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

• US 20020128023A1
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Forte, Stephen P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/461
• 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 method of operating a telecommunication system including first and second enterprise telecommunication networks respectively connected to first and second wireless connection units, said method comprising the steps of:

replicating databases of the first and second wireless connection units, the databases comprising a plurality of telephone extensions each associated with a first communication device connected to the enterprise telecommunication network and a second communication device;

detecting that one of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks has become inoperable; and

routing a communication destined for an extension of the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network to the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the other of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the routed communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device and a second communication device number associated with the second communication device; and

routing the communication to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the databases further comprise at least one user preference associated with each of the plurality of telephone extensions.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the routed communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device, a second communication device number associated with the second communication device and at least one user preference; and

routing the communication to at least one of said first and second communication device numbers based on the user preference.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the routed communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a first communication device number associated with the first communication device, a second communication device number associated with the second communication device and at least one user preference; and

directing the routed communication in accordance with the user preference to at least one destination communication number, wherein the at least one destination communication number is selected from a group including the first and second communication device numbers and a voice mailbox number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing step comprises routing direct inbound dialed telephone numbers associated with each extension of the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network to a telephone number associated with the other of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said replicating step comprises:

transmitting a copy of the database associated with the first wireless connection unit to the second wireless connection unit; and

receiving at the first wireless connection unit a copy of the database associated with the second wireless connection unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting and receiving steps are performed over a network communication medium.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting and receiving steps are performed over the Internet.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting and receiving steps are performed by wireless communications.

11. A method of performing disaster recovery on a telecommunication system including first and second enterprise telecommunication networks respectively connected to first and second wireless connection units, said method comprising the steps of:

replicating databases of the first and second wireless connection units, the databases comprising a plurality of telephone extensions each associated with a first communication device connected to the enterprise telecommunication network and a wireless communication device;

detecting that one of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks has become inoperable; and

routing a communication destined for an extension of the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network to the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the other of the first and second enterprise telecommunication networks;

identifying a dialed telephone extension from the routed communication;

using the identified extension to retrieve a telephone number associated with the wireless communication device; and

directing the routed communication to the telephone number of the wireless communication device.

14. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said first processor processes telephone calls made to extensions of the second telecommunication network.

15. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said second processor processes telephone calls made to extensions of the first telecommunication network.

16. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said first and second databases further comprise at least one user preference associated with each of said first and second plurality of telephone extensions.

17. The telecommunication system of claim 16, wherein said first processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said second dialed extension and routes the second telephone call to third and fourth communication devices associated with the second dialed extension based on the at least one user preference.

18. The telecommunication system of claim 16, wherein said first processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said second dialed extension and routes the second telephone call to a destination telephone number based on the at least one user preference, wherein said destination telephone number is selected from the group consisting of telephone numbers of said third and fourth communication devices associated with the second dialed extension and a voice mail box.

19. The telecommunication system of claim 16, wherein said second processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said first dialed extension and routes the first telephone call to first and second communication devices associated with the first dialed extension based on the at least one user preference.

20. The telecommunication system of claim 16, wherein said second processor retrieves at least one user preference associated with said first dialed extension and routes the first telephone call to a destination telephone number based on the at least one user preference, wherein said destination telephone number is selected from the group consisting of telephone numbers of said first and second communication devices associated with the first dialed extension and a voice mail box.

21. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said first processor replicates said second database by receiving a copy of said second database over a network communication medium.

22. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said first processor replicates said second database by receiving a copy of said second database over the Internet.

23. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said first processor replicates said second database by receiving a copy of said second database by wireless communication.

24. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said first processor routes the second telephone call to a wireless device.

25. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said second processor routes the first telephone call to a wireless device.

12. A method of providing access to a telecommunication system from a wireless telephone, the system comprising multiple enterprise telephone networks, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone call from the wireless telephone;

determining a location of the wireless telephone;

connecting the wireless telephone to one of the enterprise telephone networks based on the location of the wireless telephone;

identifying a wireless telephone number of the wireless telephone;

using the wireless telephone number to authenticate a user of the wireless telephone;

generating a simulated dial tone;

sending the simulated dial tone to the wireless telephone;

providing telecommunication access to the enterprise telephone network communicating with the wireless telephone based on at least one user preference and at least one enterprise preference associated with the wireless telephone.

13. A telecommunication system comprising:

a first telecommunication unit connected to a first enterprise telecommunication network, said first telecommunication unit comprising;

a first memory device comprising a first database, said first database comprising a first plurality of telephone extensions for the first telecommunication network, each extension being associated with first and second communication devices, and

a first processor connected to said first memory device, said first processor for identifying a first telephone call to a first dialed extension of the first telecommunication network and routing the first telephone call to first and second communication devices associated with the first dialed extension; and

a second telecommunication unit connected to a second enterprise telecommunication network and being in communication with said first telecommunication unit, said second telecommunication unit comprising;

a second memory device comprising a second database, said second database comprising a second plurality of telephone extensions for the second telecommunication network, each extension being associated with third and fourth communication devices, and

a second processor connected to said second memory device, said second processor for identifying a second telephone call to a second dialed extension of the second telecommunication network and routing the second telephone call to third and fourth communication devices associated with the second dialed extension;

wherein said first processor replicates and stores the second database in said first memory device and said second processor replicates and stores the first database in said second memory device.

26. A telecommunication system comprising:

means for receiving a telephone call from a wireless device via a toll free telephone number;

means for determining a location of the wireless device;

means for connecting the wireless device to an enterprise telephone network based on the location of the wireless device;

means for identifying a wireless telephone number of the wireless device;

means for using the wireless telephone number to authenticate a user of the wireless device;

means for generating a simulated dial tone;

means for sending the simulated dial tone to the wireless device;

means for providing telecommunication access to the enterprise telephone network communicating with the wireless device based on at least one user preference and at least one enterprise preference associated with the wireless device.