Mobile device calls via private branch exchange

• US 7,742,584 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Perfetto, Josh, Fullarton, Paul, Chatterjee, Saurav, Rana, Hemendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US11/726,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/142.01, 37920201-20601, 379/207.01, 379/201.01, 370/352, 370260-262, 370/259, 455/552.1, 455/416, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• 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 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• 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 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• 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 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• 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 3/493 : Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5233 : Operator skill based call distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 : comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network

Abstract

Communication systems and methods are described that enable mobile devices to route telephone calls via an enterprise telephone system. The communication system is configured to receive via a data channel a request from the mobile device. The mobile device corresponds to a user making a call. The server receiving the request includes a private branch exchange (PBX) and one or more other servers hosted by or coupled to the enterprise. A first call leg is initiated over a first voice channel in response to the request. The first call leg is coupled to the server and mobile device. A second call leg is initiated over a second voice channel, and the second call leg is coupled to the server and a client device corresponding to an intended call recipient. A voice conference call is formed between the mobile device and client device by joining the first and second call legs.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a dial request, via a data channel, from a first client device at a server;

transferring a call initiation message from the server to a telephone server in response to the dial request;

the server sending data representative of a transaction identifier and a call in telephone number for the telephone server to the first client;

the first client initiating a first call leg with the telephone server, the first client calling the telephone server on the call in telephone number, and upon successfully connecting to the telephone server sending the transaction identifier to the telephone server;

the telephone server is responsive to receiving the transaction identifier from the client to initiate a second call leg by placing a voice call to a second client device; and

upon successfully establishing a voice call with the second client device, the telephone server joins the first call leg and the second call leg establishing a voice call between the first client and the second client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice conference call between the first client device and the second client device is via the telephone server, wherein the first client device is a mobile device and the telephone server is hosted by an enterprise.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first client device and the second client device includes one or more of a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireline device, a voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) device, a private branch exchange device, a soft client, and a desktop client.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial request includes contact data of at least one call recipient corresponding to the second client device, wherein the contact data includes one or more of a telephone number and uniform resource locator (URL).

5. The method of claim 4, comprising receiving at the first client device a selection of the at least one call recipient.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising sending contact data of at least one call recipient to the first client device in response to the dial request, wherein the contact data includes one or more of data of an enterprise coupled to the server, name;

address, telephone number, electronic mail address, employer, position, data of at least one interaction, personal data comprising data of one or more of a spouse, relative, child, anniversary, and birthday.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising transferring a message via a data channel to the first client device in response to successful receipt of the dial request at the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the call initiation message includes a telephone number.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client sends the transaction identifier via a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial request includes contact data of at least one call recipient, wherein the initiating of the second call leg comprises the telephone server automatically calling the second client device using the contact data.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

disconnecting the first call leg in response to detecting termination of the second call leg;

and disconnecting the second call leg in response to detecting termination of the first call leg.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the server includes at least one enterprise server of the enterprise.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone server includes a private branch exchange (PBX) coupled to the enterprise.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client device remotely controls the server to initiate the voice conference call between two telephone numbers, wherein the remote control is via a data channel coupled to the first client device and the server.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a dial request, via a data channel, from a first client device at a server, wherein the dial request includes contact data of a plurality of call recipients, wherein the contact data includes one or more of data of an enterprise coupled to the server, name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, employer, position, data of at least one interaction, personal data comprising data of one or more of a spouse, relative, child, anniversary, and birthday;

the server transferring a call initiation message to a telephone server in response to the dial request;

the server sending data representative of a transaction identifier and a call in telephone number for the telephone server to the first client;

the first client initiating a first call leg with the telephone server by initiating a call with the telephone server using the call in telephone number in response to receiving the data representative of a transaction identifier and a call in telephone number for the telephone server;

the telephone server initiating at least one other call leg between the telephone server and at least one other client device of at least one of the plurality of call recipients; and

the telephone server joining the first call leg with the at least one other call leg.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one other call leg includes at least one other voice channel.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising receiving at least one other signal from the at least one other client device via the at least one other call leg.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one other signal is received at the telephone server in response to the initiating of the at least one other call leg.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising automatically transmitting a prompt to the at least one other client device via the at least one other call leg, wherein the at least one other signal is received in response to the prompt.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the joining of the at least one other call leg is in response to the receiving of the at least one other signal.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a dial request via a data channel from a first client device at a server, wherein the dial request includes information of a class having an attribute;

transferring a call initiation message from the server to a telephone server in response to the dial request;

the server sending data representative of a transaction identifier and a call in telephone number for the telephone server to the first client;

the first client device initiating a first call leg by calling the call in number for the telephone server in response to receiving the data representative of a transaction identifier and a call in telephone number for the telephone server;

the telephone server initiating at least one second call leg between the telephone server and selected resources of a class group possessing the attribute of the class responsive to the first call leg being established; and

