Method and apparatus for communicating via virtual office telephone extensions

• US 8,447,352 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Forte, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, ANGELICA
• Application Number:
  US09/879,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,359 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/555, 455/417, 455/414, 455/461, 455/412, 379/211.02, 379/211.04, 379/266.09, 379/242
• US Class Current: 455/555
• 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 3/42059 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 at least one wireless device associated with a single telephone number serving as a virtual office extension is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a wireless connect unit in communication with an enterprise private branch exchange (PBX) network. The wireless connect unit preferably serves as a gateway between the PBX and one or more remote communication devices, including at least one wireless device, associated with a virtual extension telephone number. The remote wireless device can be used as a standard PBX office telephone for both inbound and outbound telephone calls. Thus, features of the PBX network (e.g., voice mail, direct extension dialing, corporate calling plan, etc.) are available to the remote wireless device even though it is not physically connected to the PBX. When the system receives an incoming call, it can route the call to a remote wireless device associated with a virtual extension, or to combination of devices simultaneously, or as desired by the user.

Claims

1. A telecommunication device comprising:

a telephony interface separate from an enterprise private branch exchange (PBX), for receiving a telephone voice call via a first communication path and identifying a dialed telephone number associated with the call, said telephony interface using the dialed telephone number to retrieve at least one wireless telephone number and at least one user preference from a storage medium, said telephony interface using said at least one retrieved user preference to route the voice call to at least two wireless destination telephone numbers associated with respective wireless devices capable of inbound and outbound voice communications substantially simultaneously via respective second and third communication paths, and said telephony interface connecting the voice call to a user by connecting said first communication path to either one of the second and third communication path when one of the second or third communication path is authenticated;

wherein said telephony interface communicates with the PBX and comprises a database of PBX extension numbers and of Direct Inward Dial (DID) telephone numbers associated with each PBX extension numbers, wherein said dialed telephone number is associated with one of the PBX extension numbers, and wherein at least one of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers is associated with one of the PBX extension numbers and the other of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers is not.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a first wireless destination telephone number corresponds to said retrieved wireless telephone number and a second wireless destination telephone number corresponds to a retrieved second wireless telephone number.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a third wireless destination number corresponding to a voice mailbox telephone number after a predetermined time as defined by said at least one retrieved user preference.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said predetermined time corresponds to a number of telephone rings defined by said at least one retrieved user preference.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a first wireless destination telephone number corresponding to said retrieved wireless telephone number and to a second wireless destination telephone number corresponding to a retrieved second wireless telephone number as defined by said at least one retrieved user preference.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said at least one retrieved user preference defines a first ring count for the call to said first wireless destination telephone number and a second different ring count for the call to said second wireless destination telephone number.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a third wireless destination telephone number corresponding to a voice mailbox telephone number after said telephony interface rings said first wireless destination number more than said first ring count.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface routes the call to a voice mailbox telephone number.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface prompts a caller of the telephone call with a menu of call destination options and said telephony interface places the call to at least two wireless destination telephone numbers in accordance with an option selected by the caller.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers associated with one of the PBX extension numbers is associated with a cellular telephone.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the cellular telephone can operate independently from said device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the other of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers is associated with a pager.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the other of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers is associated with a personal digital assistant.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface receives the call from a public switched telephone network.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein at least one of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers is associated with a cellular telephone.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface is connected to a local area network and said at least one user preference is input via the local area network.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said telephony interface is connected to the Internet and said at least one user preference is input via the Internet.

18. A method of operating a wireless connect unit comprising:

connecting the wireless connect unit to a separate enterprise private branch exchange (PBX), the wireless connect unit comprising a database of PBX extension numbers and of Direct Inward Dial (DID) telephone numbers associated with each PBX extension numbers;

receiving a voice call made;

identifying a dialed telephone number associated with the voice call;

using the dialed telephone number to retrieve at least one wireless telephone number and at least one user preference from a storage medium;

using said at least one retrieved user preference to route the voice call to at least two wireless destination telephone numbers associated with respective wireless devices capable of inbound and outbound voice communications substantially simultaneously via respective second and third communication paths; and

connecting the voice call to a user by connecting said first communication path to either one of the second and third communication path when one of the second or third communication path is authenticated;

wherein said dialed telephone number is associated with one of the PBX extension numbers, and wherein at least one of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers is associated with one of the PBX extension numbers and the other of said at least two wireless destination telephone numbers is not.