Virtual PBX system

• US 7,496,091 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Joel K., Moey, Anthony W. S., Galvin, Thomas J., Kirchner, Michael C., O'Brien, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Thai D.
• Application Number:
  US10/778,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370400-402, 379/201.01, 379/154, 379/196, 379/207.12
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/00 Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
• 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 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A virtual private branch exchange (PBX) system that routes calls within a packet-switching network. Login information is received from a data device. The login information includes an alias identifying a user at the data device and a network address identifying the location of the data device on the packet-switching network. The virtual private branch exchange system associates the user'"'"'s private branch exchange extension with the network address and routes calls to the user'"'"'s (PBX) extension to the data device on the basis of the network address of the data device.

Claims

1. A method for establishing outbound calls within a network that includes a packet network, comprising:

receiving, from a data device, login information including user identification information and a network address, wherein the network address identifies a location of a data device on the network;

associating a private branch exchange extension of a user with the network address;

initiating an outbound call from the data device to a destination;

determining whether the destination is associated with another user of the network; and

determining an order of preference to use in attempting to connect the outbound call to terminal point locations associated with the other user, based on determining that the destination is associated with another user of the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting the outbound call to a PSTN network if the destination is not associated with another user of the network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein where the outbound call is connected via the network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a first terminal point location associated with the other user is associated with a PSTN network number.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

connecting the outbound call to a PSTN network via the network if the first terminal point location is associated with a PSTN network number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a first terminal point location associated with the destination.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the other user of the network is currently logged on to the network, based on determining that the destination is associated with another user of the network.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that a first terminal point location associated with the other user comprises an entry associated with a network device; and

initiating the outbound call to the network device if the other user is determined to be logged on to the network.

9. An apparatus for establishing outbound calls within a network, wherein the network includes a packet network means, comprising:

means for receiving login information from a data device including user identification information and a network address, wherein the network address identifies a location of the data device on the network;

means for associating a private branch exchange extension of the user with the network address;

means for receiving an outbound call to a destination from the data device;

means for determining whether the destination is associated with other user of the network; and

means for determining an order of preference to use in attempting to connect the outbound call to terminal point locations associated with the another user, based on determining that the destination is associated with another user of the network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for connecting the outbound call to a PSTN network if the destination is not associated with another user of the network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, where the outbound call is connected via the network.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for determining whether a first terminal point location associated with the other user is associated with a PSTN network number.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for connecting the outbound call to a PSTN network, via the network, if the first terminal point location is associated with a PSTN network number.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for accessing a first terminal point location associated with the destination.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for determining whether the other user of the network is currently logged on to the network, based on determining that the destination is associated with other user of the network.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for determining that a first terminal point location associated with the other user comprises an entry associated with a network device; and

means for initiating a call to the network device if the other user is determined to be on-line.