Methods and apparatus for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client remotely coupled to a PBX

A method for dialing an emergency number from a client coupled to a remote network via the PSTN, said remote network including a remote PBX/MLTS responsive to messages from the client representing dialed digits, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) monitoring the network connection for the presence of messages from the client representing dialed digits;
• b) comparing the dialed digits represented by said messages to a predefined sequence of tones corresponding to the emergency number;
• c) disconnecting the client from the remote network;
• d) coupling the client to the PSTN;
• and
• e) dialing the emergency number.

A method for dialing an emergency number from a teleworking client coupled to a remote teleworking server during a teleworking session via the PSTN, said remote teleworking server including a remote PBX/MLTS responsive to dialed digits from said teleworking client, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) monitoring the teleworking session for the presence of dialed digits;
• b) comparing the dialed digits to a predefined sequence of tones corresponding to the emergency number;
• c) terminating the teleworking session;
• d) disconnecting the teleworking client from the PSTN;
• e) reconnecting the client to the PSTN;
• and
• f) dialing the emergency number.

An apparatus for dialing an emergency number from a client coupled to a remote network via the PSTN, said remote network including a remote PBX/MLTS responsive to dialed digits from said client, said apparatus comprising:

• a) monitoring means for monitoring the network connection for the presence of dialed digits;
• b) comparison means coupled to said monitoring means for comparing the dialed digits to a predefined sequence of digits corresponding to the emergency number;
• c) connection means coupled to said comparison means for disconnecting the client from the remote network and coupling the client to the PSTN;
• and
• d) a dialer coupled to the PSTN and to said comparison means for dialing the emergency number.

An apparatus for dialing an emergency number from a teleworking client coupled to a remote teleworking server during a teleworking session via the PSTN, said teleworking client including a dialable telephone and said remote teleworking server including a remote PBX/MLTS responsive to dialed digits from said dialable telephone, said method comprising:

• a) monitoring means for monitoring the teleworking session for the presence of dialed digits from said teleworking client;
• b) comparison means coupled to said monitoring means for comparing the dialed digits to a predefined sequence of digits corresponding to the emergency number;
• c) session terminating means coupled to said comparison means for terminating the teleworking session;
• d) connection means coupled to said session terminating means for disconnecting the teleworking client from the PSTN and for reconnecting the client to the PSTN;
• and
• e) a dialer coupled to said connection means for dialing the emergency number.

In a teleworking client apparatus adapted to be coupled to a remote PBX/MLTS via the PSTN such that calls made from the teleworking client apparatus are routed through the remote PBX/MLTS, the improvement comprising:

• a) determining means coupled to the teleworking client for determining when an emergency number is dialed by the teleworking client;
• b) disconnecting means coupled to the teleworking client and the PSTN for disconnecting the teleworking client from the PSTN such that the teleworking client is disconnected from the remote PBX/MLTS;
• c) connecting means coupled to the teleworking client and the PSTN for reconnecting the teleworking client to the PSTN;
• and
• d) dialing means coupled to the PSTN for dialing the emergency number after the teleworking client is reconnected to the PSTN.