Remote PBX system and advanced communication terminals

• US 20030153352A1
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automated Business Companies
• Original Assignee: Automated Business Companies
• Inventors: Freeny, Charles C. Jr., Freeny, Bryan E., Freeny, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/554.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/253 Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX

Abstract

A method for providing a remote PBX service by a customer'"'"'s phone service provider. More than one telephone number is assigned to one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link. The one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link is in communication with at least one telephone. A connect signal is received by the customer'"'"'s phone service provider. The connect signal includes one of the telephone numbers assigned to the one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link. A called telephone code is generated. The called telephone code is indicative of the one of the telephone numbers included in the connect signal. The called telephone code is sent to the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link whereby a user of the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link is capable of knowing which of the more than one telephone numbers assigned to the one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link was called prior to answering the at least one telephone connected to the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link. Thus, the customer'"'"'s phone service provider provides the remote PBX service for the customer without the necessity of a local PBX.

Claims

1. A method for providing a remote PBX service by a customer'"'"'s phone service provider, comprising the steps of:

assigning more than one telephone number to one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link, the one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link in communication with at least one telephone;

receiving a connect signal by the customer'"'"'s phone service provider, the connect signal including one of the telephone numbers assigned to the one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link;

generating a called telephone code indicative of the one of the telephone numbers included in the connect signal; and

sending the called telephone code to the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link whereby a user of the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link is capable of knowing which of the more than one telephone numbers assigned to the one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link was called prior to answering the at least one telephone connected to the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link, the customer'"'"'s phone service provider providing the remote PBX service for the customer without the necessity of a local PBX.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone is a wireless telephone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of assigning a plurality of telephone numbers to each of a plurality of customers.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising the step of selecting, by each customer, local PBX services to be provided from the customer'"'"'s phone service provider.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the step of selecting is defined further as selecting, by each customer, a local PBX service to be provided from the customer'"'"'s phone service provider only after the customer provides valid security and payment information.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing, by the customer'"'"'s phone service provider, separate local PBX services to separate customers.

7. In a system having a caller'"'"'s phone service provider and a customer'"'"'s phone service provider, the improvement comprising:

a remote PBX apparatus having local PBX functionality therein for a plurality of customers without the necessity of having local PBXs for each such customer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote PBX apparatus is associated with the customer'"'"'s phone service provider.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein a plurality of telephones is associated with each customer.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote PBX apparatus includes a customer interface unit that allows each customer to select communication and computer services to be provided.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the customer interface unit allows the customer to select communication and computer services only after the customer provides valid security and payment information.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote PBX apparatus includes a customer processor unit that is adapted to control the communication for each customer terminal unit and is adapted to cause to be provided the communication and computer services selected by each customer each time the service is requested.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote PBX apparatus provides separate local PBX services to separate customers.

14. A communication terminal connectable to a customer'"'"'s telephone communication link having more than one telephone number assigned to the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link, comprising:

a terminal audio unit capable of being activated by a user and receiving user communication;

a terminal modem unit receiving a connect signal from a customer'"'"'s phone service provider without the connect signal passing through a local PBX, the connect signal including a called telephone code indicative of one of the telephone numbers assigned to the customer, the terminal modem unit providing bidirectional communication between the terminal audio unit and the customer'"'"'s phone service provider once communication is established therebetween;

a terminal display unit receiving the called telephone code and outputting the called telephone code in a format perceivable by a user prior to activation of the terminal audio unit by the user such that the user of the communication terminal is capable of knowing which of the more than one telephone numbers assigned to the one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link was called prior to answering.

15. A communication terminal connectable to a customer'"'"'s telephone communication link having more than one telephone number assigned to the customer'"'"'s telephone communication link, comprising:

a terminal capable of being activated by a user and receiving user communication, the terminal receiving a connect signal from a customer'"'"'s phone service provider without the connect signal passing through a local PBX, the connect signal including a called telephone code indicative of one of the telephone numbers assigned to the customer, the terminal providing bidirectional communication between the terminal and the customer'"'"'s phone service provider once communication is established therebetween, the terminal receiving the called telephone code and outputting the called telephone code in a format perceivable by a user prior to activation of the terminal by the user such that the user of the communication terminal is capable of knowing which of the more than one telephone numbers assigned to the one customer'"'"'s telephone communication link was called prior to answering.