Method and apparatus for communicating with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster and disaster recovery

• US 8,170,187 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Forte, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US11/777,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20100255829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112.02, 379/9.05, 379/14, 379/14.01, 379/15.02, 379/221.03, 379/221.04, 379/279, 455/445, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/414.1, 455/433, 455/423, 455/424
• US Class Current: 379/112.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• 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 3/42331 Direct inward dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 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 3/46 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 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/548 with remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 : Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 : Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0079 : involving restoration of networks, e.g. disaster recovery, self-healing networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 : Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 : WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A system for (and a method of) selectively establishing communication with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster or disaster recovery period. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes two wireless connection units, each connected between a respective private branch exchange (PBX) network and a public switched telephone network. Each wireless connection unit preferably serves as a gateway between its respective PBX network and one or more remote communication devices. The wireless connection units replicate each others databases. In the event of a disaster that destroys or renders one of the wireless connect/PBX networks inoperable, telephone calls destined for the inoperable network are seamlessly routed to the operable wireless connect/PBX network. Since the operable wireless connection unit contains information for both networks, inbound, outbound and extension to extension calls for each network can be handled despite the disaster.

Claims

1. A telecommunication device comprising:

a storage medium for storing a first database associated with a first enterprise telecommunication network for a location A, the first database comprising a plurality of first telephone extensions at the location A of the first enterprise telecommunication network and correlating each first telephone extension to a respective first enterprise telephone number and a respective first wireless device number,

the storage medium for storing a second database associated with a second enterprise telecommunication network for a location B, the second database comprising a plurality of second telephone extensions at the location B of the second enterprise telecommunication network and correlating each second telephone extension to a respective second enterprise telephone number and a respective second wireless device number, thereby replicating a third database storing the plurality of second telephone extensions at the location B of the second enterprise telecommunication network; and

a processor coupled to the storage medium and the first enterprise telecommunication network, said processor being adapted to;

receive a copy of the second database from the second enterprise telecommunication network,

store the copy of the second database in the storage medium,

receive a communication destined for one of the second telephone extensions of the second enterprise telecommunication network,

identify a dialed second telephone extension associated with the received communication, and

use the identified dialed second telephone extension to route the received communication to the respective second wireless device number associated with the identified second telephone extension.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to transmit a copy of the first database to a device connected to the second enterprise telecommunication network.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to receive the copy of the second database from a wireless communication medium.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to receive the copy of the second database from the Internet.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to route the received communication to the respective second wireless device number by dialing the second wireless device number and connecting a communication path between the processor and the received communication to the communication path between the processor and a wireless device associated with the dialed second wireless device number.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to provide access to services of the first enterprise telecommunication network to a wireless device associated with a second wireless device number.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said processor is adapted to provide access to services of the first enterprise telecommunication network to a wireless device associated with a first wireless device number.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said second database further comprises at least one enterprise preference associated with each second telephone extension and associated respective second wireless device number.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said processor is adapted to provide access to services of the first enterprise telecommunication network to a wireless device associated with a second wireless device number based on the at least one enterprise preference associated with the second wireless device number.

10. A telecommunication device comprising:

a storage medium for storing a first database associated with a first private branch exchange network for a location A, the first database comprising a plurality of first telephone extensions at the location A of the first private branch exchange network and correlating each first telephone extension to a respective first enterprise telephone number, a respective first wireless device number, a respective first user preference and a respective first enterprise preference,

the storage medium for storing a second database associated with a second private branch exchange network for a location B, the second database comprising a plurality of second telephone extensions at the location B of the second private branch exchange network and correlating each second telephone extension to a respective second enterprise telephone number, a respective second wireless device number, a respective second user preference and a respective second enterprise preference, thereby replicating a third database storing the plurality of second telephone extensions at the location B of the second private branch exchange network; and

a processor coupled to the storage medium and the first private branch exchange network, said processor being adapted to;

receive a telephone call from a wireless telephone associated with a second wireless device number stored in the second database,

identify the second wireless telephone number associated with the wireless telephone placing the call,

use the identified second wireless telephone number to retrieve from the second database a second telephone extension of the second private branch exchange network,

retrieve the respective second user preference and respective second enterprise preference associated with the retrieved second telephone extension,

generate a simulated dial tone,

send the simulated dial tone to the wireless telephone, and

provide telecommunication access to the first private branch exchange network based on the retrieved respective second user preference and respective second enterprise preference.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the respective second enterprise preference comprises an access group defining authorized outbound call access rights for a user of the wireless telephone.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said processor is further adapted to allow the wireless telephone to place a new call to a first enterprise telephone number using the services of the first private branch exchange network.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the respective second user preference comprises a dial tone timeout period, wherein a user of the wireless telephone is prevented from placing a new call through the first private branch exchange network after the dial tone timeout period expires.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein said processor is further adapted to allow the wireless telephone to place a new call, using the services of the first private branch exchange network, to a telephony device not associated with the first or second private branch exchange networks.

15. A telecommunication device comprising:

a storage medium for storing a first database associated with a first enterprise telecommunication network for a location A, the first database comprising a plurality of first telephone extensions at the location A of the first enterprise telecommunication network and correlating each first telephone extension to a respective first enterprise telephone number, a respective first wireless device number, a respective first user preference and a respective first enterprise preference,

the storage medium for storing a second database associated with a second enterprise telecommunication network for a location B, the second database comprising a plurality of second telephone extensions at the location B of the second enterprise telecommunication network and correlating each second telephone extension to a respective second enterprise telephone number, a respective second wireless device number, a respective second user preference and a respective second enterprise preference, thereby replicating a third database storing the plurality of second telephone extensions at the location B of the second enterprise telecommunication network; and

a processor coupled to the storage medium and the first enterprise telecommunication network, said processor being adapted to;

receive a copy of the second database from the second enterprise telecommunication network,

store the copy of the second database in the storage medium,

receive a telephone call from a wireless telephone associated with a second wireless device number stored in the second database,

identify the second wireless telephone number associated with the wireless telephone placing the call,

use the identified second wireless telephone number to retrieve a second telephone extension of the second enterprise telecommunication network,

retrieve the respective second user preference and respective second enterprise preference associated with the retrieved second telephone extension,

determine, based on the retrieved respective second user preference and respective second enterprise preference, whether the wireless telephone can be provided access to services of the first enterprise telecommunication network, and

if it is determined that the wireless telephone can be provided access to services of the first enterprise telecommunication network, the processor is further adapted to generate and send a simulated dial tone to the wireless telephone to alert the wireless telephone that access to the first enterprise telecommunication network has been granted.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein if it is determined that the wireless telephone cannot be provided access to the services of the first enterprise telecommunication network, the processor is further adapted to perform unauthorized call processing.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further adapted to allow the wireless telephone to place a new call using the services of the first enterprise telecommunication network to a first telephone extension of the first enterprise telecommunication network.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further adapted to allow the wireless telephone to place a new call using the services of the first enterprise telecommunication network to a telephony device not associated with the first or second enterprise telecommunication networks.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

receive a communication destined for one of the second telephone extensions of the second enterprise telecommunication network, identify the second telephone extension associated with the received communication, and use the identified second telephone extension to route the received communication to the respective second wireless device number associated with the identified second telephone extension.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein said processor is adapted to provide access to services of the first enterprise telecommunication network to a wireless device associated with a first wireless device number.