Telecommute server

• US 6,041,114 A
• Filed: 03/27/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Active Voice Corporation (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chestnut, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US08/825,206
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 379/210, 379/211, 379/219, 379/220, 379/93.02, 379/93.03
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• 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 3/42229 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 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A method and device for managing a telecommunication system, including call forwarding, with a computer network (LAN, WAN, etc.) integrated with a private branch exchange (PBX) connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Calls are forwarded based upon the device used to log onto the computer network by the called party.

Claims

1. A method for managing a telecommunications system in which call forwarding is determined by whether a computer terminal is logged into a computer network, comprising:

a) receiving a call on a telephone system which is coupled to a computer network;

b) determining with a server the identity of a called party to whom said call should be directed;

c) identifying with the server one of a plurality of network logon devices associated with said called party that is logged-on to said computer network;

d) identifying with the server a telephone number associated with said logged-on network logon device; and

e) forwarding the call to said telephone number, the forwarded call bypassing the server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said call is directed to a voice messaging system if none of said plurality of network logon devices for the called party is identified as logged-on.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said call is directed to a telephone number associated with the previously logged-on called party network logon device if no currently logged-on network logon device is identified.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said call may be forwarded to any one of a plurality of telephone numbers and the determination of which telephone number said call is forwarded to is based upon the date and time said call is received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said call may be forwarded to any one of a plurality of telephone numbers and the determination of which telephone number said call is forwarded to is based upon whether said call originated from the publicly switched telephone network or an internal extension.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said call may be forwarded to any one of a plurality of telephone numbers and the determination of which telephone number said call is forwarded to is based upon a set of predefined rules.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said call may be forwarded to any one of a plurality of telephone numbers and the determination of which telephone number said call is forwarded to is based upon incoming signals accompanying the call which signals identify the calling party.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the forwarding the call to said telephone number comprises forwarding the call via a publicly switched telephone network.

9. A method for managing a telecommunications system in which call forwarding is determined by whether a computer terminal is logged into a computer network, comprising:

a) receiving a call on a telephone system which is coupled to a computer network;

b) determining the identity of a called party to whom said call should be directed;

c) determining whether one of a plurality of network logon devices associated with said called party is logged onto said computer network;

d) if one of the network logon devices is logged onto said computer network, then identifying a telephone number associated with said logged-on network logon device and forwarding the call to said telephone number; and

e) if none of said plurality of network logon devices is logged onto said computer network, then directing the call to a default telephone number.

10. A method for managing a telecommunications system in which call forwarding is determined by whether a computer terminal is logged into a computer network, comprising:

a) receiving a call on a telephone system which is coupled to a computer network;

b) determining the identity of a called party to whom said call should be directed;

c) determining whether one of a plurality of network logon devices associated with said called party is logged onto said computer network;

d) if one of the network logon devices is logged onto said computer network, then identifying a telephone number associated with said logged-on network logon device and forwarding the call to said telephone number; and

e) if none of said plurality of network logon devices is logged onto said computer network, then directing said call to a telephone number associated with a previously logged-on network logon device for a specified period of time after said previously logged-on network logon device logs off said computer network.

11. A method for managing a telecommunications system in which call forwarding is controlled by a calling party, comprising:

a) receiving a call from the calling party on a telephone network requesting communications with a called party;

b) presenting said calling party with a menu listing a plurality of locations to which the call can be forwarded;

c) receiving a selection signal from said calling party identifying the location to which said call is to be forwarded; and

d) forwarding said call to a forwarding telephone number associated with said selection signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said menu listing is modified based upon the identity of the calling party.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said menu listing is modified based upon the time at which the call is received.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said menu listing is modified based upon the day and date on which the call is received.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said menu listing includes the option of leaving a message with a voice mail system.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

forwarding said call to a voice messaging system if there is no answer at the telephone number to which the call was forwarded.

17. A method for managing a telecommunications system in which call forwarding is controlled by the called party, comprising:

a) receiving an indication that calls directed to a first communications device should be forwarded to a second communications device;

b) receiving a call from a calling party on a telephone network directed to said first communications device;

c) recording a calling-party message from said calling party;

d) forwarding said calling-party message to said second communications device;

e) playing said calling-party message at said second communications device;

f) receiving a selection signal from said second communications device indicating a third communications device to which said call is to be forwarded; and

g) forwarding said call to said third communications device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said second communications device is selected from a plurality of communications devices based upon the time at which the call is received.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said second communications device is selected from a plurality of communications devices based upon the day and date on which the call is received.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said third communications device is an auto attendant system.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said third communications device is a voice messaging system.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

forwarding said call to a voice messaging system if there is no response from said second communications device.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

presenting at said second communications device a menu listing a plurality of devices to which the call can be forwarded.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said menu listing is modified based upon the identity of the calling party.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said menu listing is modified based upon the time at which the call is received.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said menu listing is modified based upon the day and date on which the call is received.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said menu listing includes the option of forwarding the call to a voice mail system.

