Mobile device calls via private branch exchange

• US 7,876,888 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• 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): Elahee; M D S
• Application Number:
  US11/726,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20070223679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/211.01, 379/142.01, 379/201.01, 37920301-20701, 455/416, 455/419, 455/414.1, 370/352, 370/259, 370260-262, 715/751
• 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 conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• 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 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• 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 3/465 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 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 to establish a telephone call with a destination device at a facilitator server via a data channel coupled to a mobile device, wherein the facilitator server is coupled to an enterprise;

sending, from the facilitator server, a call request to a telephone server coupled to the enterprise in response to the dial request;

sending, by the facilitator server, data representative of a transaction identifier associated with the call request and a call in telephone number to the mobile device;

waiting to receive a first telephone call on a first voice channel from the mobile device to establish a first call leg by the telephone server on the call in telephone number;

waiting to receive the transaction identifier on the first voice channel from the mobile device via the telephone call established with the mobile device by the telephone server;

initiating a second call to establish a second call leg over a second voice channel, the second call leg between the telephone server and the destination device responsive to receiving the transaction identifier from the mobile device; and

upon successfully establishing the second call leg by the telephone server, the telephone server forming a voice conference call between the mobile device and the destination device by joining the first call leg and the second call leg.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination device includes a device accessible via a telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile 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 request includes contact data of at least one call recipient corresponding to the destination 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.

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

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the 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 client device using the contact data.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a second signal from the destination device via the second call leg, wherein the second signal is received at the telephone server in response to the initiating of the second call leg.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising automatically transmitting a prompt to the destination device via the second call leg, wherein the second signal is received in response to the prompt.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the joining of the first call leg and the second call leg is in response to the receiving of the second signal.

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

11. The method of claim 1, comprising sending contact data of at least one call recipient to the mobile device in response to the 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.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising:

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

initiating the first call leg between a telephone server and the mobile device in response to the call initiation message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the call initiation message instructs the telephone server to generate the first call leg using a first voice channel of the enterprise.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the call initiation message includes a telephone number, wherein the initiating of the first call leg comprises the telephone server automatically calling the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising transferring a third signal from the server to the mobile device via the first call leg, wherein the third signal confirms to the mobile device that the first call leg is being initiated by the server.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transferring of the third signal is via one or more of the first voice channel and the data channel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transferring of the third signal via the first voice channel is one or more of in-band and out-of-band.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising transferring a fourth signal from the mobile device to the server via the first call leg in response to receiving the third signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the initiating of the second call leg is in response to the receiving of the fourth signal.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising the server instructing the telephone server to generate the second call leg.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising disconnecting the first call leg when the initiating of the second call leg fails.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the 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 client device using the contact data.

23. The method of claim 12, comprising receiving a fifth signal from the client device via the second call leg in response to the initiating of the second call leg.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the joining of the first call leg and the second call leg is in response to the receiving of the fifth signal.

25. The method of claim 1, comprising re-initiating the first call leg in response to termination of the first call leg by one or more of the mobile device and the server.

26. 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.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the 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.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising initiating at least one other call leg with at least one other client device of at least one of the plurality of call recipients.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the initiating of the at least one other call leg comprises the telephone server automatically calling the at least one other client device using the contact data.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one other call leg includes at least one other voice channel.

31. The method of claim 28, comprising receiving at least one other signal from the at least one other client device via the at least one other call leg.

32. The method of claim 31, 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.

33. The method of claim 31, comprising joining the at least one other call leg to the first call leg and the second call leg.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the joining of the at least one other call leg is in response to the receiving of the at least one other signal.

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

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the initiating of the second call leg comprises initiating the second call leg between the telephone server and resources of a class group, wherein the resources possess an attribute of the class, wherein the class group includes one or more resources having one or more attributes in common.

37. The method of claim 36, comprising determining the resources from a plurality of contacts of the enterprise.

38. The method of claim 36, 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 client device.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting in parallel to initiate the second call leg with each of the plurality of client devices.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the attempting to initiate includes attempting in sequence to initiate the second call leg with each of the plurality of client devices.

