Method and system for providing enhanced call service features at remote locations

• US 6,542,475 B1
• Filed: 08/09/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fowler, Kathleen C., Westrich, Robert S., Weber, Roy Philip, Goldman, Shelley B., Wang, Shaoqing Q., Foladare, Mark Jeffrey, Chen, Yihsiu, Bala, Srinivas
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang Bin
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, PRENELL P
• Application Number:
  US09/370,766
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 370/271, 370/286, 370/252, 370/232, 370/352, 370/401, 370/389-404, 370/906, 379/93.03, 379/201-219, 379/229, 379/265, 379/410, 379/114-117, 379/88.22, 379/67.1, 379/88-1-, 379/442, 379/110.01, 379/230, 379/220-226, 379/368, 704/201, 704/270
• US Class Current: 370/271
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• 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 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 : Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 : for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

A system and method for providing PBX-like functionality at a remote office location utilizes a remote office platform interposed between a data communications network and the conventional office PBX. A remotely located individual (such as a telecommuter) can “log in” to the remote office platform and, once the individual is authenticated, the platform can “push” a graphical user interface emulating a PBX station set to the remote employee'"'"'s personal computer. As the individual activates the various PBX-like features (by “clicking” on a particular button on the screen) a command is returned to the remote office platform and ultimately communicated to the office PBX to affect the desired result (e.g., call transfer, hold, conference, etc.). Inbound traffic to the office PBX destined for the remote individual will be immediately forwarded by the PBX to the remote office platform to be communicated to that person'"'"'s “soft phone” on the personal computer.

Claims

1. A method of providing PBX-like functionality at a remote location not directly connected to a PBX switch, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing voice and data communication interconnections to voice and data networks at the remote location;

b) providing a remote office platform coupled between the remote location and the PBX switch;

c) authenticating, at the remote office platform, access to the PBX switch from the remote location;

d) downloading an interface of PBX features across the data communication facility from the remote office platform to said remote location to create a virtual PBX system at the remote location;

e) in response to PBX-like commands received at the remote office platform from said remote location, forwarding said commands to said PBX switch for call completion; and

f) intercepting, at the remote office platform, calls received at the PBX switch for forwarding to said remote location.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step a) the voice and data interconnections are provided using a cable modem.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step a) the voice interconnection is provided directly from the voice communication network and the data interconnection is provided using a modem.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step a) the voice and data interconnections are provided using a modem and the voice communication comprises IP telephony.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step c) the remote office platform compares authentication information input by the remote location user to predetermined authentication information stored in a database at the remote office platform.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step d), the remote office platform transmits the PBX interface across the data network to the remote location.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein in performing step d) the remote office platform transmits a graphical user interface PBX station replica as the PBX interface to the remote location.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step e), the remote office platform intercepts the PBX-like commands initiated at the remote location and forwards said PBX-like commands to the PBX switch.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step e), a remote worker initiates a chat session with another worker using the worker'"'"'s office extension for the PBX-like command sent from the remote worker to the remote office platform.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step e) a remote worker initiates an outbound call using the following steps:

1) sending a call request to the remote office platform;

2) transmitting the call request from the remote office platform to the PBX switch;

3) establishing, at the PBX, a first call to the called party;

4) establishing, at the PBX, a second call to the remote worker; and

5) bridging together the first and second calls established at the PBX.

11. A remote office platform for providing PBX-like functionality at a location not directly connected to an office PBX switch, the remote office system comprising

a remote office location including voice and data communication network interconnections, said remote office location further comprising a graphical user interface emulating a PBX station set for providing PBX-like call features at said remote location;

and

a remote office platform coupled between the office PBX switch and the remote office data interconnection for transferring an interface of PBX features to the remote office location graphical user interface, receiving PBX-like call feature commands from the remote office location, and forwarding said PBX-like call feature commands to the office PBX switch so as to cause the office PBX switch to provide PBX-like call feature functionality at the remote office location.

12. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the remote office voice and data interconnections comprise a cable modem.

13. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the remote office voice interconnection comprises a PSTN connection and the data interconnection comprises a data modem.

14. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the remote office platform includes an authentication system for checking and approving the eligibility of a user at a remote location to access the office PBX.

15. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the remote office platform includes a service controller for processing the PBX-like commands received from the remote location and forwarding said PBX-like commands to the office PBX switch.

16. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface includes a handset icon for activation to initiate and receive telephone calls between the remote location and the office PBX switch.

17. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of call handling icon buttons for activating an associated plurality of PBX-like call features.

18. A remote office system as defined in claim 17 wherein the plurality of call handling icon buttons include call transfer, conference call, hold, mute and forward.

19. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface includes a pull-down speed dialing menu and an associated dialing icon to initiate a call to a selected speed dialing number.

20. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface includes a message center for displaying information regarding incoming calls forwarded by the remote office platform from the office PBX switch.

21. A remote office system as defined in claim 20 wherein the displayed information includes ANI and caller ID information.

22. A remote office system as defined in claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface includes message waiting indicator icons.

23. A remote office system as defined in claim 22 wherein the message waiting indicator icons includes a voice mail message waiting indicator icon.

24. A remote office system as defined in claim 22 wherein the message waiting indicator icons include an email message waiting indicator icon.

25. A remote office system as defined in claim 22 wherein the message waiting indicator icons include a fax message waiting indicator icon.