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

• US 8,233,603 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Forte, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): HONG, HARRY S
• Application Number:
  US11/476,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/352, 379/390.01, 379/266.09, 379/401, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 455/445, 455/414.1, 455/554.1, 455/555, 179/18
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• 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 3/42059 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 is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a wireless connect unit connected between an enterprise private branch exchange (PBX) network and a public switched telephone network. The wireless connect unit preferably serves as a gateway between the PBX and one or more remote communication devices. The remote devices can be used as standard PBX office telephones for both inbound and outbound telephone calls. Thus, features of the PBX network (e.g., voice mail, direct extension dialing, corporate calling plan, etc.) are available to the remote device even though they are not physically connected to the PBX. When the system receives an incoming call, it can route the call to an office telephone and one or more of the remote devices simultaneously or as desired by the user.

Claims

1. A method of providing access to an enterprise telecommunication network from a cellular telephone, the method performed by a wireless connect unit comprising at least one processor executing programmed instructions stored in machine-readable memory, the method comprising:

in the wireless connect unit, the at least one processor executing programmed instructions causes the at least one processor to;

receive a telephone call from the cellular telephone;

identify a cellular telephone number of the cellular telephone;

use the cellular telephone number to authenticate a user of the cellular telephone;

generate a simulated dial tone;

send the simulated dial tone to the cellular telephone; and

provide telecommunication access to the enterprise telecommunication network based on at least one user preference and at least one enterprise preference associated with the cellular telephone.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having stored therein non-transitory indicia of a plurality of machine executable control program steps, the control program comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone call from a cellular telephone associated with a wireless carrier network;

identifying a cellular telephone number of the cellular telephone;

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

generating a simulated dial tone;

sending the simulated dial tone to the cellular telephone; and

providing telecommunication access to an enterprise telecommunication network remotely located from the wireless carrier network, based on at least one user preference and at least one enterprise preference associated with the cellular telephone.

3. A communication system comprising:

a processing unit; and

a memory, wherein a computer program is stored in said memory for execution by said processing unit, said computer program when executed causes said processing unit to;

receive a telephone call from a cellular telephone;

identify a telephone number of the cellular telephone;

use the telephone number to authenticate a user of the cellular telephone;

generate a simulated dial tone;

send the simulated dial tone to the cellular telephone; and

provide to the cellular telephone, telecommunication access to an enterprise telecommunication network that is not associated with the cellular telephone, based on at least one user preference and at least one enterprise preference associated with the cellular telephone.