41. The method of claim 38, comprising determining a hierarchy of the attempting, wherein the hierarchy defines an order for attempting to initiate the second call leg with the plurality of client devices.

42. The method of claim 38, 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.

43. The method of claim 38, 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.

44. The method of claim 38, 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.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein the data channel includes a cellular data channel of a cellular network.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voice channel includes a cellular voice channel of a cellular network.

47. A system comprising;

a facilitator coupled to an enterprise and

at least one communication network a telephone server in communication with the facilitator;

wherein the server is configured to receive a dial request from a mobile device via a data channel;

wherein the server is configured to initiate in response to the dial request a first call leg with the mobile device over a first voice channel, wherein the server initiates the first call leg by sending data representative of a call-in number and a transaction identifier to the mobile device by the facilitator, via the data channel and waits to receive a voice call from the mobile device to the call-in number and for the mobile device to send the transaction identifier via the voice call;

wherein the server is further configured to initiate a second call leg with a destination device over a second voice channel in response to receiving the transaction identifier via the voice call; and

wherein the server configured to form a voice conference call between the mobile device and the client device by joining the first call leg and the second call leg in response to successfully establishing the second call leg.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the client device includes a device accessible via a telephone number, wherein the mobile 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.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the request includes contact data of at least one call recipient corresponding to the destination device, wherein the contact data includes a telephone number.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the server includes one or more of a facilitator, a telephone server and a private branch exchange (PBX).

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the server is configured to initiate the first call leg by transmitting a call initiation message via the data channel to the mobile device in response to the request, wherein the initiating using information of the call initiation message.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the call initiation message includes a telephone number, wherein the mobile device is configured to automatically call the telephone server using the telephone number.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the server is configured to receive a first signal from the mobile device via the first call leg, wherein the first signal is sent in response to the initiating of the first call leg.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the telephone server is configured to initiate the second call leg in response to receiving the first signal.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the request includes contact data of at least one call recipient, wherein the telephone server initiates the second call leg by automatically calling the client device using the contact data.

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

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the server is configured to join the first call leg and the second call leg in response to the receiving of the second signal.

58. The system of claim 50, wherein the server is configured to initiate the first call leg by transmitting a call initiation message via the data channel to the telephone server in response to the request, wherein the initiating using information of the call initiation message.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the call initiation message instructs the telephone server to generate the first call leg using a first voice channel of the enterprise.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the server is configured to transfer a third signal to the mobile device via the first call leg, wherein the third signal confirms to the mobile device that the first call leg is being initiated by the server, wherein the transferring of the third signal is via one or more of the first voice channel and the data channel, wherein the transferring of the third signal via the first voice channel is one or more of in-band and out-of-band.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the server is configured to receive a fourth signal from the mobile device via the first call leg in response to transferring of the third signal.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the server is configured to instruct the telephone server to generate the second call leg.

63. The system of claim 58, wherein the 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 client device using the contact data.

64. The system of claim 58, wherein the server is configured to receive a fifth signal from the client device via the second call leg in response to the initiating of the second call leg.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the server is configured to join the first call leg and the second call leg in response to the receiving of the fifth signal.

66. The system of claim 50, wherein the server is configured to re-initiate the first call leg in response to termination of the first call leg.

67. The system of claim 50, 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.

68. A non-transitory 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 to establish a telephone call with a destination device at a facilitator server via a data channel coupled to the mobile device, wherein the facilitator server is coupled to an enterprise;

receiving a call request at a telephone server from the facilitator server via a data channel coupled to the mobile device in response to the dial request, wherein the telephone server is coupled to the enterprise;

sending, by the facilitator server, data representative of a transaction identifier associated with the call request and a call in telephone number to the mobile device;

waiting to receive a voice call on a first voice channel from the mobile device to establish a first call leg by the telephone server on the call in telephone number;

waiting to receive the transaction identifier on the first voice channel from the mobile device via the voice call established with the mobile device by the telephone server;

initiating a second call to establish a second call leg over a second voice channel, the second call leg between the telephone server and the destination device; and

forming a voice conference call between the mobile device and the destination device by joining the first call leg and the second call leg.