Virtual PBX based on feature server modules

• US 8,279,857 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited
• Inventors: Hakusui, Shigeaki
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US12/816,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20100246575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/389, 370/401, 379/225
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• 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 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/14 in systems involving main and subordinate switching centres

Abstract

A virtual private branch exchange is formed by a plurality of interconnected feature server modules, each having an integral feature server that is configured and operates independently of the other feature server modules. Within a virtual private branch exchange, the feature server modules may be logically arranged in a hierarchy having at least a main feature server module and one or more subordinate feature server modules. A particular feature server module may operate in multiple virtual private branch exchanges, and may have a distinct set of rules for handling calls originating in different virtual private branch exchanges.

Claims

1. A method for directing Internet telephone calls, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a server, a first Internet telephone call originating from a first private branch exchange;

(b) processing, by the server, the first Internet telephone call in accordance with a first set of policies corresponding to the first private branch exchange;

(c) receiving, by the server, a second Internet telephone call originating from a second private branch exchange; and

(d) processing, by the server, the second Internet telephone call in accordance with a second set of policies corresponding to the second private branch exchange.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first private branch exchange is a virtual private branch exchange.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of policies is configurable using a web interface of the server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) coupling the server, the first private branch exchange, and the second private branch exchange to form a virtual private branch exchange.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) coupling the first private branch exchange, the second private branch exchange and the server in a hierarchy having at least two tiers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the server and the first private branch exchange communicate using the SIP protocol.

7. An Internet telephony system comprising:

a first private branch exchange;

a second private branch exchange; and

a server configured to receive a first Internet telephone call originating from the first private branch exchange, process the first Internet telephone call in accordance with a first set of policies corresponding to the first private branch exchange, receive a second Internet telephone call originating from the second private branch exchange, and process the second Internet telephone call in accordance with a second set of policies corresponding to the second private branch exchange.

8. The Internet telephony system of claim 7, wherein the first private branch exchange is a virtual private branch exchange.

9. The Internet telephony system of claim 7, wherein the first set of policies is configurable using a web interface of the server.

10. The Internet telephony system of claim 7, wherein the server, the first private branch exchange, and the second private branch exchange are coupled to form a virtual private branch exchange.

11. The Internet telephony system of claim 7, wherein the first private branch exchange, the second private branch exchange and the server are coupled in a hierarchy having at least two tiers.

12. The Internet telephony system of claim 7, wherein the server and the first private branch exchange communicate using the SIP protocol.

13. An Internet telephony system comprising:

a first Internet telephony feature server; and

a second Internet telephony feature server coupled to the first Internet telephony feature server to form a virtual private branch exchange, wherein the first telephony feature server operates independently of the second Internet telephony feature server to direct an Internet phone call.

14. The Internet telephony system of claim 13, further comprising:

a main Internet telephony server, wherein the first Internet telephony feature server and the second Internet telephony feature server are coupled via the main Internet telephony server to form the virtual private branch exchange.

15. The Internet telephony system of claim 14, wherein the main Internet telephony server is configured to process Internet phone calls originating from the first Internet telephony feature server in accordance with a first set of policies corresponding to the first Internet telephony feature server, and to process Internet calls originating from the second Internet telephony feature server in accordance with a second set of policies corresponding to the second Internet telephony feature server.

16. The Internet telephony system of claim 14, wherein the first Internet telephony feature server, the second Internet telephony feature server and the main Internet telephony server form a hierarchy having at least two tiers.

17. The Internet telephony system of claim 14, wherein the first Internet telephony feature server and the main Internet telephony server communicate using the SIP protocol.