System and method for providing virtual multiple lines in a communications system

• US 20080316946A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ooma Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ooma Incorporated
• Inventors: Peng, Dennis, Capper, Simon, Peck, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 9,225,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• 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

Abstract

An exemplary system and method for providing virtual multiple lines in a communication system is provided. The exemplary system allows a plurality of simultaneous phone calls to be conducted via a single access identifier (e.g., phone number). In exemplary embodiments, the system comprises a hub configured to route calls via PSTN and VoIP. The determination as to how the call should be routed may be performed by the hub, a call services server, or a combination of both. At least one client device may be coupled in communication with the hub and configured to enable placement or receipt of a second or subsequent call when a first call is active. The client device is coupled to a communication device which places or receives the second or subsequent call.

Claims

1. A method for providing multiple communication lines using a single access identifier associated with a location, comprising:

establishing a first communication;

receiving an indication of a second communication;

determining routing information for the first communication; and

routing the second communication based, at least, on the routing information of the first communication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein if the routing information of the first communication indicates the first communication is established via PSTN, routing the second communication via a packet switching network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein if the routing information of the first communication indicates the first communication is not established via PSTN, determining if the second communication should be established via PSTN or a packet switching network, and establishing the second communication accordingly.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication is a DTMF sequence of a target access identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication is a call forward on busy from the PSTN provider.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining routing information comprises determining which one or more devices within the location is active on the first communication.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing notifications to one or more devices not active on the first communication to indicate the second communication when the second communication is an incoming communication.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing a call waiting indication at the one or more devices active with the first communication to indicate the second communication when the second communication is an incoming communication.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically routing the second communication using PSTN when access to a packet switching network is unavailable.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing one or more notifications to a user with status of active communications within the location.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a selection for conferencing two or more communications on a plurality of separate communication lines, and conferencing the two or more communications.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a selection for separating a conferenced plurality of communications into a plurality of communication lines, and separating the conference plurality of communications into two or more separate communications.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically using PSTN when the first or second communication is a 911 call.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the packet switching network is the Internet.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the packet switching network is a private network connected to the Internet.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the packet switching network uses an Ethernet protocol IEEE 802.3.

17. A system for providing multiple communication lines via a single access identifier, comprising:

a line detection module configured to detect status and routing information for an established first communication;

a determination module configure to determine how to route a second communication based, at least, on the routing information for the established first communication; and

an instruction module configured to generate instructions for routing the second communication based on the determination.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a notification device configured to provide notification status for at least the first communication.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising a notification device configured to receive a request to combine or separate a plurality of communications.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising an FXO port configured to provide routing via PSTN.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a network port configured to provide routing via a packet switched network.

22. The system of claim 17 further comprising at least one call services server, wherein the determination module is located at the call services server.

23. A machine readable medium having embodied thereon a program, the program comprising instructions for a method for providing multiple communication lines using a single access identifier associated with a location, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication;

receiving an indication of a second communication;

determining routing information for the first communication; and

routing the second communication based, at least, on the routing information of the first communication.