in a hunt group;

programming a plurality of routing numbers assigned to the PBX located in the disaster area such that calls directed to the PBX located in the disaster area are routed through the corporate long distance telephone system to the bank of hunt group telephones;

programming the bank of hunt group telephones to forward calls to a dedicated long distance telephone system; and

programming the dedicated long distance telephone system to route calls to at least one of an alternate PBX and a dedicated wireless system located at the alternate site such that a designated person receives the calls.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

establishing a disaster recovery site in close proximity to the disaster area;

providing a designated local telephone system located near the disaster recovery site;

reprogramming the corporate long distance telephone system to route calls to the dedicated long distance telephone system; and

verifying the new call path by making at least one call to a routing number assigned to the PBX located in the disaster area.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising:

designating the disaster area a non-disaster area;

reprogramming the plurality of routing numbers assigned to the PBX located in the non-disaster area such that calls directed to the PBX located in the non-disaster area are directed to the PBX located in the non-disaster area; and

verifying the new call path by making at least one call to a routing number assigned to the PBX located in the non-disaster area.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein programming the bank of hunt group telephones comprises programming the bank of hunt group telephones to forward calls to a dedicated, toll-free, long distance telephone system.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein programming the dedicated long distance telephone system further comprises providing an audio recording on the dedicated long distance telephone system such that a caller hears an audio message when the caller is forwarded to the dedicated system.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein programming the dedicated long distance telephone system further comprises programming the dedicated long distance telephone system to route calls to at least one of an alternate PBX and at least one wireless hunt group.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein rerouting telephone calls directed to a PBX located in a designated disaster area further comprises rerouting telephone calls directed to a company-wide help center through a PBX located in a designated disaster area.

15. A telephone routing system for rerouting telephone calls directed to a private branch exchange (PBX) located at a first site to a second site, said first site PBX having at least one nonfunctional routing number, said system comprising a corporate long distance telephone system, a bank of telephones configured in a hunt group, a dedicated long distance telephone system, and at least one of an alternate PBX and a dedicated wireless system located at said second site.

17. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said system configured to reroute calls directed to said first site PBX through said corporate long distance telephone system to said bank of hunt group telephones.

20. A system in accordance with claim 17 further comprising a designated local telephone system located in close proximity to a third site, said system further configured to route calls from said corporate long distance telephone system through said dedicated long distance telephone system to said designated local telephone system near said third site.

21. A system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a designated event, said system further configured to route calls directed to said first site PBX to said first site PBX after an occurrence of said designated event.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said designated event comprises said nonfunctional first site PBX routing numbers becoming functional.

23. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said dedicated long distance telephone system further comprises a toll-free system.

24. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said dedicated long distance telephone system comprises an audio recording such that a caller hears an audio message when the caller is forwarded to the dedicated long distance telephone system.

25. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said dedicated wireless system comprises at least one wireless telephone hunt group.

26. A telephone routing system for rerouting telephone calls directed to a private branch exchange (PBX) located in a disaster site area to an alternate site, said disaster site PBX having a plurality of routing numbers assigned thereto and at least one routing number designated as nonfunctional, said system comprising a corporate long distance telephone system, a bank of telephones configured in a hunt group, a dedicated long distance telephone system, and at least one of an alternate PBX and a dedicated wireless system located near said alternate site, said system configured to reroute calls directed to said disaster site PBX through said corporate long distance telephone system to said bank of hunt group telephones, forward calls to said dedicated long distance telephone system;

and route calls to at least one of said alternate PBX and said dedicated wireless system located near said alternate site.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26 further comprising a designated local telephone system located in close proximity to a disaster recovery site, said system further configured to route calls from said corporate long distance telephone system through said dedicated long distance telephone system to said designated local telephone system near said disaster recovery site.

28. A system in accordance with claim 27 further configured to route calls directed to said disaster site PBX to said disaster site PBX after said nonfunctional routing numbers become functional.