Mobile device calls via private branch exchange

• US 7,787,607 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• 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): Al Aubaidi; Rasha S
• Application Number:
  US11/726,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20070223401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/202.01, 379/211.01
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• 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 3/42008 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 from a first client device via a data channel at a server;

transmitting a call initiation instruction from the server to a Private Branch Exchange Server, the call initiation instruction comprising session data for the dial request in response to the dial request;

transmitting a call initiation message from the server to the first client device in response to the dial request, the call initiation message comprising data representative of a transaction identification associated with the call request and a telephone number by which the first client device can establish a connection with a the Private Branch Exchange server;

receiving a first telephone call on a first voice channel from the first client device by the Private Branch Exchange server on the telephone number provided in the call initiation message;

receiving the transaction identification on the first voice channel from the first client device by the Private Branch Exchange;

initiating a second telephone call between the Private Branch Exchange server and a second client device responsive to receiving the transaction identification from the first client device; and

joining the first telephone call and the second telephone call to form a voice conference call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice conference call between the first client device and the second client device is via the Private Branch Exchange 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 receiving of the dial request is via a data channel coupled to the first client device and the server, wherein the data channel is provided by one or more of an enterprise, a service provider, and a mobile network operator.

5. 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 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.

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the call initiation message is via a data channel coupled to the first client device and the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial request includes contact data of at least one call recipient.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the contact data includes a device telephone number of the second client device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the initiating of the second call leg comprises the Private Branch Exchange server automatically calling the second client device using the contact data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second telephone call employs a second voice channel.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second telephone call employs a second voice channel, the method further comprising receiving a second signal from the second client device via the second call leg.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second signal is received at the telephone server in response to the initiating of the second call leg.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising automatically transmitting a prompt to the second client device via the second call leg, wherein the second signal is received in response to the prompt.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second signal includes a DTMF signal.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the joining of the first call leg and the second call leg is in response to the receiving of the second signal.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising disconnecting the first telephone call when the initiating of the second call leg fails.

18. The method of claim 1, 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.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising initiating at least one other telephone call with at least one other client device of at least one of the plurality of call recipients.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the initiating of the at least one other telephone call comprises the Private Branch Exchange server automatically calling the at least one other client device using the contact data.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one other telephone call includes at least one other voice channel.

22. The method of claim 19, comprising receiving at least one other signal from the at least one other client device via the at least one other call leg.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one other signal is received at the telephone server in response to the initiating of the at least one other telephone call.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising automatically transmitting a prompt to the at least one other client device via the at least one other telephone call, wherein the at least one other signal is received in response to the prompt.

25. The method of claim 22, comprising joining the at least one other telephone call to the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the joining of the at least one other telephone call is in response to the receiving of the at least one other signal.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial request includes information of a class.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the initiating of the second telephone call between the Private Branch Exchange server and the second client device comprises initiating the second telephone call between the Private Branch Exchange server and resources of a class group, wherein the resources possess an attribute of the class.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the class group includes one or more resources having one or more attributes in common.

30. The method of claim 28, comprising determining the resources from a plurality of contacts of an enterprise, wherein the enterprise includes the resources.

31. The method of claim 28, 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.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting in parallel to initiate a plurality of telephone calls with each of the plurality of client devices.

33. The method of claim 32, 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.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting in sequence to initiate the second telephone call with each of the plurality of client devices.

35. The method of claim 34, comprising determining a hierarchy of the attempting, wherein the hierarchy defines an order of the sequence.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the attempting to initiate includes:

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

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

37. The method of claim 31, 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.

38. The method of claim 31, 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.

39. The method of claim 1, comprising transferring signals between the first client device and the server via a data channel, wherein the data channel includes a cellular data channel of a cellular network.

40. The method of claim 1, comprising transferring media between the first client device and the server via the first call leg, wherein the first call leg includes a cellular voice channel of a cellular network.

41. A system comprising:

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

a Private Branch Exchange server coupled to the facilitator server;

wherein the facilitator server is configured to receive a dial request from a first client device on a data channel;

wherein the facilitator server is configured to transmit a call initiation instruction to the Private Branch Exchange server in response to the dial request, the call initiation instruction comprising session data for the dial request;

wherein the facilitator server is configured to transmit a call initiation message to the first client device, the call initiation message comprising a transaction identification associated with the dial request and a telephone number by which the first device can establish a voice connection with the Private Branch Exchange server in response to the dial request;

wherein the Private Branch Exchange server is further configured to establish a first voice call leg between the first client device and the Private Branch Exchange server, responsive to receiving a call from the first client device on the telephone number provided in the call initiation message;

wherein the Private Branch Exchange is configured to receive a transaction identification from the first client device on the first voice channel;

wherein the Private Branch Exchange server is configured to initiate a second call leg between the server and a second client device responsive to receiving the transaction identification from the first client device, the server configured to join the first call leg and the second call leg to form a voice conference call responsive to establishing the second call leg; and

wherein the first call leg is a first voice call leg and the second call leg is a second voice call leg.

42. The system of claim 41, 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.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the dial request includes contact data of at least one call recipient corresponding to the second client device, wherein the contact data includes the telephone number.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the establishing of the first call leg comprises the first client device automatically calling the telephone server using the telephone number.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the first call leg includes a first voice channel and the second call leg includes a second voice channel.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the server is configured to receive a first signal from the first client device via the first call leg in response to the initiating of the first call leg.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the first signal includes a dual-tone multi frequency (DTMF) signal.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the initiating of the second call leg is in response to the receiving of the first signal.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein the dial request includes contact data of at least one call recipient, wherein the contact data includes a device telephone number of the second client device.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the Private Branch Exchange server is configured to initiate the second call leg by automatically calling the second client device using the contact data.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the Private Branch Exchange server is configured to receive a second signal from the second client device via the second call leg in response to the initiating of the second call leg.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the second signal includes a DTMF signal.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the joining of the first call leg and the second call leg is in response to the receiving of the second signal.

54. The system of claim 41, wherein the Private Branch Exchange Server provides the telephone number by which the mobile device can establish a voice connection with the Private Branch Exchange server to the facilitator server in response to the call initiation instruction.