,

joining the first call leg with the at least one second call leg to form a voice conference call between the first client device and one or more target devices corresponding to the selected resources of the class group.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the class group includes one or more resources having one or more attributes in common.

22. The method of claim 20, comprising determining the resources from a plurality of contacts of an enterprise, wherein the enterprise includes the resources.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the initiating comprises attempting to initiate the second call leg with a plurality of client devices, wherein the plurality of client devices correspond to the resources, the plurality of client devices including the second client device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting in parallel to initiate the second call leg with each of the plurality of client devices.

25. The method of claim 24, comprising:

calling at least one target device of a first set of the plurality of client devices; and

calling at least one target device of a second set of the plurality of client devices.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting in sequence to initiate the second call leg with each of the plurality of client devices.

27. The method of claim 26, comprising determining a hierarchy of the attempting, wherein the hierarchy defines an order of the sequence.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the attempting to initiate includes:

attempting in parallel to initiate the second call leg with each of a first set of the plurality of client devices; and

attempting in sequence to initiate the second call leg with each of a second set of the plurality of client devices.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting to initiate according to availability of the resources, wherein the availability includes one or more of presence of the resources, reachable status of the resources, availability determined by a host system, and availability specified by the resources.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting to initiate in accordance with context information, the context information including at least one of a connectivity state and an availability profile of each of the plurality of client devices.

32. A system comprising

a facilitator coupled to an enterprise and at least one communication network, and

a telephone server in communication with the facilitator;

wherein the server configured to receive a dial request, via a data channel, from a first client device;

the server is further configured to send a call initiation message to the telephone server in response to the dial request, and to send data representative of a transaction identifier and a call in telephone number for the telephone server to the first client device;

wherein the telephone server configured to receive a telephone call from the first client device in response to the call initiation message;

wherein the server configured to initiate a second call leg between a with a second client device in response to the first call leg being established;

wherein the server configured to join the first call leg with the second call leg in response to establishing the second call leg.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the server includes at least one enterprise server of the enterprise.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the telephone server includes a private branch exchange (PBX) coupled to the enterprise.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the voice conference call between the first client device and the second client device is via the telephone server, wherein the first client device is a mobile device and the telephone server is hosted by an enterprise.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein each of the first client device and the second client device includes one or more of a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireline device, a voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) device, a private branch exchange device, a soft client, and a desktop client.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the dial request includes contact data of at least one call recipient corresponding to the second client device, wherein the contact data includes one or more of a telephone number and uniform resource locator (URL).

38. The system of claim 32, wherein the server is configured to transfer contact data of at least one call recipient to the first client device in response to the dial request, wherein the contact data includes one or more of data of an enterprise coupled to the server, name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, employer, position, data of at least one interaction, personal data comprising data of one or more of a spouse, relative, child, anniversary, and birthday.

39. The system of claim 32, wherein the dial request includes contact data of at least one call recipient, wherein the telephone server is configured to initiate the second call leg by automatically calling the second client device using the contact data.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the server is configured to disconnect the first call leg in response to detecting termination of the second call leg and disconnect the second call leg in response to detecting termination of the first call leg.

41. A computer readable media including executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, provide calling via a remote telephone system by:

receiving a dial request from a first client device at a server, via a data channel;

transferring a call initiation message from the server to a telephone server in response to the dial request;

sending data representative of a transaction identifier and a call in telephone number to the first client device;

receiving by the telephone server a telephone call from the first client device at the call in telephone number, establishing a first call leg;

receiving data representative of the transaction identifier from the first client device after establishing the first call leg;

the telephone server establishing a second call leg with a second client device responsive to receiving the transaction identifier; and

the telephone server joining the first call leg and the second call leg responsive to establishing the second call leg.