Instant Activation and Provisioning for Telecommunication Services on a Mobile Device

• US 20100099390A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Inventors: Shmunis, Vladimir, Shah, Praful, Vendrow, Vlad
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/08 menus for interactive user guidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

Methods and systems for instant activation of virtual PBX services on a mobile device are disclosed. In one aspect, a user request for activating virtual PBX services is received on a mobile device. An available primary identification number for the virtual PBX services is retrieved from a telecommunication service provider (TSP). A user interface is presented on the mobile device including a first interface portion presenting the available primary identification number and a second interface portion configured to receive a user identifier. Upon receiving the user input specifying the user identifier and while the user interface is still presented on the mobile device, a user instruction for activating the virtual PBX services is received. Upon receiving the user instruction, the user identifier is sent to the TSP. Then, a confirmation is received from the TSP.

Claims

1. A method for instant activation of virtual PBX services on a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a user request for activating a subset of virtual PBX services on a mobile device;

retrieving an available primary identification number for the subset of virtual PBX services from a telecommunication service provider (TSP);

presenting a user interface on the mobile device having one or more of the following interface portions;

a first interface portion presenting the available primary identification number; and

a second interface portion configured to receive a user identifier;

receiving user input specifying the user identifier from the second interface portion;

while the user interface is still presented on the mobile device, receiving a user instruction for activating the subset of virtual PBX services;

upon receiving the user instruction, sending the user identifier to the TSP; and

receiving a confirmation from the TSP indicating that the subset of virtual PBX services has been successfully activated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identifier is a telephone number, the set of telecommunication services includes an operator extension, and the telephone number is mapped to the operator extension.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the confirmation further comprises receiving a call to the telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identifier is an email address, the subset of virtual PBX services includes an operator extension, and the user interface has a third interface portion configured to receive a telephone number for the operator extension.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the confirmation further comprises receiving a confirmation email to the email address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes a third portion configured to receive one or more configuration parameters for the subset of virtual PBX services, the one or more configuration parameters specifying additional extensions for the subset of virtual PBX services, an auto-receptionist greeting, voice mail rules, or call forwarding rules for the subset of virtual PBX services.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving an available primary identification number further comprises retrieving a list of available primary identification numbers, the first interface portion presenting the available primary identification number presents the list of available primary identification numbers, and the method further comprising receiving user input selecting the primary identification number from the list of available primary identification numbers.

8. A method for instant activation of virtual PBX services on a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a user request for activating a subset of virtual PBX services on a mobile device;

retrieving an available primary identification number for the subset of virtual PBX services from a telecommunication service provider (TSP);

presenting one or more user interfaces on the mobile device for receiving user inputs the user inputs including the available primary identification number and a telephone number for an operator extension of the primary identification number;

receiving the user inputs from the one or more user interfaces;

upon receiving the user inputs, receiving an activation instruction from the user;

upon receiving the activation instruction, sending the user inputs to the TSP to associate a previously-provisioned placeholder virtual PBX services account with the user; and

upon sending the user inputs, receiving a confirmation from the TSP indicating that the subset of virtual PBX services has been successfully activated.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user inputs further include one or more configuration parameters for the subset of virtual PBX services, the one or more configuration parameters specifying additional extensions for the subset of virtual PBX services, an auto-receptionist greeting, voice mail rules, or call forwarding rules for the subset of virtual PBX services.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the user inputs include one or more configuration parameters for the subset of virtual PBX services, the one or more configuration parameters specifying at least one additional extension for the subset of virtual PBX services, and voice mail rules or call forwarding rules for the operator extension and the at least one additional extension.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user inputs include one or more configuration parameters for the subset of virtual PBX services, the one or more configuration parameters specifying at least one additional extension for the subset of virtual PBX services, and an extension identifier for the at least one additional extension.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the extension identifier is a telephone number for the at least one additional extension.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the extension identifier is an email address for notifying owner of the additional extension about the successful activation of the virtual PBX services and the additional extension.

14. A method for instant activation of a subset of virtual PBX services on a mobile device, comprising:

provisioning for a placeholder virtual PBX service account;

configuring a default subset of virtual PBX services for the placeholder virtual PBX service account;

obtaining an available primary identification number to be associated with the placeholder virtual service account;

after the provisioning, configuring, and obtaining, sending the available primary identification number to a mobile device upon request from the mobile device;

receiving data from the mobile device representing a request to activate the subset of virtual PBX services, the data including a user identifier;

associating the received data with the placeholder virtual PBX service account to activate the virtual PBX service account; and

sending a confirmation to the mobile device indicating that the subset of virtual PBX services has been successfully activated.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user identifier is a telephone number for an operator extension of the subset of virtual PBX services.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data further includes one or more configuration parameters for the subset of virtual PBX services, the one or more configuration parameters specifying additional extensions for the subset of virtual PBX services, an auto-receptionist greeting, voice mail rules, or call forwarding rules for the subset of virtual PBX services.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the data further includes one or more configuration parameters for the subset of virtual PBX services, the one or more configuration parameters specifying at least one additional extension for the subset of virtual PBX services, and voice mail rules or call forwarding rules for the operator extension and the at least one additional extension.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the data further includes one or more configuration parameters for the subset of virtual PBX services, the one or more configuration parameters specifying at least one additional extension for the subset of virtual PBX services, and an extension identifier for the at least one additional extension, the extension identifier being one of a telephone number or an email address.

19. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising:

notifying owner of the at least one additional extension about the activation of the virtual PBX service account and the at least one additional extension using the extension identifier.

20. The method of claim 19, the method further comprising:

receiving configuration data for the at least one additional extension from a second mobile device.