Hybrid cloud PBX

• US 11,297,188 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2019
• Issued: 04/05/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barrett Adams, Michael Cramer
• Original Assignee: Barrett Adams, Michael Cramer
• Inventors: Adams, Barrett, Cramer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Antim G
• Application Number:
  US16/385,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20190320070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1055 Single-site
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/241 for stored program controlled exchanges
• 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 7/0084 Network monitoring; Error detection; Error recovery; Network testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for telephones by providing an improved and streamlined user experience and enhanced fail over mechanisms. A decentralized system managed through a web site which allows for continued operation even when the primary systems fail includes a mechanism for restoring the primary systems automatically when they become available again. Phones connect to two PBX systems at the same time, one local and one at a remote location. The two PBX systems synchronize configuration data and media files between them. The website can also be used to manage any number of systems allowing any size organization to manage every phone system in their organization from a single interface.

Claims

1. A hybrid PBX, comprising:

an onsite private branch exchange (PBX);

a remote PBX;

a website operative to configure the onsite PBX and remote PBX as a single system;

one or more extensions; and

at least three inbound call flows, comprising a normal call flow, a no-internet call flow, and an onsite-PBX-offline call flow,

wherein each extension of the one or more extensions is connected to both the onsite PBX and the remote PBX, and

wherein the remote PBX is operative to facilitate calls made and received by the extensions when the onsite PBX is inoperative, and

wherein the normal call flow routes calls via a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) provider through the onsite PBX to an extension of the one or more extensions, the no-internet call flow routes calls via the VoIP through the remote PBX and a public switched telephone network (PTSN) to an extension of the one or more extensions, and the onsite-PBX-offline call flow routes calls via the VoIP through the remote PBX to an extension of the one or more extensions.

2. The hybrid PBX as recited in claim 1, wherein the local PBX and the remote PBX are connected to a cloud platform to receive configuration changes from the website.

3. The hybrid PBX as recited in claim 2, wherein the local PBX is configured to route outbound calls through a PSTN in the event of a failure of Internet service, and wherein the remote PBX is configured to receive voicemails and is configurable to forward calls to mobile phones when the onsite PBX is inoperative in order to minimize use of PSTN lines.

4. The hybrid PBX as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for connecting one or more analog extensions to both the onsite PBX and the remote PBX.

5. The hybrid PBX as recited in claim 1, further comprising a proxy server which routes calls through the onsite PBX when the onsite PBX is operative, and through the remote PBX when the onsite PBX is inoperative.

6. The hybrid PBX as recited in claim 1, further comprising a mesh network which routes calls through either the onsite PBX or the remote PBX based on availability and load balancing.