Method and system for providing mobility to enhanced call service features at remote locations

• US 7,996,036 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Shaoqing Q., Fowler, Kathleen C., Westrich, Robert S., Weber, Roy Philip, Zelezniak, Aleksandr, Goldman, Shelley B., Foladare, Mark Jeffrey, Chen, Yihsiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Desir; Pierre-Louis
• Application Number:
  US11/641,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 379/69, 379/74, 379/84, 379/93.04, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/225, 379/433.1, 455/418, 455/425, 455/426.1, 455/428, 455/426.2, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555
• US Class Current: 455/554.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A system and method for providing PBX-like functionality at a remote office location includes the capability of maintaining a network session with a mobile number associated with the remote worker once the worker terminates the remote office session. The system utilizes a remote office platform interposed between a data communications network and a conventional PBX switch (located either at a subscriber-based office location or within the communication network and shared by a number of different subscribers). A remotely located individual (such as a telecommuter) “logs in” to the remote office platform and, once the individual is authenticated, a graphical user interface (GUI) emulating a PBX station set is enabled at the remote employee'"'"'s personal computer, the GUI including a field for entry of the user'"'"'s mobile number. When the user ends the session at the remote location, the platform invokes a mobility process to maintain a communication session with the remote worker via the communication device associated with the mobile number.

Claims

1. A remote office system for providing PBX functionality at a mobile location not directly connected to a PBX switch, the remote office system comprising:

a remote office fixed location including voice and data communication network interconnections;

a remote office platform coupled to the PBX switch and the remote office fixed location data communication network interconnections for transferring PBX call feature commands between the remote office fixed location and the PBX switch to cause the PBX switch to provide PBX call feature functionality for the remote office fixed location; and

a mobility processor, located at the remote office platform, for monitoring a user'"'"'s activity at a remote office fixed location and activating a PBX session between the PBX switch and a mobile device defined by a user-identified mobile number upon sensing the termination of a session at the remote office fixed location, thereafter providing PBX call feature functionality at the user'"'"'s mobile device.

2. The remote office system as defined in claim 1 wherein the mobility processor is implemented as a Java script applet.

3. A remote office system as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote office voice and data interconnections comprise a cable modem.

4. A remote office system as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote office voice interconnection comprises a PSTN connection and the data interconnection comprise a data modem.

5. A remote office system as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote office platform includes an authentication system for checking and approving the eligibility of a user at a remote location to access the PBX switch.

6. A remote office system as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote office platform includes a service controller for processing the PBX commands received from the remote office fixed location and a switch controller responsive to the output of the service controller for forwarding said PBX commands to the PBX switch.

7. A remote office system as defined in claim 6 wherein the PBX switch is an office-based customer premise equipment PBX switch and the switch controller communicates directly with the office-based PBX switch.

8. A remote office system as defined in claim 6 wherein the PBX switch is a network-based PBX switch, shared by a plurality of customers and the remote office system further comprises a switch disposed between the switch controller and the PBX switch to control the flow of communication between the network-based PBX and the remote office platform.

9. A remote office system as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote office fixed location includes a graphical user interface emulating a PBX station set for providing the PBX call features at said remote location, including a field for entry of the user-identified mobile number associated with the user'"'"'s mobile device.