Method and system for providing controllable enhanced call service features at mobile locations

• US 6,967,947 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Westrich, Robert S., Weber, Roy Philip, Zelezniak, Aleksandr, Goldman, Shelley B., Wang, Shaoqing Q., Foladare, Mark Jeffrey, Chen, Yihsiu, Fowler, Kathleen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Levitan, Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US09/820,395
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/401, 379/225, 379/229, 379/221.15, 379231-234, 379/216.01
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/546 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/45 using multi-frequency signalling H04Q1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for providing PBX-like functionality at a mobile location includes the capability of maintaining a network session with a mobile number associated with a remote worker. The system utilizes a remote office platform interposed between a data communications network and a conventional PBX switch. A remotely located individual (such as a telecommuter) “logs in” to the remote office platform and, once the individual is authenticated, PBX-like communication with the mobile device is established. If the device is a computer-enabled device and includes a display, the platform can enable a graphical user interface emulating a PBX station set to the device. Alternatively, the remote worker can enter either spoken commands or series of DTMF sequences to utilize the PBX-like features. For these applications, the remote office platform includes a speech recognition module and a translation table for converting a sequence of DTMF tones into a PBX-like call feature (e.g., transfer, hold, mute, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of controlling PBX-like functionality at a mobile telecommunication location including a computer-based mobile device operating at a mobile telecommunication number for receiving information from a data network and including a display area, the computer-based mobile device 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 mobile location;

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

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

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

e) in response to calls received at the PBX switch for an individual at said mobile location, sending said received calls to said remote office platform for forwarding to said mobile locations;

f) enabling a soft phone graphical user interface at the computer-based mobile device; and

g) configuring the soft phone graphical user interface to include the capability of updating the mobile telecommunication number so as to allow the individual to change the mobile telecommunication number used for communication with the remote office platform.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step d), if the PBX-like commands comprise spoken commands, performing the steps of:

i) at the remote office platform, performing a speech recognition function to translator the spoken command into a PBX-like command; and

ii) transmitting the PBX-like command through the switch controller to the PBX switch.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step d), if the PBX-like commands comprise DTMF tones, performing the steps of:

i) at the remote office platform, mapping a received sequence of DTMF tones into an associated PBX-like command; and

ii) transmitting the PBX-like command through the switch controller to the PBX switch.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step d), the PBX-like command is updating the mobility number for use in communication with the individual.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the mobility number is updated by an individual speaking a command, performing a speech recognition function to translate the spoken command into a mobility number, and updating the remote office platform with the updated mobility umber.

6. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the mobility number is updated by an individual entering DTMF tones into a mobility device, translating the DTMF tones into an updated mobility number and updating the remote office platform with the updated mobility number.

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

8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step f), the remote office platform transmits the soft phone graphical user interface across the data network to the mobile location.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein in performing step f), the remote office platform activates a soft phone graphical user interface resident in software within the mobile device.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the data and voice communications with the mobile device is initiated by the mobile device.

11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the data and voice communications with the mobile device is initiated by the remote office platform.