Phone-independent key expansion module

• US 8,553,875 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Basart, Edwin J., Tovino, Michael S. W., Tonogai, Dale C., Rucinski, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US13/107,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.18, 379/325, 379/419, 379/422, 379/441, 379/442
• US Class Current: 379/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16

Abstract

A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box'"'"'s user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.

Claims

1. A system configured to enable a user to invoke a call control function using a button box device, comprising:

a switch configured to receive a key press event via a packet-switched network and to determine a call control function associated with the key press event; and

a button box device configured to send the key press event via the packet-switched network.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a telephone, wherein the telephone is configured to receive the key press event via the packet-switched network and to send the key press event to the switch, and wherein the button box device is configured to send the key press event to the telephone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the key press event comprises a key identifier.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a storage device containing an association between the key identifier and the call control function.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a storage device containing multiple associations between the key identifier and a call control function, wherein the key press event further comprises a button box identifier, and wherein the button box identifier indicates one association of the multiple associations.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising a storage device containing multiple associations between the key identifier and a call control function, wherein the button box device is associated with a telephone, and wherein the telephone is associated with the user, and wherein an identity of the user indicates one association of the multiple associations.

7. A method to enable a user to invoke a call control function using a button box device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a switch, a key press event via a packet-switched network from the button box device, wherein the button box device sends the key press event via the packet-switched network; and

determining, at the switch, a call control function associated with the key press event.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, at a telephone, the key press event via the packet-switched network and sending the key press event to the switch, wherein the button box device is configured to send the key press event to the telephone.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the key press event comprises a key identifier.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

associating the key identifier and the call control function.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

storing, at a storage device, an association between the key identifier and the call control function.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing, at a storage device, multiple associations between the key identifier and a call control function, wherein the key press event further comprises a button box identifier, and wherein the button box identifier indicates one association of the multiple associations.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing, at a storage device, multiple associations between the key identifier and a call control function, wherein the button box device is associated with a telephone, and wherein the telephone is associated with the user, and wherein an identity of the user indicates one association of the multiple associations.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving the key press event from the button box device comprises receiving the key press event from the button box device at a switch.

14. A method for enabling a user to invoke a call control function using a button box device, comprising:

receiving a key press event, wherein the key press event comprises a key identifier from the button box device, wherein the button box device is associated with a telephone and the telephone is associated with the user;

determining a call control function associated with the key press event, wherein (1) determining the call control function associated with the key press event comprises identifying an association between the key identifier and the call control function and (2) identifying the association between the key identifier and the call control function comprises identifying the association between the key identifier and the call control function based on an identity of the user; and

executing the call control function.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the button box device displays a label for a key associated with the key press event.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the label is specified by the user.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the label is generated automatically.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the association between the key identifier and the call control function is provided by a management utility.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a parameter associated with the call control function.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is prompted to enter the parameter.