Method and apparatus for communicating with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster and disaster recovery

• US 7,257,205 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Forte, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quynh H.
• Application Number:
  US10/144,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 379/9.05, 379/14, 379/14.01, 379/15.02, 379/15.03, 379/15.04, 379/112.02, 379/221.03, 379/221.04, 379/279, 455/445, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/414.1, 455/433, 455/423, 455/424
• US Class Current: 379/112.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42331 Direct inward dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/548 with remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 : Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 : Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0079 : involving restoration of networks, e.g. disaster recovery, self-healing networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 : Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 : WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A system for (and a method of) selectively establishing communication with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster or disaster recovery period. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes two wireless connection units, each connected between a respective private branch exchange (PBX) network and a public switched telephone network. Each wireless connection unit preferably serves as a gateway between its respective PBX network and one or more remote communication devices. The wireless connection units replicate each others databases. In the event of a disaster that destroys or renders one of the wireless connect/PBX networks inoperable, telephone calls destined for the inoperable network are seamlessly routed to the operable wireless connect/PBX network. Since the operable wireless connection unit contains information for both networks, inbound, outbound and extension to extension calls for each network can be handled despite the disaster.

Claims

1. A method of operating a telecommunication system including first and second enterprise telecommunication networks respectively connected to first and second wireless connection units, said method comprising the steps of:

replicating databases of the first and second wireless connection units, the databases comprising a plurality of telephone extensions each extension being associated with an enterprise telephone and a respective wireless device;

detecting that one of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks has become inoperable;

routing a communication destined for an extension of the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network to the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable other of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks;

identifying at the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network a dialed telephone extension from the routed communication;

using the identified dialed telephone extension to retrieve from the database of the wireless connection unit associated with the operable enterprise telecommunication network a first communication device number associated with the associated enterprise telephone associated with the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network and a second communication device number associated with the respective wireless device associated with the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network; and

routing the communication to the associated enterprise telephone and the respective wireless device by;

forming a first communication path between said wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network and said the associated enterprise telephone, and

substantially simultaneously forming a second communication path between said wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network and said respective wireless device by causing said first and second communication device numbers to be dialed while the communication is held for a predetermined time until it is determined that a user has answered the associated enterprise telephone or the respective wireless device, is authenticated before forming a completed circuit connection between the wireless connection unit and the answered device, and the communication is routed to the answered device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the databases further comprise at least one user preference associated with each of the plurality of telephone extensions.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

using the identified extension to retrieve at least one user preference; and

routing the communication to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers based on the user preference.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

using the identified extension to retrieve at least one user preference; and

directing the routed communication in accordance with the user preference to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers and a voice mailbox number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing step comprises routing direct inbound dialed telephone numbers associated with each extension of the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network to a telephone number associated with the operable other of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said replicating step comprises:

transmitting a copy of the database associated with the first wireless connection unit to the second wireless connection unit; and

receiving at the first wireless connection unit a copy of the database associated with the second wireless connection unit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said transmitting and receiving steps are performed over a network communication medium.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said transmitting and receiving steps are performed over the Internet.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said transmitting and receiving steps are performed by wireless communications.

10. A method of performing disaster recovery on a telecommunication system including first and second enterprise telecommunication networks respectively connected to first and second wireless connection units, said method comprising the steps of:

replicating databases of the first and second wireless connection units, the databases comprising a plurality of telephone extensions each associated with at least a telephone connected to the respective enterprise telecommunication network and a wireless device not connected to the respective enterprise telecommunication network;

detecting that one of the first or second enterprise telecommunication networks has become inoperable;

routing a communication destined for an extension of the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network, said inoperable enterprise telecommunication network being a private exchange network, to the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network;

identifying at the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network a dialed telephone extension from the routed communication, wherein said dialed telephone extension is a unique telephone number of said private exchange network;

using the identified dialed telephone extension to retrieve respective first and second telephone numbers associated with the the associated telephone and the respective wireless device from the database of the wireless connection unit associated with the operable enterprise telecommunication network; and

directing the routed communication to the associated telephone and the respective wireless device, wherein directing the routed communication comprises;

holding the routed communication for a predetermined time until it is determined that a user has answered the associated telephone or respective wireless device;

forming a first communication path between said wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network and said associated telephone by causing said respective first telephone number to be dialed,

forming a second communication path between said wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network and said respective wireless device by causing said respective second telephone number to be dialed, and

authenticating the answered device before forming a completed circuit connection between the wireless connection unit and the answered device.

11. A telecommunication system comprising:

a first telecommunication unit connected to a first enterprise telecommunication network, wherein said first enterprise telecommunication network is a first private exchange network, said first telecommunication unit comprising;

a first memory device comprising a first database, said first database comprising a first plurality of telephone extensions for the first telecommunication network, wherein each of said first plurality of telephone extensions is a unique telephone number of said first private exchange network and each extension being associated with at least two respective communication devices, and

a first processor connected to said first memory device, said first processor for identifying a first telephone call to a first dialed extension of the first telecommunication network and for routing the first telephone call to at least two respective communication devices; and

a second telecommunication unit connected to a second enterprise telecommunication network and being in communication with said first telecommunication unit, wherein said first enterprise telecommunication network is a second private exchange network, said second telecommunication unit comprising;

a second memory device comprising a second database, said second database comprising a second plurality of telephone extensions for the second telecommunication network, wherein each of said second plurality of telephone extensions is a unique telephone number of said second private exchange network and each extension being associated with at least two other respective third and fourth communication devices, and

a second processor connected to said second memory device, said second processor for identifying a second telephone call to a second dialed extension of the second telecommunication network and for routing the second telephone call to at least two other respective communication devices;

wherein said first processor replicates and stores the second database in said first memory device and said second processor replicates and stores the first database in said second memory device, and when said first telecommunication unit is inoperable, said second processor has the capability to form a first communication path between said second processor and one of said at least two respective communication devices and substantially simultaneously form a second communication path between said second processor and the other of said at least two respective communication devices while the first telephone call is held for a predetermined time until it is determined that a user has answered one of said at least two respective communication devices, is authenticated before forming a completed circuit connection between the second processor and the authenticated device, and the first telephone call is routed to the authenticated device.

12. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said first processor processes telephone calls made to extensions of the second telecommunication network.

13. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said second processor processes telephone calls made to extensions of the first telecommunication network.

14. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said first and second databases further comprise at least one user preference associated with each of said first and second plurality of telephone extensions.

15. The telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein said first processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said second dialed extension and routes the second telephone call to at least two other respective communication devices associated with the second dialed extension based on the at least one user preference.

16. The telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein said first processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said second dialed extension and routes the second telephone call to a voicemail box based on the at least one user preference.

17. The telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein said second processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said first dialed extension and routes the first telephone call to at least two respective communication devices associated with the first dialed extension based on the at least one user preference.

18. The telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein said second processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said first dialed extension and routes the first telephone call to a voice mail box based on the at least one user preference.

19. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said first processor replicates said second database by receiving a copy of said second database over a network communication medium.

20. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said first processor replicates said second database by receiving a copy of said second database over the Internet.

21. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said first processor replicates said second database by receiving a copy of said second database by wireless communication.

22. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said first processor routes the second telephone call to a wireless device.

23. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein said second processor routes the first telephone call to a wireless device.