Method and apparatus for providing called party information to a coverage point during survivable processor operation

A system for providing call coverage, comprising:

• a first communication network;
• a second communication network, wherein said second communication network includes a public switched telephony network;
• a branch system, wherein said branch system is interconnected to first and second communication networks, said branch system including:
• a branch system server;
• a number of communication endpoints interconnected to said branch system server, wherein each of said communication endpoints is associated with an identifier;
• a main system interconnected to said branch system through said first and second communication networks, said main system including:
• a main system server;
• a communication feature server;
• a number of communication endpoints interconnected to said main system server, wherein each of said communication endpoints is associated with an identifier;
• data storage, wherein call coverage routines include normal mode call coverage routines and survivable mode call coverage routines comprising instructions for routing a call placed to a called communication endpoint to one of a called extension and a coverage point for at least some of said communication endpoints are stored, and wherein said survivable mode call coverage routines include a telephone number identifying said main system on said public switched telephony network and at least a first special character;
• wherein in said normal mode of operation in response to a call received at said branch system addressed to a first one of said communication endpoints that requires a connection between said branch system and said main system in order to connect to one of:
• 1) said first communication endpoint, and 2) a coverage point, said connection is established over said first communication network;
• wherein in said survivable mode of operation, in response to a call received at said branch system addressed to a first one of said communication endpoints that requires a connection between said branch system and said main system in order to connect to one of:
• 1) said first communication endpoint, and 2) a coverage point, said connection is established over said second communication network according to said instructions for routing a call, and wherein in response to said at least a first special character information identifying said one of said communication endpoints to which said first call is addressed is provided to said main system after a communication channel between said branch system and said main system is established.

A system for directing calls in a distributed communication system, comprising:

• first communication network means;
• second communication network means;
• a first system, including:
• means for communicating;
• means for providing communication features;
• means for interconnecting said first system to said first communication network means;
• means for interconnecting said first system of said second communication network means;
• a second system, including:
• means for communicating;
• means for controlling aspects of the operation of said number of means for communicating;
• means for storing call coverage information associated with at least some of said means for communicating for execution by said means for controlling aspects of the operation of said number of means for communicating;
• means for interconnecting said second system to said first communication network means, wherein in a first operating mode said first and second systems are capable of communicating with one another using said first communication network means;
• means for interconnecting said second system of said second communication network means, wherein in a second operating mode said first and second systems are not capable of communicating with one another using said first communication network means but are capable of communicating with one another using said second communication network means;
• wherein call coverage routines for at least some of said means for communicating comprise at least one of:
• 1) a call coverage script including:
• a) a telephone number associated with said means for providing communication features of said first system, wherein said telephone number allows a call requiring coverage to be directed to said means for providing call coverage over said second communication network means;
• and b) a special character, wherein said special character instructs said means for controlling to provide an identifier of a one of said means for communicating to which said call requiring coverage was directed;
• and
• 2) a call coverage script including:
• a) a partial telephone number associated with a first means for communicating of said first system;
• and b) a special character, wherein said special character instructs said means for controlling to complete said partial telephone number using an extension of said first means for communicating of said first system.