28. A method for managing a telecommunications system, which includes a voice messaging system, in which call forwarding is determined by whether a computer terminal is logged onto a computer network, comprising:

a) receiving a call on a telephone system which is coupled to a computer network;

b) determining the number of a called party'"'"'s extension to which said call should be directed;

c) simulating a "ring no answer" of said extension number by sending a "ring no answer" signal to the telephone system;

d) intercepting control signals provided by the telephone system to the voice messaging system in response to the "ring no answer" signal;

e) recording the control signals which are provided by the telephone system to the voice messaging system in response to the "ring no answer" signal;

f) identifying which one of a plurality of network logon devices associated with said called party is logged-on to said computer network;

g) if no network logon device for the called party is identified as logged-on, playing the control signals to the voice messaging system, in order to transfer the call to said voice messaging system;

h) if a network logon device is identified as logged-on, identifying a telephone number associated with said network logon device and forwarding the call to said telephone number.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said call is directed to a default telephone number if none of said plurality of network logon devices for the called party is identified as logged-on.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said call is directed to a telephone number associated with the previously logged on called party network logon device if no currently logged on network logon device is identified.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said call is directed to a telephone number associated with the previously logged on called party network logon device for a specified period of time after said network logon device logs off the network if no currently logged-on network logon device is identified.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said call is forwarded to one of a plurality of telephone numbers based upon the date and time said call is received.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein said call is forwarded to one a plurality of telephone numbers based upon whether said call originated from the publicly switched telephone network.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein said call is forwarded to one of a plurality of telephone numbers based upon a set of predefined rules.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein said call is forwarded to one of a plurality of telephone numbers based upon the identity of the calling party.

36. A server for managing a telecommunications system that includes a computer system having a plurality of network logon devices associated with a called party and that includes a telephone system coupled to a publicly switched telephone network, the server operable to:

a) receive information from the telephone system regarding an incoming call directed to the called party;

b) identify the called party from the information;

c) identify one of the network logon devices that is logged onto the computer network;

d) identify a telephone number associated with the logged-on network logon device; and

e) control the telephone system to forward the call to the telephone number, the forwarded call bypassing the server.

37. A server for managing a telecommunications system that includes a computer system having a plurality of network logon devices associated with a called party and that includes a telephone system, the server operable to:

a) receive information from the telephone system regarding an incoming telephone call directed to the called party;

b) identify the called party from the information;

c) determine whether one of the network logon devices is logged onto the computer network;

d) if one of the network logon devices is logged onto the computer network, then identify a telephone number associated with the logged-on network logon device and control the telephone system to forward the call to the telephone number; and

e) if none of the network logon devices are logged onto the computer network, then control the telephone system to forward the call to a default telephone number.

38. A server for managing a telecommunications system that includes a computer system having a plurality of network logon devices associated with a called party and that includes a telephone system, the server operable to:

a) receive information from the telephone system regarding an incoming telephone call directed to the called party;

b) identify the called party from the information;

c) determine whether one of the network logon devices is logged onto the computer network;

d) if one of the network logon devices is logged onto the computer network, then identify a telephone number associated with the logged-on network logon device and control the telephone system to forward the call to the telephone number; and

e) if none of the network logon devices is logged onto the computer network and if the most recently logged-on network logon device has been logged off the computer network for no longer than a predetermined time, then direct the call to a telephone number associated with the most recently logged-on network logon device.

39. A server for managing a telecommunications system that includes a telephone system, the server operable to:

a) receive information from the telephone system regarding an incoming telephone call from a calling party, the call directed to a called party;

b) present the calling party with a menu listing a plurality of locations to which the call can be forwarded;

c) receive from the calling party a selection signal identifying the location to which the call is to be forwarded; and

d) control the telephone system to forward the call to a telephone number associated with the identified location.

40. A server for managing a telecommunications system that includes a telephone system, the server operable to:

a) receive an indication that the telephone system is to forward calls directed to a first communications device to a second communications device;

b) receive information from the telephone system regarding an incoming telephone call from a calling party, the call directed to the first communications device;

c) record a calling-party message from the calling party;

d) control the telephone system to forward the calling-party message to the second communications device;

e) play the calling-party message at the second communications device;

f) receive a selection signal from the second communications device indicating that the call is to be forwarded to a third communications device; and

g) control the telephone system to forward the call to the third communications device.

41. A server for managing a telecommunications system that includes a computer system having a plurality of network logon devices associated with a called party, a telephone system, and a voice messaging system coupled to the telephone system, the server operable to:

a) receive information from the telephone system regarding an incoming telephone call directed to the called party;

b) determine the called party'"'"'s telephone number to which the call is to be directed;

c) simulate a "ring no answer" of the telephone number by sending a "ring no answer" signal to the telephone system;

d) intercept control signals provided by the telephone system to the voice messaging system in response to the "ring no answer" signal;

e) record the intercepted control signals;

f) determine whether one of the network logon devices is logged onto the computer network;

g) if no network logon device is logged-on, then transfer the call to the voice messaging system by playing the recorded control signals to the voice messaging system; and

h) if a network logon device is logged-on, then identify a forwarding telephone number associated with the network logon device and control the telephone system to forward the call to the forwarding telephone number.