Method and apparatus for communicating with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster and disaster recovery

• US 20030181209A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• 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 7,292,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• 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 2242/06 Lines and connections with preferential service
• 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 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• 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 7/0057 : Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• 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 7/009 : in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• 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: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 : Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 : Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 : Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13194 : Four wire connection, transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 : Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13286 : Direct in-dialling in PBX, DDI
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 : Operator, emergency services
• 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: H04Q 3/62 : for connecting to private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections
• 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 one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster or disaster recovery period. The method can offer disaster recovery to an enterprise depending upon its size, financial well-being and desired capabilities. For example, the enterprise has the option of owning or renting all of the equipment required so that it may perform disaster recovery on its own and with little outside intervention. The enterprise may own some or none of the necessary equipment and contract with a service bureau so that the bureau provides recovery equipment when needed. The system also provides for roll call, priority preemption and seamless switching services to and from circuit and packet communication devices.

Claims

1. A method of providing a recovery telecommunication service to an enterprise operating a first telecommunication network connected to a first wireless connection unit, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a second wireless connection unit to serve as a recovery server;

copying a first database of the first wireless connection unit into a second database in the second wireless connection unit; and

servicing a communication destined for an extension of the first telecommunication network via the second wireless connection unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless connection unit is operated by the enterprise.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless connection unit is operated by an entity other than the enterprise.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless connection unit is operated by a service bureau.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the service bureau charges a fee to the enterprise for maintaining the second database on behalf of the enterprise.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the service bureau charges a fee to service the communication via the second wireless connection unit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the serviced communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the a communication device and a second communication device number associated with a second communication device; and

routing the serviced communication to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second database comprises a plurality of telephone extensions each associated with a first communication device connected to the first telecommunication network and a second communication device and at least one user preference associated with each of the plurality of telephone extensions.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the serviced communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device, a second communication device number associated with the second communication device and at least one user preference; and

routing the serviced communication to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers based on the user preference.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the serviced communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device, a second communication device number associated with the second communication device and at least one user preference; and

directing the serviced communication in accordance with the user preference to at least one destination communication number, wherein the at least one destination communication number is selected from a group including the first and second communication device numbers and a voice mailbox number.

11. A method of providing a recovery telecommunication service to an enterprise operating a first telecommunication network, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless connection unit connected to the first telecommunication network to serve as a recovery server;

maintaining a database of telephone extensions of the first telecommunication network, each extension being associated with a first communication device connected to the first telecommunication network and a second communication device; and

servicing a communication destined for an extension of the first telecommunication network via the wireless connection unit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless connection unit is operated by an entity other than the enterprise.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless connection unit is operated by a service bureau.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the service bureau charges a fee to the enterprise for maintaining the database on behalf of the enterprise.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the service bureau charges a fee to service the communication via the wireless connection unit.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the serviced communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device and a second communication device number associated with the second communication device; and

routing the serviced communication to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the database further comprise at least one user preference associated with each of the plurality of telephone extensions.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the serviced communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device, a second communication device number associated with the second communication device and at least one user preference; and

routing the serviced communication to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers based on the user preference.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the serviced communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device, a second communication device number associated with the second communication device and at least one user preference; and

directing the serviced communication in accordance with the user preference to at least one destination communication number, wherein the at least one destination communication number is selected from a group including the first and second communication device numbers and a voice mailbox number.

20. A method of performing a roll call function to determine a status of users of an enterprise telecommunication network, said method comprising the steps of:

simultaneously broadcasting a request for status message to a plurality of different communication devices associated with telephone numbers of each user of the enterprise network;

inputting responses from at least some of the devices; and

determining the status of the users from the input responses.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of determining a status of network equipment from the input responses.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the plurality of devices is an office telephone and another of the devices is a cellular telephone.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the plurality of devices is an office telephone and another of the devices is a wireless data device.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of devices includes an office telephone, a cellular telephone, and a data device.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of broadcasting an additional message to devices that have responded to the request for status.

26. A method of preempting a wireless communication on a first device associated with a telephone extension of an enterprise telecommunications network, the communication including a first user associated with the extension, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting at a wireless connection unit a priority preemption signal from a second device;

determining at the wireless connection unit a priority of a second user sending the priority preemption signal and a priority of the first user; and

if it is determined that the wireless communications can be preempted, interrupting the wireless communication and creating a wireless communication between the first and second devices.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first device is a cellular telephone.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the first device is a wireless pager.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first device is a satellite telephone.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the first device is a wireless packet switched device.

31. A method of seamlessly switching a telephone call from a circuit communication network to a data packet communication network, the call being associated with a telephone extension of an enterprise communication network, said method comprising the steps of;

detecting that a wireless device associated with the extension can handle the call on the packet communication network;

determining whether the call should be switched to the packet communication network based on user preferences associated with the extension; and

if it is determined that the call should be switched to the packet communication network, bridging the call to the packet communication network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said determining step comprises determining whether a quality of service would be improved by switching the call to the packet communication network.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said determining step comprises determining whether a user preference allows the call to be switched to the packet communication network.

34. A method of seamlessly switching a telephone call from a data packet communication network to a circuit communication network, the call being associated with a telephone extension of an enterprise communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting that a wireless device associated with the extension can handle the call on the circuit communication network;

determining whether the call should be switched to the circuit communication network based on user preferences associated with the extension; and

if it is determined that the call should be switched to the circuit communication network, bridging the call to the circuit communication network.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said determining step comprises determining whether a quality of service would be improved by switching the call to the circuit communication network.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said determining step comprises determining whether a user preference allows the call to be switched to the circuit communication network.

37. A method of masking the identification of a telephone caller, comprising:

providing a wireless connection unit in connection with a telecommunication network;

providing a graphical user interface associated with the wireless connection unit;

inputting into the graphical user interface an alternative caller identification number;

associating the alternative caller identification number with a first telephone number; and

placing a telephone call from the first telephone number to a second telephone number having a caller identification function.