Provisioning interfaces for accessing virtual private branch exchange services through a mobile device

• US 9,749,457 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Inventors: Vendrow, Vlad, Shmunis, Vladimir, Chau, Vi, Shah, Praful, Nayberg, Natalie
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seyedvosoghi, Farid
• Application Number:
  US14/605,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20150133113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 4554261, 455 73, 455 901- 903, 4555501, 455555, 455405, 455435, 455417, 455428, 4554141, 379419-440, 370419-440
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/42161 via computer interface
• 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: 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 3/54 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 3/546 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the provisioning of a single and multi-line virtual private branch exchange (PBX) including automated call distribution via a mobile device are described. In some implementations, the provisioning of the single and multi-line virtual PBX can be achieved using one or more unique provisioning interfaces. The unique provisioning interfaces can enable the setup and configuration of a virtual PBX service account instantaneously from any geographical location at any time. Changes made to the virtual PBX service account can be immediately reflected back (e.g., in real-time) to the system providing the core operating environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

configuring a placeholder virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) account that is not activated or associated with any user, wherein configuring the placeholder vPBX account comprises associating the placeholder virtual PBX account with a subset of pre-provisioned vPBX services;

providing, for presentation on a mobile device, a user interface for activating a vPBX account on the mobile device; and

while the user interface for activating a vPBX account is presented on the mobile device;

receiving, through the user interface, a request to activate a new vPBX account on the mobile device, and

activating, by associating an identifier for the new vPBX account with the placeholder vPBX account that had previously not been activated or associated with any user, the new vPBX account on the mobile device and provisioning the new vPBX account with the pre-provisioned vPBX services to enable the pre-provisioned vPBX services to be used on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a phone number for the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating a call session on the mobile device using the vPBX services.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, through the user interface, a selection of an identifier for the new vPBX account.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the selection of the identifier comprises receiving the selection of the identifier from a presentation of a plurality of possible identifiers for the new vPBX account that are not yet associated with any vPBX accounts.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring one or more other placeholder vPBX accounts, wherein each other placeholder vPBX account is associated with a different subset of pre-provisioned vPBX services.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing a presentation identifying a plurality of new account options in the user interface, each new account option being associated with a different placeholder vPBX account; and

wherein receiving a request to activate the new vPBX account comprises receiving a selection of one of the new account options through the user interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein associating the identifier for the new vPBX account with the placeholder vPBX account comprises associating the identifier for the new vPBX account with a placeholder vPBX account that is associated with the selected new account option.

9. A system comprising one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that when executed by the one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

configuring a placeholder virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) account that is not activated or associated with any user, wherein configuring the placeholder vPBX account comprises associating the placeholder virtual PBX account with a subset of pre-provisioned vPBX services;

providing, for presentation on a mobile device, a user interface for activating a vPBX account on the mobile device; and

while the user interface for activating a vPBX account is presented on the mobile device;

receiving, through the user interface, a request to activate a new vPBX account on the mobile device, and

activating, by associating an identifier for the new vPBX account with the placeholder vPBX account that had previously not been activated or associated with any user, the new vPBX account on the mobile device and provisioning the new vPBX account with the pre-provisioned vPBX services to enable the pre-provisioned vPBX services to be used on the mobile device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the identifier is a phone number for the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

facilitating a call session on the mobile device using the vPBX services.

12. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

receiving, through the user interface, a selection of an identifier for the new vPBX account.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein receiving the selection of the identifier comprises receiving the selection of the identifier from a presentation of a plurality of possible identifiers for the new vPBX account that are not yet associated with any vPBX accounts.

14. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

configuring one or more other placeholder vPBX accounts, wherein each other placeholder vPBX account is associated with a different subset of pre-provisioned vPBX services.

15. The system of claim 14, the operations further comprising:

providing a presentation identifying a plurality of new account options in the user interface, each new account option being associated with a different placeholder vPBX account; and

wherein receiving a request to activate the new vPBX account comprises receiving a selection of one of the new account options through the user interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein associating the identifier for the new vPBX account with the placeholder vPBX account comprises associating the identifier for the new vPBX account with a placeholder vPBX account that is associated with the selected new account option.

17. A non-transitory computer storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

configuring a placeholder virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) account that is not activated or associated with any user, wherein configuring the placeholder vPBX account comprises associating the placeholder virtual PBX account with a subset of pre-provisioned vPBX services;

providing, for presentation on a mobile device, a user interface for activating a vPBX account on the mobile device; and

while the user interface for activating a vPBX account is presented on the mobile device;

receiving, through the user interface, a request to activate a new vPBX account on the mobile device, and

activating, by associating an identifier for the new vPBX account with the placeholder vPBX account that had previously not been activated or associated with any user, the new vPBX account on the mobile device and provisioning the new vPBX account with the pre-provisioned vPBX services to enable the pre-provisioned vPBX services to be used on the mobile device.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein the identifier is a phone number for the mobile device.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising:

facilitating a call session on the mobile device using the vPBX services.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising:

receiving, through the user interface, a selection of an identifier for the new vPBX account.