Enhanced extension mobility

• US 20050235158A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Labhesh, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,194,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/184
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for enhanced extension mobility includes accessing user input indicating either a desire of a user to logon at an endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user or a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users. The method includes configuring the endpoint to support only an extension of the user if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user. The method includes configuring the endpoint to concurrently support an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users.

Claims

1. A system for enhanced extension mobility, the system comprising one or more processing units collectively operable to:

access user input indicating either;

a desire of a user to logon at an endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user;

or

a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users;

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, configure the endpoint to support only an extension of the user; and

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users, configure the endpoint to concurrently support an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the processing units are located at the endpoint.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the processing units are located at a server remote from the endpoint.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to:

prompt the user to select between private mode and shared mode at the endpoint; and

receive a selection by the user of either private mode or shared mode at the endpoint, the selection providing the user input.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to:

prompt the user to enter an extension of the user to logon at the endpoint;

access an extension entered by the user; and

configure the endpoint to support the entered extension.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to:

prompt the user to enter a password to logon at the endpoint;

access a password entered by the user;

determine whether the entered password is valid; and

if the entered password is valid, configure the endpoint to support the entered extension.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable, in response to an incoming phone call received at the endpoint, to indicate a called extension of the incoming phone call if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions of multiple users.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to display the called extension of the incoming phone call at a display screen of the endpoint to indicate the called extension.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to audibly announce a name of a called user of the incoming phone call to indicate the called extension.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to play a ring tone corresponding to the called extension to indicate the called extension.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable, if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions, to:

prompt a user to enter a calling extension of an outgoing phone call from the endpoint; and

generate signaling data for communication with the outgoing phone call that identifies the entered calling extension.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable, if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions, to generate signaling data for communication with every outgoing phone call from the endpoint according to a predetermined extension.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable, if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, to configure the endpoint according to one or more preferences of the user.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable, in response to an outoing phone call from the endpoint, to cause one or more of one or more call detail records (CDRs) and one or more billing records to be updated to indicate a calling extension of the outgoing phone call from the endpoint.

15. A method for enhanced extension mobility, the method comprising:

accessing user input indicating either;

a desire of a user to logon at an endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user;

or

a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users;

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, configuring the endpoint to support only an extension of the user; and

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users, configuring the endpoint to concurrently support an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

prompting the user to select between private mode and shared mode at the endpoint; and

receiving a selection by the user of either private mode or shared mode at the endpoint, the selection providing the user input.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

prompting the user to enter an extension of the user to logon at the endpoint;

accessing an extension entered by the user; and

configuring the endpoint to support the entered extension.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

prompting the user to enter a password to logon at the endpoint;

accessing a password entered by the user;

determining whether the entered password is valid; and

configuring the endpoint to support the entered extension only if the entered password is valid.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising, in response to an incoming phone call received at the endpoint, indicating a called extension of the incoming phone call if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions of multiple users.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising displaying the called extension of the incoming phone call at a display screen of the endpoint to indicate the called extension.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising audibly announcing a name of a called user of the incoming phone call to indicate the called extension.

22. The method of claim 19, comprising playing a ring tone corresponding to the called extension to indicate the called extension.

23. The method of claim 15, comprising, if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions:

prompting a user to enter a calling extension of an outgoing phone call from the endpoint; and

generating signaling data for communication with the outgoing phone call that identifies the entered calling extension.

24. The method of claim 15, comprising, if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions, generating signaling data for communication with every outgoing phone call from the endpoint according to a predetermined extension.

25. The method of claim 15, comprising, if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, configuring the endpoint according to one or more preferences of the user.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising, in response to an outoing phone call from the endpoint, causing one or more of one or more call detail records (CDRs) and one or more billing records to be updated to indicate a calling extension of the outgoing phone call from the endpoint.

27. Logic for enhanced extension mobility, the logic encoded in media and when executed operable to:

access user input indicating either;

a desire of a user to logon at an endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user;

or

a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users;

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, configure the endpoint to support only an extension of the user; and

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users, configure the endpoint to concurrently support an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users.

28. The logic of claim 27, being at least partly located at the endpoint.

29. The logic of claim 27, being at least partly located at a server remote from the endpoint.

30. The logic of claim 27, operable to prompt the user to select between private mode and shared mode at the endpoint, the selection by the user providing the user input.

31. The logic of claim 27, operable to:

prompt the user to enter an extension of the user to logon at the endpoint;

access an extension entered by the user; and

configure the endpoint to support the entered extension.

32. The logic of claim 31, operable to:

prompt the user to enter a password to logon at the endpoint;

access a password entered by the user;

determine whether the entered password is valid; and

if the entered password is valid, configure the endpoint to support the entered extension.

33. The logic of claim 27, further operable, in response to an incoming phone call received at the endpoint, to indicate a called extension of the incoming phone call if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions of multiple users.

34. The logic of claim 33, operable to display the called extension of the incoming phone call at a display screen of the endpoint to indicate the called extension.

35. The logic of claim 33, operable to audibly announce a name of a called user of the incoming phone call to indicate the called extension.

36. The logic of claim 33, operable to play a ring tone corresponding to the called extension to indicate the called extension.

37. The logic of claim 27, further operable, if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions, to:

prompt a user to enter a calling extension of an outgoing phone call from the endpoint; and

generate signaling data for communication with the outgoing phone call that identifies the entered calling extension.

38. The logic of claim 27, further operable, if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions, to generate signaling data for communication with every outgoing phone call from the endpoint according to a predetermined extension.

39. The logic of claim 27, further operable, if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, to configure the endpoint according to one or more preferences of the user.

40. The logic of claim 27, further operable, in response to an outoing phone call from the endpoint, to cause one or more of one or more call detail records (CDRs) and one or more billing records to be updated to indicate a calling extension of the outgoing phone call from the endpoint.

41. A system for enhanced extension mobility, the system comprising:

means for accessing user input indicating either;

a desire of a user to logon at an endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user;

or

a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users;

means for, if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, configuring the endpoint to support only an extension of the user; and

means for, if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users, configuring the endpoint to concurrently support an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users.

42. A system for enhanced extension mobility, the system comprising one or more processing units located at an endpoint and collectively operable to:

access user input indicating either;

a desire of a user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user;

or

a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users;

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user, configure the endpoint to support only an extension of the user and configure the endpoint according to one or more preferences of the user;

if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users, configure the endpoint to concurrently support an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users.

in response to an incoming phone call received at the endpoint, indicate a called extension of the incoming phone call if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions of multiple users;

if the endpoint is concurrently supporting multiple extensions;

prompt a user to enter a calling extension of an outgoing phone call from the endpoint; and

generate signaling data for communication with the outgoing phone call that identifies the entered calling extension.